If you’re planning a move to Brazil in 2025 or the near future, having a clear grasp of how much it costs to live there compared to the United States, the United Kingdom, and other large economies is a must to effectively plan your budget and live a comfortable lifestyle in Brazil.
This guide breaks down what you can expect your monthly expenses to be in Brazil in USD.
Brazilian Currency
Brazil’s official currency is the Brazilian real (BRL), subdivided into 100 centavos. When checking xe.com for exchange rates or making financial transactions, you’ll see BRL as the currency code.
Over the last five years, the BRL has fluctuated between 5 and 6 BRL to 1 USD.
How Brazil’s Cost of Living Compares to the USA and Other Countries
We can never accurately determine living costs for an individual as this depends on one’s lifestyle and where you live. Websites like Numbeo.com and Livingcosts.org provide real-time data provided by residents and visitors to compare the cost of essential goods and services.
According to data from cost of living indexes for 2025, Brazil is much more budget-friendly than the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, and Spain in big-ticket categories.
| Item | Brazil | United States | United Kingdom | Spain |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Living costs for one person | $681 | $2,498 | $2,193 | $1,402 |
| Living costs for family | $1,754 | $5,861 | $5,278 | $3,156 |
| One-bedroom Apartment (Monthly) | $296 | $1,595 | $1,367 | $801 |
| Three-bedroom Apartment (Monthly) | $524 | $2,818 | $2,434 | $1,277 |
| Food expenses | $233 | $638 | $515 | $398 |
| Transport expenses | $72 | $100 | $161 | $84.50 |
| Basic utilities | $67 | $208 | $309 | $141 |
What You Can Expect Your Monthly Expenses to Be in Brazil
To get an idea of how much it costs to live in Brazil versus the United States and other countries, let’s explore some average expenses:
- Day-to-day products: In general, daily costs in Brazil are around half of what they are in the US.
- Housing: Rent, centrally located or outside the center, is more than 400 percent cheaper in Brazil than in the United States.
- Consumer electronics: Due to high import taxes, consumer electronics such as cell phones and TVs are more expensive in Brazil than in the US.
- Taxes: While the US is a median-tax country, Brazil is a relatively high-tax country, meaning residents of Brazil pay more in taxes.
- Overall Cost of Living: When factoring in rent and other daily expenses, the US is about 100 to 200 percent more expensive than Brazil.
These figures illustrate that living comfortably in Brazil is more accessible for lower-income people than in the US, though individual spending habits and location choices will impact personal costs.
Here is a comparison of the cost of some common living expenses in Brazil versus the United States.
Item Brazil United States
Milk (1ltr) $0.94 $1.06
Fresh bread (500g) $1.45 $3.63
Rice (1kg) $1.15 $4.59
Eggs (12 reg) $1.96 $4.14
Chicken (1kg) $3.55 $12.14
Beef (1kg) $7.03 $16.22
Oranges (1kg) $1.09 $4.49
Bottle of wine (mid-range) $6.94 $15
One-way ticket $0.87 $2.50
Monthly mobile plan (10gb) $13.55 $57.17
Fitness club (monthly) $22.18 $46.62
Preschool (monthly) $280.71 $1,375.67
Average Salaries in Brazil
Brazilian wage averages vary by industry, job type, and where you work. Cost of living indexes like Livingcosts.org give a lowdown of median salaries across different roles and professions.
For example, in São Paulo, a financial hub, earnings can differ significantly from those in smaller cities. Many Brazilians choose to relocate to São Paulo to earn more money.
According to Numbeo, the average monthly salary in São Paulo is almost $600, compared to $450 in Curitiba and $380 in Belo Horizonte.
Brazil Citizenship
How affordable is life in Brazil?
Brazil’s cost of living depends heavily on the city. Some metropolitan areas, like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro, have higher living costs, while smaller cities like Belo Horizonte, Fortaleza, and Curitiba are far more affordable.
Here’s a glimpse of typical expenses in different locations compared to the national average:
| Area | Cost of Living for Single Person | Cost of Living for Family | One-Bedroom Apartment (Monthly) | Three-Bedroom Apartment (Monthly) |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| São Paulo | $976 | $2,532 | $462 | $837 |
| Rio de Janeiro | $916 | $2,281 | $445 | $751 |
| Florianopolis | $857 | $2,270 | $430 | $824 |
| Curitiba | $755 | $1,903 | $331 | $581 |
| Brasilia | $765 | $2,266 | $296 | $700 |
| Salvador | $705 | $1,737 | $293 | $447 |
| Belo Horizonte | $768 | $1,890 | $341 | $550 |
| Balneário Camboriú | $658 | $1,709 | $336 | $713 |
What will I pay in tax in Brazil?
Though overall living expenses in Brazil can reduce the cost of living considerably, taxes in Brazil can be a burden for some individuals due to the high rates.
The income tax rate is 27.5 percent for monthly income above $820. The rate can be reduced to 4 to 19 percent for self-employed individuals, depending on the nature of their work and how much they earn.
Your trust, our priority
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Frequently Asked Questions about Living Costs in Brazil
How much do you need to live comfortably in Brazil?
Your ideal budget for a comfortable lifestyle in Brazil depends on your lifestyle choices and location. Large and popular cities like São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro require higher incomes, whereas smaller, lesser-known cities like Salvador and Fortaleza offer lower costs.
Generally speaking, a monthly budget of USD 2,000 will allow one person to live comfortably in Brazil, including rent, daily expenses, and entertainment.
How far does $100 go in Brazil?
$100 USD in Brazil works out to about BRL 500, which can be a considerable amount of money, depending on where you’re located. With $100, you can dine out in a mid to high-range restaurant for two, including drinks, buy two or three months of gym membership, or pay for broadband internet for three months.
Is it cheaper to live in Brazil than in the US?
Brazil is significantly cheaper to live in than the United States, especially in terms of rent, real estate, transportation, healthcare, and entertainment, which comprise the bulk of monthly living expenses.
Is Brazil cheap for an American?
Brazil is considered cheap for American visitors or residents as the cost of living in Brazil is much lower than in the United States.
What does 1 USD buy in Brazil?
1 USD is around 5.50 BRL, which is enough to buy things like a chocolate bar at the supermarket in Belo Horizonte, a one-way metro ticket in São Paulo, a soda at an inexpensive restaurant in Rio de Janeiro, or a 400ml cup of coconut water from a street vendor in Salvador.
How much is rent in Brazil?
How much you’ll pay for rent in Brazil depends on where you live. São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro are the most expensive cities in Brazil, and monthly rent for a basic one-bedroom apartment in a safe neighborhood would cost between BRL 1,500 and 3,000. Rent in cheaper towns with good infrastructure can cost BRL 900 to 2,500 for a one-bedroom apartment.
Can you use US cash in Brazil?
The Brazilian real is the only form of currency accepted as legal tender in Brazil.
Is Brazil low-income or high-income?
According to the most recent data from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), Brazil is an upper-middle-income country.
