🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $787 in Rio do Sul versus $957 in Brasilia.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,215 in Rio do Sul versus $1,566 in Brasilia.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,644 in Rio do Sul versus $2,176 in Brasilia.
🌍Living in Rio do Sul costs roughly 18% less than in Brasilia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rio do Sul43% lower, Brasilia30% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio do Sul
Brasilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.90R$25.12
$8.61R$44.15
-43.09%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.81R$107
$39.06R$200
-46.72%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.86R$40.29
$8.00R$40.99
-1.75%
Cappuccino
$2.00R$10.27
$2.55R$13.05
-21.57%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17R$6.02
$1.45R$7.44
-19.31%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.86R$4.39
$0.96R$4.94
-10.42%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.66R$13.62
$2.26R$11.57
17.70%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.20R$21.52
$3.89R$19.94
7.97%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio do Sul
Brasilia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.95R$4.85
$1.07R$5.47
-11.21%
White Bread(500g)
$1.78R$9.12
$2.04R$10.45
-12.75%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.27R$6.53
$1.26R$6.45
0.79%
Eggs
$1.51R$7.72
$2.44R$12.51
-38.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.80R$40.00
$12.06R$61.8
-35.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.78R$19.35
$4.06R$20.82
-6.90%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$6.78R$34.76
$8.24R$42.25
-17.72%
Apples(1kg)
$1.58R$8.09
$2.34R$12.01
-32.48%
Banana(1kg)
$0.98R$5.05
$1.42R$7.28
-30.99%
Oranges(1kg)
$0.75R$3.85
$1.27R$6.52
-40.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.13R$5.78
$1.65R$8.48
-31.52%
Potato(1kg)
$0.87R$4.44
$1.16R$5.93
-25.00%
Onion(1kg)
$0.68R$3.47
$1.01R$5.18
-32.67%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.70R$3.57
$0.83R$4.26
-15.66%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.78R$4.00
$0.98R$5.00
-20.41%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.95R$15.14
$2.39R$12.22
23.43%
Wine(Bottle)
$3.84R$19.68
$7.99R$40.95
-51.94%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.31R$6.70
$1.30R$6.67
0.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.47R$12.65
$2.40R$12.28
2.92%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio do Sul
Brasilia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93R$4.76
$0.92R$4.69
1.09%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$43.18R$221
$35.15R$180
22.84%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.28R$6.56
$1.05R$5.39
21.90%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.75R$3.84
$0.85R$4.38
-11.76%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.91R$30.28
$5.97R$30.58
-1.01%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.13R$5.77
$1.28R$6.56
-11.72%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8KR$116.9K
$22.6KR$115.9K
0.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4KR$161.0K
$32.1KR$164.5K
-2.09%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio do Sul
Brasilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$62.9R$322
$91.1R$467
-30.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.85R$50.5
$12.43R$63.7
-20.76%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.19R$103
$22.55R$116
-10.47%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio do Sul
Brasilia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.40R$130
$31.51R$161
-19.39%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$26.35R$135
$26.35R$135
-
Cinema Ticket
$4.85R$24.84
$7.86R$40.26
-38.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio do Sul
Brasilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$304R$1,557
$813R$4,168
-62.65%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$10.9KR$55.9K
$16.3KR$83.6K
-33.12%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio do Sul
Brasilia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.37R$248
$52.2R$268
-7.37%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.18R$252
$43.67R$224
12.62%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.4R$402
$82.7R$424
-5.24%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$48.08R$246
$86.5R$443
-44.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio do Sul
Brasilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$341R$1,748
$500R$2,564
-31.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$228R$1,169
$266R$1,364
-14.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$654R$3,354
$1,133R$5,806
-42.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$453R$2,319
$562R$2,879
-19.45%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,608R$8,241
$2,411R$12.4K
-33.30%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,129R$5,785
$1,705R$8,738
-33.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio do Sul
Brasilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$876R$4,489
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.54
11.8
-2.20%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rio do Sul: August 30, 2026
Last update for Brasilia: September 1, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $341 in Rio do Sul and $500 in Brasilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $21.00 in Rio do Sul vs $39.00 in Brasilia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $159 vs $209 per month, with Rio do Sul 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
Rio do Sul vs Brasilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rio do Sul and in Brasilia?
Rio do Sul and Brasilia differ by about 22% in total monthly costs ($787 vs $957 including rent). Rio do Sul is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Rio do Sul compared to Brasilia?
You'd need roughly $1,180 in Rio do Sul and $1,435 in Brasilia to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Rio do Sul and in Brasilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $341 in Rio do Sul 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 Rio do Sul – a meal for two runs $21.00 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: Rio do Sul or Brasilia?
All in, you'll spend $787 per month in Rio do Sul versus $957 in Brasilia – a 22% 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 $787 in Rio do Sul versus $957 in Brasilia, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Rio do Sul but tight or insufficient in Brasilia. The gap between the two cities makes Rio do Sul the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rio do Sul 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: Rio do Sul or Brasilia?
Expats usually find Rio do Sul gentler on the wallet – expenses run 22% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rio do Sul vs other spots: cost of living compared