😐A single person spends $1,755 per month in Timor-Leste vs $765 in Brazil, rent included.
😐A couple spends around $2,648 per month in Timor-Leste vs $1,224 in Brazil, rent included.
😐A family of three spends $3,540 per month in Timor-Leste vs $1,682 in Brazil, rent included.
🌍The cost of living in Timor-Leste is about 129% higher than in Brazil on average – the gap runs across housing, groceries, transport, and services.
📊Timor-Leste sits 31% above the global median, while Brazil is 43% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.
📏The regional cost range is wider in Timor-Leste ($1,755–$1,755) than in Brazil ($569–$1,054), so city choice matters more there.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Timor-Leste
Brazil
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.02$5.02
$5.26R$26.79
-4.56%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$44.32$44.32
$29.40R$150
50.75%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.23$8.23
$6.32R$32.17
30.22%
Cappuccino
$3.82$3.82
$1.71R$8.72
123.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59$1.59
$1.08R$5.52
47.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43$1.43
$0.71R$3.63
101.41%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.02$2.02
$1.76R$8.95
14.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.44$4.44
$2.67R$13.61
66.29%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Timor-Leste
Brazil
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.46$2.46
$0.97R$4.94
153.61%
White Bread(500g)
$2.47$2.47
$1.48R$7.52
66.89%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96$1.96
$1.22R$6.23
60.66%
Eggs
$2.64$2.64
$2.10R$10.68
25.71%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$1.95$1.95
$8.58R$43.68
-77.27%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$9.61$9.61
$3.69R$18.79
160.43%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$15.93$15.93
$7.53R$38.33
111.55%
Apples(1kg)
$3.56$3.56
$2.10R$10.71
69.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.86$1.86
$1.29R$6.55
44.19%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.96$1.96
$1.19R$6.04
64.71%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.46$2.46
$1.42R$7.23
73.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.97$1.97
$1.17R$5.95
68.38%
Onion(1kg)
$1.27$1.27
$1.09R$5.57
16.51%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.02$1.02
$0.70R$3.58
45.71%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.98$0.98
$0.66R$3.35
48.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.71$2.71
$2.20R$11.22
23.18%
Wine(Bottle)
$12.01$12.01
$7.79R$39.68
54.17%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$2.22$2.22
$1.19R$6.05
86.55%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88$2.88
$2.20R$11.21
30.91%
🚌 Getting Around
Timor-Leste
Brazil
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.26$0.26
$0.86R$4.36
-69.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$56.6$56.6
$40.96R$209
38.16%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$3.57$3.57
$1.11R$5.63
221.62%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$3.31$3.31
$0.88R$4.46
276.14%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$20.38$20.38
$7.15R$36.39
185.03%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.49$1.49
$1.09R$5.54
36.70%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.4K$21.4K
$21.6KR$109.9K
-1.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.8K$19.8K
$28.0KR$142.8K
-29.45%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Timor-Leste
Brazil
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$148$148
$68.7R$350
115.14%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.53$29.53
$13.97R$71.2
111.38%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$50.2$50.2
$18.99R$96.7
164.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Timor-Leste
Brazil
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$49.12$49.12
$22.60R$115
117.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$3.05$3.05
$22.90R$117
-86.68%
Cinema Ticket
$5.44$5.44
$6.45R$32.82
-15.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Timor-Leste
Brazil
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
-
$283R$1,442
-
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$16.1K$16.1K
$7,455R$38.0K
115.37%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Timor-Leste
Brazil
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$60.6$60.6
$48.29R$246
25.49%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.67$29.67
$43.14R$220
-31.22%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$78.5$78.5
$74.9R$381
4.79%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$59.4$59.4
$62.1R$316
-4.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Timor-Leste
Brazil
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,081$1,081
$327R$1,666
230.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$935$935
$227R$1,154
312.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$3,434$3,434
$650R$3,308
428.65%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$1,643$1,643
$450R$2,292
264.99%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
-
$1,866R$9,501
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
-
$1,259R$6,408
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Timor-Leste
Brazil
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$4,850$4,850
$527R$2,683
820.40%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
5.37
11.16
-51.88%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Timor-Leste: July 13, 2026
Last update for Brazil: July 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠Average rent: $1,117 in Timor-Leste vs $305 in Brazil. For reference, capital cities sit at $1,117 in Dili and $409 in Brasilia.
💰Average salary: $3,612 in Timor-Leste vs $484 in Brazil. The income gap affects purchasing power and how far your budget stretches in each country.
Cost Highlights
⭐Rent is 266% higher in Timor-Leste.
⭐Dining out costs 67% more in Timor-Leste.
⭐Salaries are 646% higher in Timor-Leste, and purchasing power comes out stronger in Timor-Leste.
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
Timor-Leste vs Brazil: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do Brazil and Timor-Leste compare in cost of living?
Brazil is the cheaper option – living costs run roughly 116% lower on average. The gap is consistent across housing, groceries, transport, and entertainment.
How do rents compare between Brazil and Timor-Leste?
Housing costs more in Timor-Leste, and the gap is biggest in capital cities. Regional towns show less difference, but Timor-Leste consistently has higher rents.
Where are groceries and transport cheaper: Brazil or Timor-Leste?
Groceries, transport, and utilities all cost less in Brazil, contributing to the overall 116% price gap. The savings show up everywhere – from supermarket receipts to monthly bills.
How far does $2,000 go in Brazil compared to Timor-Leste?
$2,000 buys a comfortable lifestyle in Brazil, but in Timor-Leste it only works with careful planning outside the capital. Same money, very different lives.
How do I choose between living in Brazil and in Timor-Leste?
Brazil 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.
Timor-Leste vs other spots: cost of living compared