Cost of Living Comparison Between Nova Friburgo and Loja Cost of Living Comparison Between Nova Friburgo and Loja

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $584 per month in Nova Friburgo vs $683 in Loja, rent included.

A couple spends around $982 per month in Nova Friburgo vs $1,065 in Loja, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,379 per month in Nova Friburgo vs $1,448 in Loja, rent included.

Nova Friburgo is about 14% cheaper than Loja, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Nova Friburgo and Loja are more affordable than the global median – Nova Friburgo 58% lower, Loja 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.92 R$30.21

$2.98 $2.98

98.66%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.69 R$146

$20.53 $20.53

39.75%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.36 R$32.44

$5.62 $5.62

13.17%

Cappuccino

$1.65 R$8.40

$2.22 $2.22

-25.68%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 R$4.63

$0.74 $0.74

22.97%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 R$2.62

$0.46 $0.46

10.87%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.19 R$6.07

$1.26 $1.26

-5.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.29 R$11.66

$3.02 $3.02

-24.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.93 R$4.75

$0.99 $0.99

-6.06%

White Bread (500g)

$1.46 R$7.45

$1.47 $1.47

-0.68%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.32 R$6.71

$1.31 $1.31

0.76%

Eggs

$1.88 R$9.58

$1.94 $1.94

-3.09%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.92 R$45.51

$5.38 $5.38

65.80%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.27 R$16.68

$4.21 $4.21

-22.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.58 R$48.83

$6.13 $6.13

56.28%

Apples (1kg)

$1.57 R$8.01

$1.70 $1.70

-7.65%

Banana (1kg)

$1.11 R$5.64

$1.05 $1.05

5.71%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.95 R$4.82

$1.15 $1.15

-17.39%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.25 R$6.35

$1.08 $1.08

15.74%

Potato (1kg)

$0.67 R$3.44

$1.05 $1.05

-36.19%

Onion (1kg)

$0.79 R$4.02

$1.02 $1.02

-22.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.54 R$2.76

$0.48 $0.48

12.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.79 R$4.02

$1.09 $1.09

-27.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.53 R$7.79

$5.34 $5.34

-71.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$5.72 R$29.17

$6.95 $6.95

-17.70%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.94 R$4.79

$1.64 $1.64

-42.68%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.32 R$6.74

$3.18 $3.18

-58.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.98 R$5.01

$0.34 $0.34

188.24%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$29.45 $29.45

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.14 R$5.79

$0.98 $0.98

16.33%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.49 R$2.51

$1.12 $1.12

-56.25%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.60 R$33.67

$10.18 $10.18

-35.17%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.22 R$6.24

$0.73 $0.73

67.12%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$18.6K R$95.1K

$15.1K $15.1K

23.82%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$30.4K R$154.8K

$28.9K $28.9K

4.88%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$39.23 R$200

$20.31 $20.31

93.16%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.23 R$47.05

$10.44 $10.44

-11.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.43 R$94.0

$26.76 $26.76

-31.13%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$21.40 R$109

$29.66 $29.66

-27.85%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$14.57 $14.57

Cinema Ticket

$6.34 R$32.32

$7.18 $7.18

-11.70%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$140 R$714

$178 $178

-21.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$2,496 R$12.7K

$2,006 $2,006

24.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$68.6 R$350

$54.2 $54.2

26.67%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$81.1 R$414

$46.92 $46.92

72.89%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$64.1 R$327

$80.1 $80.1

-20.00%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$45.53 R$232

$73.4 $73.4

-37.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$156 R$795

$243 $243

-35.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$96.6 R$493

$175 $175

-44.68%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$390 R$1,990

$387 $387

0.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 R$1,163

$299 $299

-23.70%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,523 R$7,766

$544 $544

180.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$770 R$3,929

$323 $323

138.18%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$488 R$2,487

$489 $489

-0.21%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

10.67

8.5

25.53%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Nova Friburgo: August 31, 2026

Last update for Loja: September 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $156 in Nova Friburgo versus $243 in Loja. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 0% higher in Loja, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Nova Friburgo versus $21.00 in Loja. Groceries tell a different story – $167 in Nova Friburgo vs $167 in Loja – so Nova Friburgo wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.

Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

Nova Friburgo vs Loja: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $584 in Nova Friburgo, $683 in Loja – roughly 17% apart. Loja costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $876 per month in Nova Friburgo and $1,024 in Loja. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Nova Friburgo, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Nova Friburgo and $21.00 in Loja. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Loja – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $584 in Nova Friburgo and $683 in Loja, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.

Families tend to lean toward Nova Friburgo – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Nova Friburgo. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Loja makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.