Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Novo Hamburgo and Brasilia

For one person, living is cheaper in Novo Hamburgo: $776 a month against $1,000 in Brasilia, rent and utilities included – about $2,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Novo Hamburgo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$776
/mo nomad
Brasilia
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,000
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Novo Hamburgo and in Brasilia

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Novo Hamburgo and in Brasilia actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $776 in Novo Hamburgo versus $1,000 in Brasilia.

  • Novo Hamburgo $776
  • Brasilia $1,000

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,241 in Novo Hamburgo versus $1,614 in Brasilia.

  • Novo Hamburgo $1,241
  • Brasilia $1,614

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,706 in Novo Hamburgo versus $2,228 in Brasilia.

  • Novo Hamburgo $1,706
  • Brasilia $2,228

Living in Novo Hamburgo costs roughly 22% less than in Brasilia, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Novo Hamburgo 43% lower, Brasilia 26% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Novo Hamburgo
Brasilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.88 R$24.74
$8.80 R$44.59
-44.55%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.79 R$95.3
$39.84 R$202
-52.84%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.91 R$35.05
$8.26 R$41.87
-16.34%
Cappuccino
$1.58 R$7.99
$2.72 R$13.81
-41.91%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 R$6.53
$1.57 R$7.96
-17.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 R$4.50
$1.00 R$5.07
-11.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.47 R$12.53
$2.33 R$11.81
6.01%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.98 R$15.11
$3.92 R$19.85
-23.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Novo Hamburgo
Brasilia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.94 R$4.75
$1.09 R$5.53
-13.76%
White Bread (500g)
$1.69 R$8.54
$2.07 R$10.52
-18.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.78 R$3.95
$1.36 R$6.87
-42.65%
Eggs
$2.16 R$10.97
$2.43 R$12.33
-11.11%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.19 R$46.58
$11.64 R$59.0
-21.05%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.56 R$23.12
$4.07 R$20.62
12.04%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.14 R$36.22
$8.80 R$44.60
-18.86%
Apples (1kg)
$2.39 R$12.12
$2.49 R$12.64
-4.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.10 R$5.60
$1.48 R$7.48
-25.68%
Oranges (1kg)
$0.82 R$4.17
$1.34 R$6.79
-38.81%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.32 R$6.70
$1.63 R$8.29
-19.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 R$6.14
$1.23 R$6.25
-1.63%
Onion (1kg)
$0.98 R$4.97
$1.04 R$5.27
-5.77%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.88 R$4.44
$0.86 R$4.34
2.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 R$2.94
$0.95 R$4.80
-38.95%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.78 R$9.02
$2.52 R$12.77
-29.37%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.60 R$38.53
$8.39 R$42.54
-9.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.16 R$5.88
$1.31 R$6.65
-11.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.23 R$11.29
$2.41 R$12.23
-7.47%
🚌 Getting Around
Novo Hamburgo
Brasilia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.83 R$4.20
$1.01 R$5.13
-17.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.74 R$222
$35.30 R$179
23.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.26 R$6.40
$1.10 R$5.58
14.55%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.79 R$4.03
$0.93 R$4.73
-15.05%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.16 R$41.35
$6.17 R$31.25
32.25%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.12 R$5.68
$1.29 R$6.54
-13.18%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.2K R$122.9K
$23.4K R$118.8K
3.44%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.3K R$168.9K
$33.7K R$170.9K
-1.14%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novo Hamburgo
Brasilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$78.2 R$397
$96.3 R$488
-18.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.71 R$64.4
$12.59 R$63.8
0.95%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.18 R$112
$22.58 R$114
-1.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Novo Hamburgo
Brasilia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.30 R$133
$33.65 R$171
-21.84%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.58 R$140
$27.87 R$141
-1.04%
Cinema Ticket
$7.38 R$37.39
$7.78 R$39.43
-5.14%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Novo Hamburgo
Brasilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$281 R$1,425
$815 R$4,133
-65.53%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,080 R$35.9K
$17.2K R$87.3K
-58.88%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Novo Hamburgo
Brasilia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$46.87 R$238
$55.4 R$281
-15.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$38.13 R$193
$44.23 R$224
-13.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$80.3 R$407
$85.0 R$431
-5.62%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$42.13 R$214
$87.8 R$445
-52.04%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Novo Hamburgo
Brasilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$267 R$1,354
$494 R$2,506
-45.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$190 R$965
$282 R$1,427
-32.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$571 R$2,892
$1,127 R$5,711
-49.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$444 R$2,249
$593 R$3,004
-25.12%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,709 R$8,661
$2,522 R$12.8K
-32.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,221 R$6,191
$1,753 R$8,885
-30.32%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Novo Hamburgo
Brasilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$510 R$2,585
$850 R$4,310
-40.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
12.12
-9.24%

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

Last update for Novo Hamburgo: October 20, 2026

Last update for Brasilia: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Novo Hamburgo
$190
Brasilia
$282 47.9% $91
Groceries & Markets
Novo Hamburgo
$180
Brasilia
$212 17.9% $32
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Novo Hamburgo
$113
Brasilia
$131 16.2% $18
Eating Out
Novo Hamburgo
$106
Brasilia
$158 49.1% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Novo Hamburgo
$93
Brasilia
$123 31.4% $29
Getting Around
Novo Hamburgo
$52
Brasilia
$45 13.7% $7.2
Sport & Entertainment
Novo Hamburgo
$41
Brasilia
$49 19.8% $8.1

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $267 in Novo Hamburgo and $494 in Brasilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brasilia pays 67% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $19.00 in Novo Hamburgo vs $40.00 in Brasilia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $180 vs $212 per month, with Novo Hamburgo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Novo Hamburgo
🇧🇷 Brasilia
🕒 Local time
14:57 2:57 PM
14:57 2:57 PM
Same time as Novo Hamburgo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
227,646
2,817,381 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Novo Hamburgo Brasilia 1,580 km ≈ 2 h 30 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Novo Hamburgo
  • Brasilia

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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
Novo Hamburgo vs Brasilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Novo Hamburgo and in Brasilia?
Novo Hamburgo and Brasilia differ by about 29% in total monthly costs ($776 vs $1,000 including rent). Novo Hamburgo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 67% lower in Brasilia. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Novo Hamburgo and in Brasilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $267 in Novo Hamburgo versus $494 in Brasilia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Novo Hamburgo – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $40.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Novo Hamburgo or Brasilia?
All in, you'll spend $776 per month in Novo Hamburgo versus $1,000 in Brasilia – a 29% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $776 in Novo Hamburgo versus $1,000 in Brasilia, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Novo Hamburgo but tight or insufficient in Brasilia. The gap between the two cities makes Novo Hamburgo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Novo Hamburgo and Brasilia?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Novo Hamburgo or Brasilia?
Expats usually find Novo Hamburgo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 29% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Novo Hamburgo vs other spots: cost of living compared

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