Is it cheaper to live in Brazil than the US?

Yes, substantially. Brazil’s moderate single-person benchmark of $975 a month is roughly 28 percent of the US average of $3,525. That gap is driven mostly by housing, services, and labour-intensive goods: rent in mid-tier Brazilian centres runs 60 to 80 percent below US equivalents, restaurant meals 50 to 70 percent below, and personal services (haircuts, cleaners, taxis) 70 to 85 percent below. The narrower categories are imported electronics (often more expensive in Brazil due to tariffs), petrol (broadly similar to the US), and international branded goods. Sao Paulo and Rio are Brazil’s most expensive locations but still run roughly half of major US metros. For an American moving from a high-cost US metro, the lifestyle uplift is dramatic; from low-cost US states the gap narrows but remains meaningful. For the full breakdown, see our Brazil cost of living page.