🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $725 in Palmas versus $880 in Brasilia.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,116 in Palmas versus $1,446 in Brasilia.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,507 in Palmas versus $2,011 in Brasilia.
🙂Living in Palmas costs roughly 18% less than in Brasilia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Palmas46% lower, Brasilia34% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Palmas
Brasilia
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.70R$18.42
$7.19R$35.81
-48.54%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.13R$90.3
$39.72R$198
-54.36%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.37R$36.69
$6.24R$31.07
18.11%
Cappuccino
$1.36R$6.76
$1.88R$9.35
-27.66%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.66R$8.29
$1.16R$5.80
43.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01R$5.03
$0.87R$4.36
16.09%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.28R$6.38
$1.82R$9.08
-29.67%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75R$13.68
$3.28R$16.35
-16.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Palmas
Brasilia
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$0.99R$4.93
$0.93R$4.63
6.45%
White Bread(500g)
$1.32R$6.57
$1.62R$8.07
-18.52%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74R$8.65
$1.41R$7.01
23.40%
Eggs
$2.43R$12.12
$2.10R$10.45
15.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.40R$31.86
$9.29R$46.27
-31.11%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.37R$16.81
$3.31R$16.48
1.81%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.70R$28.38
$6.85R$34.12
-16.79%
Apples(1kg)
$2.12R$10.56
$2.00R$9.96
6.00%
Banana(1kg)
$1.51R$7.50
$1.34R$6.69
12.69%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.20R$5.96
$1.22R$6.05
-1.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.06R$5.27
$1.67R$8.33
-36.53%
Potato(1kg)
$1.15R$5.70
$1.23R$6.11
-6.50%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05R$5.25
$1.30R$6.48
-19.23%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.73R$3.66
$0.74R$3.70
-1.35%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.29
$0.61R$3.06
8.20%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.09R$10.41
$2.18R$10.85
-4.13%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.07R$35.21
$10.10R$50.3
-30.00%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.01R$5.03
$1.11R$5.54
-9.01%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.07R$10.32
$2.35R$11.72
-11.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Palmas
Brasilia
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72R$3.57
$1.03R$5.11
-30.10%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.21R$190
$43.64R$217
-12.44%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.09R$5.45
$0.94R$4.70
15.96%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71R$3.51
$0.79R$3.93
-10.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.33R$31.54
$5.82R$28.97
8.76%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.09R$5.41
$1.14R$5.66
-4.39%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.6KR$102.7K
$25.4KR$126.4K
-18.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7KR$137.8K
$28.2KR$140.6K
-2.01%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Palmas
Brasilia
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$115R$575
$69.9R$348
65.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.38R$51.7
$13.04R$64.9
-20.40%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.12R$90.2
$20.00R$99.6
-9.40%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Palmas
Brasilia
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$21.16R$105
$24.95R$124
-15.19%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.92R$109
$21.77R$108
0.69%
Cinema Ticket
$5.50R$27.38
$7.00R$34.84
-21.43%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Palmas
Brasilia
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$131R$653
$488R$2,430
-73.15%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,369R$31.7K
$15.0KR$74.5K
-57.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Palmas
Brasilia
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$37.50R$187
$58.1R$289
-35.40%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.94R$209
$41.98R$209
-0.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$91.5R$456
$69.1R$344
32.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$57.6R$287
$64.0R$319
-9.99%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Palmas
Brasilia
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$224R$1,113
$402R$2,003
-44.43%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$142R$707
$263R$1,309
-45.99%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$458R$2,282
$978R$4,871
-53.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$295R$1,468
$564R$2,808
-47.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,753R$8,730
$2,751R$13.7K
-36.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,163R$5,790
$1,816R$9,042
-35.97%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Palmas
Brasilia
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$297R$1,479
$762R$3,794
-61.03%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
11.87
-8.00%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Palmas: April 26, 2026
Última actualización para Brasilia: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $224 in Palmas and $402 in Brasilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brasilia pays 157% 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: $18.00 in Palmas vs $40.00 in Brasilia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $162 vs $183 per month, with Palmas cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Palmas vs Brasilia: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Palmas and Brasilia?
Palmas and Brasilia differ by about 21% in total monthly costs ($725 vs $880 including rent). Palmas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Brasilia earns 157% less. 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 Palmas and Brasilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $224 in Palmas versus $402 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 Palmas – a meal for two runs $18.00 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: Palmas or Brasilia?
All in, you'll spend $725 per month in Palmas versus $880 in Brasilia – a 21% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Palmas vs Brasilia?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Palmas gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Palmas 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: Palmas or Brasilia?
Expats usually find Palmas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.