Brasília skyline

🇧🇷Cost of Living in Brasília

Brazil · Population: 3,000,000 · Cost Index: 35/100

Cost of Living in Brasília

Brazil · South America

Brasília is the capital of Brazil, a planned city designed by architect Oscar Niemeyer and urban planner Lúcio Costa, recognized as a UNESCO World Heritage Site for its modernist architecture. The city is the seat of all three branches of the Brazilian government and offers a higher standard of living than most Brazilian cities, with government employment driving the local economy.

3,000,000

Population

35

Cost Index

38

Safety Index

50

Quality of Life

Average Monthly Cost: $800 (single person, excluding rent)

Estimated monthly budget in Brasília

Typical total monthly cost by household type.

Single person
$800
per month
Couple
$1,200
per month
Family of 4
$1,680
per month
Student
$600
per month

Estimates based on the average cost of living in Brasília, scaled by household size. Actual costs vary with lifestyle, neighbourhood and housing.

Cost Breakdown

Housing

Avg: $612.50
1-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$520.00
1-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$330.00
3-Bedroom Apartment (City Center)(per month)
$1,000.00
3-Bedroom Apartment (Outside Center)(per month)
$600.00

Food & Groceries

Avg: $5.06
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant(per meal)
$5.00
Meal for 2 at Mid-Range Restaurant(per meal)
$28.00
McMeal at McDonald's(per meal)
$6.00
Milk (1 liter)(per liter)
$1.05
Bread (500g loaf)(per loaf)
$1.40
Rice (1 kg)(per kg)
$0.85
Eggs (12)(per dozen)
$1.90
Chicken Breast (1 kg)(per kg)
$3.80
Apples (1 kg)(per kg)
$1.90
Banana (1 kg)(per kg)
$0.75

Transportation

Avg: $7.66
Monthly Public Transit Pass(per month)
$35.00
One-Way Ticket (Local Transport)(per trip)
$0.80
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)(base fare)
$1.00
Taxi 1km (Normal Tariff)(per km)
$0.50
Gasoline (1 liter)(per liter)
$1.00

Utilities

Avg: $32.33
Basic Utilities (85m² Apt)(per month)
$65.00
Mobile Phone Plan(per month)
$12.00
Internet (60 Mbps+)(per month)
$20.00

Healthcare

Avg: $21.33
Doctor Visit(per visit)
$32.00
Dentist Visit(per visit)
$25.00
Prescription Medicine (avg)(per prescription)
$7.00

Entertainment

Avg: $9.45
Fitness Club Monthly(per month)
$28.00
Cinema Ticket(per ticket)
$5.00
Cappuccino(per cup)
$2.30
Beer (0.5l) at Restaurant(per glass)
$2.50

Clothing

Avg: $41.33
Pair of Jeans (Levi's)(per pair)
$38.00
Summer Dress (Chain Store)(per item)
$24.00
Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas)(per pair)
$62.00

Popular Brasília comparisons

Frequently asked questions about Brasília

Is Brasília expensive to live in?
Brasília has a cost of living index of 35 out of 100, where New York City scores 100. This makes it one of the more affordable cities we track.
How much money do you need to live in Brasília?
A single person needs an estimated $800 per month to live in Brasília, covering rent, food, transport and other essentials. A family or a more comfortable lifestyle will cost more.
What is the cost of living index in Brasília?
Brasília's cost of living index is 35 out of 100. The index is relative to New York City (100), so a score of 50 means overall costs are roughly half those of New York.
What is quality of life like in Brasília?
Brasília scores 50 out of 100 for quality of life and 38 out of 100 for safety in our index.

Data & sources

As an independent cross-check, the World Bank puts the overall price level in Brazil at 48 relative to the United States (=100) in 2024. View source

Cost figures on this site are independent estimates, cross-referenced with public data sources including World Bank, Numbeo, Eurostat, OECD.

Compare Brasília with another city

See how Brasília stacks up against any other city in our database.

Quick Facts

Currency
BRL
Language
Portuguese
Cost Index
35/100
Safety Index
38/100
Quality of Life
50/100

Data last updated: . Prices are approximate and shown in USD.

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