Cost of Living in Recife - Updated Prices & Insights

35.46
Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $487 (excluding rent), and $781 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,223 (excluding rent), and $1,830 including rent.
Currency
Do you live in Recife? Add cost details
🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.96 R$27.53
$3.25 R$18.02
$6.31 R$35.04
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.85 R$155
$17.97 R$99.7
$39.53 R$219
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.68 R$37.05
$5.26 R$29.21
$8.08 R$44.84
Cappuccino
$1.79 R$9.94
$0.71 R$3.95
$3.21 R$17.79
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 R$4.48
$0.51 R$2.85
$1.52 R$8.44
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 R$2.69
$0.34 R$1.9
$1.03 R$5.7
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.46 R$8.08
$0.82 R$4.54
$2.73 R$15.15
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.91 R$16.14
$2.12 R$11.74
$3.53 R$19.57
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.18 R$6.56
$0.92 R$5.09
$1.63 R$9.05
White Bread (500g)
$1.44 R$7.97
$0.73 R$4.07
$2.2 R$12.22
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.21 R$6.7
$0.88 R$4.86
$1.58 R$8.75
Eggs
$2.31 R$12.8
$1.29 R$7.14
$4.26 R$23.62
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.88 R$38.16
$2.84 R$15.77
$10.66 R$59.2
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.63 R$20.14
$1.82 R$10.1
$5.46 R$30.29
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.97 R$38.67
$4.82 R$26.77
$8.94 R$49.63
Apples (1kg)
$2.17 R$12.02
$0.72 R$3.97
$3.91 R$21.73
Banana (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.87
$0.71 R$3.95
$2.11 R$11.69
Oranges (1kg)
$1.07 R$5.92
$0.44 R$2.44
$2.11 R$11.73
Tomato (1kg)
$1.54 R$8.54
$0.35 R$1.95
$2.43 R$13.51
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 R$7.41
$0.83 R$4.58
$2.2 R$12.21
Onion (1kg)
$1.09 R$6.04
$0.81 R$4.5
$1.11 R$6.16
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.55 R$3.03
$0.38 R$2.1
$0.61 R$3.38
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.75 R$4.15
$0.55 R$3.07
$1.11 R$6.14
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.67 R$9.25
$1.3 R$7.19
$2.78 R$15.41
Wine (Bottle)
$7.03 R$39.05
$5.27 R$29.24
$10.55 R$58.5
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.14 R$6.33
$0.79 R$4.38
$1.76 R$9.74
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 R$8.81
$0.88 R$4.87
$2.28 R$12.65
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 R$3.97
$0.72 R$3.97
$0.87 R$4.83
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.82 R$199
$26.15 R$145
$62.7 R$348
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.13 R$6.29
$0.98 R$5.45
$2.91 R$16.17
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.63 R$3.51
$0.5 R$2.75
$1.83 R$10.14
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.65 R$20.28
$3.23 R$17.91
$10.97 R$60.9
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 R$5.73
$0.98 R$5.46
$1.1 R$6.11
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$16.4K R$91K
$13.3K R$73.8K
$21.9K R$121.4K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$22.2K R$123.1K
$20K R$111.2K
$29.1K R$161.8K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.6 R$392
$52.3 R$290
$151 R$839
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$15.95 R$88.5
$7.17 R$39.82
$30.29 R$168
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$16.91 R$93.9
$12.8 R$71
$27.42 R$152
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$20.16 R$112
$14.69 R$81.5
$23.87 R$133
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.03 R$172
$17.9 R$99.4
$32.24 R$179
Cinema Ticket
$7.26 R$40.28
$5.43 R$30.17
$10.88 R$60.4
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$258 R$1,434
$109 R$604
$417 R$2,314
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$10.6K R$58.9K
$4,674 R$25.9K
$27K R$149.7K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42 R$233
$21.38 R$119
$71.3 R$396
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$51.3 R$285
$27.15 R$151
$72.4 R$402
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.6 R$458
$67.2 R$373
$106 R$589
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.4 R$430
$36.28 R$201
$90.7 R$503
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$329 R$1,825
$239 R$1,325
$404 R$2,242
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$205 R$1,140
$146 R$811
$292 R$1,621
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$587 R$3,256
$539 R$2,990
$862 R$4,785
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$530 R$2,943
$360 R$1,996
$809 R$4,490
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,398 R$7,759
$870 R$4,830
$2,403 R$13.3K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$827 R$4,589
$637 R$3,538
$1,275 R$7,075
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$459 R$2,550
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
15
8
15
Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
City tags:
Cost of Living in Recife - Frequently Asked Questions
How affordable is Recife for travelers, expats, and digital nomads compared with other cities?
Cost of Living in Recife, Brazil sits in the middle among major coastal Brazilian cities. You’ll find affordable rents in older neighborhoods and lower food costs if you cook at home, with dining out cheaper outside tourist hotspots. Transportation is workable with buses and ride-hailing, though car use brings fuel costs. The beachfront zones can push prices upward during peak season, while non-tourist districts offer steadier value. Overall, value comes from smart neighborhood choices and flexible living patterns rather than chasing luxury. Tip: map 2–3 neighborhoods, test a week-long stay, and anchor your budget to housing, utilities, and a few coworking days.
What should you expect day-to-day when living in Recife – housing search, food options, transport, and coworking?
Daily life in Recife blends convenience with local flavor. You’ll find a range of housing options, from compact flats in historic cores to newer builds by the coast, with prices varying by neighborhood. Food is abundant and affordable at markets, while dining out offers both traditional pastimes and modern cafés. Public transport is workable, and rideshares extend late into the evening. Recife, Brazil living cost understanding helps you tailor your housing search, meal planning, and commute: choose neighborhoods that cut transit time and avoid peak-season bottlenecks. Tip: schedule a street-level recon during different days and seasons to gauge consistency in costs.
How can you maximize quality of life in Recife, with budgeting, seasonal patterns, and neighborhood fit in mind?
Quality of life in Recife rewards planning and flexibility. Build a simple budgeting framework: housing, utilities, groceries, transport, and a modest leisure buffer. To save, opt for longer-term stays in stable neighborhoods, shared accommodations, or coworking spaces with built-in perks. Seasonality affects outdoor plans and crowds, so align activities with the rhythms of festivals and weather. For neighborhood fit, sample both lively cores and quieter coastal lanes to balance work, safety, and leisure. Tip: establish a flexible monthly plan that adapts to shifts in transport, groceries, and entertainment needs.
Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.