For one person, living is cheaper in Sri Lanka: $608 a month against $932 in Brazil, rent and utilities included – about $3,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.
Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Sri Lanka and in Brazil actually costs, broken down by who's living it.
A single person spends $608 per month in Sri Lanka vs $932 in Brazil, rent included.
Sri Lanka $608
Brazil $932
A couple spends around $963 per month in Sri Lanka vs $1,470 in Brazil, rent included.
Sri Lanka $963
Brazil $1,470
A family of three spends $1,319 per month in Sri Lanka vs $2,008 in Brazil, rent included.
Sri Lanka $1,319
Brazil $2,008
🌍
The cost of living in Sri Lanka is roughly 35% lower than in Brazil on average.
📊
Both Sri Lanka and Brazil are more affordable than the global median – Sri Lanka 55% lower, Brazil 30% lower.
Currency
No currencies found
🍽 Eating Out
Sri Lanka
Brazil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.76LKR 913
$6.96R$34.74
-60.34%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.14LKR 6,333
$33.46R$167
-42.80%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$7.39LKR 2,446
$8.00R$39.92
-7.63%
Cappuccino
$2.32LKR 767
$2.08R$10.41
11.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66LKR 217
$1.29R$6.44
-48.84%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.29LKR 95.5
$0.74R$3.71
-60.81%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.33LKR 769
$2.02R$10.09
15.35%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.05LKR 1,009
$3.07R$15.35
-0.65%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Sri Lanka
Brazil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.59LKR 527
$1.09R$5.46
45.87%
White Bread(500g)
$0.49LKR 161
$1.75R$8.72
-72.00%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$0.70LKR 230
$1.33R$6.63
-47.37%
Eggs
$1.62LKR 537
$2.24R$11.17
-27.68%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$12.02LKR 3,976
$9.56R$47.70
25.73%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.25LKR 1,406
$4.32R$21.56
-1.62%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.37LKR 2,439
$8.54R$42.61
-13.70%
Apples(1kg)
$5.61LKR 1,857
$2.32R$11.56
141.81%
Banana(1kg)
$0.78LKR 257
$1.44R$7.19
-45.83%
Oranges(1kg)
$4.44LKR 1,467
$1.24R$6.18
258.06%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.26LKR 416
$1.56R$7.80
-19.23%
Potato(1kg)
$0.94LKR 310
$1.24R$6.17
-24.19%
Onion(1kg)
$0.83LKR 273
$1.10R$5.51
-24.55%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.81LKR 268
$0.81R$4.04
-
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.47LKR 157
$0.78R$3.89
-39.74%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$9.95LKR 3,291
$2.56R$12.78
288.67%
Wine(Bottle)
$11.98LKR 3,962
$8.19R$40.88
46.28%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.92LKR 635
$1.33R$6.65
44.36%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.65LKR 878
$2.46R$12.29
7.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Sri Lanka
Brazil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.19LKR 62.8
$1.00R$4.98
-81.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$5.95LKR 1,970
$48.08R$240
-87.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.46LKR 154
$1.29R$6.43
-64.34%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.34LKR 114
$1.02R$5.11
-66.67%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$0.95LKR 315
$8.08R$40.35
-88.24%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.27LKR 420
$1.30R$6.49
-2.31%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.0KLKR 9.9M
$23.6KR$117.7K
27.32%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$40.3KLKR 13.3M
$33.4KR$166.7K
20.55%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sri Lanka
Brazil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$46.21LKR 15.3K
$83.5R$417
-44.65%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.00LKR 1,324
$13.34R$66.6
-70.01%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.77LKR 5,547
$21.01R$105
-20.18%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Sri Lanka
Brazil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$12.28LKR 4,063
$25.88R$129
-52.55%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.36LKR 2,104
$27.11R$135
-76.54%
Cinema Ticket
$3.73LKR 1,233
$7.25R$36.21
-48.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Sri Lanka
Brazil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$35.47LKR 11.7K
$343R$1,714
-89.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$581LKR 192.1K
$9,142R$45.6K
-93.65%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Sri Lanka
Brazil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$20.41LKR 6,752
$53.6R$267
-61.89%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$15.50LKR 5,129
$49.97R$249
-68.98%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.7LKR 24.0K
$88.7R$443
-18.09%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$37.40LKR 12.4K
$70.9R$354
-47.26%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Sri Lanka
Brazil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$309LKR 102.2K
$393R$1,963
-21.48%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$139LKR 46.0K
$254R$1,269
-45.34%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$765LKR 253.2K
$730R$3,646
4.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$243LKR 80.4K
$499R$2,488
-51.22%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,632LKR 1.2M
$1,920R$9,584
89.20%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,134LKR 375.1K
$1,295R$6,467
-12.48%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Sri Lanka
Brazil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$216LKR 71.5K
$539R$2,690
-59.90%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
13.46
11.17
20.50%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Sri Lanka: October 5, 2026
Last update for Brazil: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sri Lanka
$219 35.7%
Brazil
$198 21.6% ↓ 9.4%$21
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sri Lanka
$139 22.7%
Brazil
$254 27.7% ↑ 82.9%$115
🍽Eating Out
Sri Lanka
$94 15.3%
Brazil
$129 14.1% ↑ 37.9%$35
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sri Lanka
$67 10.9%
Brazil
$118 12.9% ↑ 75.9%$51
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sri Lanka
$66 10.7%
Brazil
$118 12.9% ↑ 80.3%$53
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sri Lanka
$20 3.2%
Brazil
$40 4.4% ↑ 105%$21
🚌Getting Around
Sri Lanka
$8.9 1.5%
Brazil
$58 6.4% ↑ 557%$50
🛒Groceries & Markets
Sri Lanka
$500 38.5%
Brazil
$455 22.8% ↓ 9.1%$46
🏠Accommodation & Living
Sri Lanka
$243 18.7%
Brazil
$498 25% ↑ 105%$255
🍽Eating Out
Sri Lanka
$274 21.1%
Brazil
$423 21.2% ↑ 54.2%$149
🧾Monthly Utilities & Internet
Sri Lanka
$71 5.5%
Brazil
$131 6.6% ↑ 84.8%$60
👕👟Clothing & Footwear
Sri Lanka
$146 11.2%
Brazil
$263 13.2% ↑ 80.3%$117
🎉Sport & Entertainment
Sri Lanka
$46 3.5%
Brazil
$108 5.4% ↑ 135%$62
🚌Getting Around
Sri Lanka
$18 1.4%
Brazil
$119 6% ↑ 554%$101
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $57.0 in Sri Lanka vs $345 in Brazil. For reference, capital cities sit at $302 in Sri Jayawardenepura Kotte and $498 in Brasilia.
💰Average salary: $201 in Sri Lanka vs $494 in Brazil. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 505% higher in Brazil.
⭐Dining out costs 55% more in Brazil.
⭐Public transport is 3900% more expensive in Brazil.
⭐Salaries are 146% higher in Brazil, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Brazil.
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
Sri Lanka vs Brazil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and Sri Lanka compare in cost of living?
Sri Lanka is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 53% lower on average.
How do rents compare between Brazil and Sri Lanka?
Housing costs more in Brazil: a central one-bedroom averages $345 versus $57.0 in Sri Lanka.
How far does $1,200 go in Brazil compared to Sri Lanka?
$1,200 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Sri Lanka, but in Brazil it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Brazil and in Sri Lanka?
Sri Lanka is the budget-friendly choice for expats – lower housing and daily costs. But cost isn't everything: visa policies, language, healthcare quality, and job markets all weigh in too.