🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $873 in Quezon City versus $957 in Brasilia.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,383 in Quezon City versus $1,566 in Brasilia.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,893 in Quezon City versus $2,176 in Brasilia.
🌍Living in Quezon City costs roughly 9% less than in Brasilia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Quezon City36% lower, Brasilia30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Quezon City
Brasilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.42₱277
$8.61R$43.87
-48.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.35₱1,210
$39.06R$199
-50.46%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$2.83₱177
$8.00R$40.74
-64.63%
Cappuccino
$2.68₱168
$2.55R$12.96
5.10%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.75₱46.63
$1.45R$7.39
-48.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27₱16.75
$0.96R$4.91
-71.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.47₱92.1
$2.26R$11.50
-34.96%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73₱171
$3.89R$19.82
-29.82%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Quezon City
Brasilia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.74₱109
$1.07R$5.44
62.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.13₱70.8
$2.04R$10.39
-44.61%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.85₱53.0
$1.26R$6.41
-32.54%
Eggs
$1.78₱111
$2.44R$12.44
-27.05%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$6.79₱424
$12.06R$61.4
-43.70%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.13₱259
$4.06R$20.69
1.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.92₱433
$8.24R$41.99
-16.02%
Apples(1kg)
$3.87₱242
$2.34R$11.94
65.38%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40₱87.3
$1.42R$7.24
-1.41%
Oranges(1kg)
$3.62₱226
$1.27R$6.48
185.04%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.19₱74.5
$1.65R$8.42
-27.88%
Potato(1kg)
$2.29₱143
$1.16R$5.89
97.41%
Onion(1kg)
$3.49₱218
$1.01R$5.15
245.54%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.39₱87.2
$0.83R$4.23
67.47%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.93₱57.9
$0.98R$4.97
-5.10%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.78₱174
$2.39R$12.15
16.32%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.81₱488
$7.99R$40.70
-2.25%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33₱83.2
$1.30R$6.63
2.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79₱112
$2.40R$12.20
-25.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Quezon City
Brasilia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.39₱24.62
$0.92R$4.66
-57.61%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.47₱1,217
$35.15R$179
-44.61%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.78₱48.83
$1.05R$5.36
-25.71%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.23₱14.41
$0.85R$4.35
-72.94%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$2.63₱164
$5.97R$30.39
-55.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.19₱74.7
$1.28R$6.52
-7.03%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K₱1.4M
$22.6KR$115.2K
-3.31%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.0K₱1.2M
$32.1KR$163.5K
-40.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Quezon City
Brasilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$165₱10.3K
$91.1R$464
80.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.61₱914
$12.43R$63.3
17.54%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.24₱1,578
$22.55R$115
11.93%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Quezon City
Brasilia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$38.85₱2,429
$31.51R$160
23.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.35₱209
$26.35R$134
-87.29%
Cinema Ticket
$7.18₱449
$7.86R$40.01
-8.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Quezon City
Brasilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$73.2₱4,579
$813R$4,142
-90.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,493₱155.9K
$16.3KR$83.1K
-84.72%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Quezon City
Brasilia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$36.64₱2,291
$52.2R$266
-29.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$22.54₱1,410
$43.67R$222
-48.39%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$79.0₱4,937
$82.7R$421
-4.51%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$74.6₱4,665
$86.5R$440
-13.71%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Quezon City
Brasilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$314₱19.7K
$500R$2,548
-37.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$192₱12.0K
$266R$1,355
-27.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$747₱46.7K
$1,133R$5,770
-34.07%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$527₱32.9K
$562R$2,861
-6.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,319₱145.0K
$2,411R$12.3K
-3.81%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,463₱91.5K
$1,705R$8,684
-14.21%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Quezon City
Brasilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$442₱27.6K
$876R$4,461
-49.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
7
11.8
-40.68%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Quezon City: August 29, 2026
Last update for Brasilia: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $314 in Quezon City and $500 in Brasilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Brasilia pays 98% 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 Quezon City vs $39.00 in Brasilia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $206 vs $209 per month, with Quezon City cheaper across the board.
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
Quezon City vs Brasilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Quezon City and in Brasilia?
Quezon City and Brasilia differ by about 10% in total monthly costs ($873 vs $957 including rent). Quezon City 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 98% 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 Quezon City and in Brasilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $314 in Quezon City versus $500 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 Quezon City – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $39.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Quezon City or Brasilia?
All in, you'll spend $873 per month in Quezon City versus $957 in Brasilia – a 10% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $873 in Quezon City versus $957 in Brasilia, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Quezon City but tight or insufficient in Brasilia. The gap between the two cities makes Quezon City the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Quezon City 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.
Is Quezon City or Brasilia safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Quezon City and Brasilia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Quezon City or Brasilia?
Expats usually find Quezon City gentler on the wallet – expenses run 10% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Quezon City vs other spots: cost of living compared