Brasília vs Ottawa Cost of Living Comparison
Executive summary: Brasília leads on CPI (20 vs 48.4, NYC=100), Brasília leads on rent index, and Ottawa leads on purchasing power. Validate neighbourhood rents before relocating — city-wide winners can reverse at district scale.
Overall Cost Winner
Brasília
Lower overall CPI; largest measurable gaps: Housing (311% gap, Brasília ahead); Purchasing Power (173% gap, Ottawa ahead).
Monthly Cost Difference
Estimated monthly housing+utilities+internet basket is about $635 lower in Brasília than in Ottawa (~292% gap; converted via exchange rates).
Estimated monthly difference: $635 (favoring Brasília).
Category Winners
| Category | Winner | Note |
|---|---|---|
| Overall CPI | Brasília | CPI 20 vs 48.4 (lower is better) |
| Housing | Brasília | Rent index 5.3 vs 21.8 (lower is better) |
| Food | Brasília | Groceries index 24.2 vs 56 (lower is better) |
| Transport | Ottawa | One-way ticket 1.55 vs 1.74 (lower is better) |
| Utilities | Brasília | Utilities (85m²) 57.24 vs 59.73 (lower is better) |
| Internet | Ottawa | Internet 63.58 vs 115.67 (lower is better) |
| Restaurants | Brasília | Restaurant index 16.8 vs 39 (lower is better) |
| Salary | Brasília | Avg net salary 6997.32 vs 4841.58 (higher is better) |
| Purchasing Power | Ottawa | PP index 57 vs 20.9 (higher is better) |
Biggest Difference
Housing: Brasília leads with a 311% gap.
Rent index 5.3 vs 21.8 (lower is better)
Quick Decision
- Students: Brasília — Lower housing / rent index (311% gap).
- Families: Brasília — Housing is typically the largest household line; rent index favors Brasília; purchasing power favors Ottawa.
- Remote Workers: Brasília — Everyday cost index (CPI) favors Brasília (~142% gap).
- Budget Living: Brasília — Lowest overall consumer-price index in this pair.
Key Takeaways
- Brasília is the overall cost winner on CPI (~142% lower everyday-cost index than Ottawa).
- Housing: Brasília leads on rent index (311% gap).
- Food / groceries: Brasília is lower (131% gap).
- Purchasing power: Ottawa scores higher (173% gap).
- Sample monthly basket (1BR + utilities + internet) is ~$635 cheaper in Brasília.
Analysis
Detailed breakdown uses only paired indices: CPI 20/48.4, rent 5.3/21.8, purchasing power 20.9/57. Category winners can diverge — a city may win rent while losing CPI. No GDP, climate, or industry claims are invented for either city.
Trust & data transparency
Last updated: 2026-08-24
Data Sources
This page uses CityCost index inputs. Platform sources (see also Data sources):
- Regional
- Nearby
On-page labels for this view: Regional · Nearby.
Methodology
Each indexed city is associated with a reference basket of common living costs (for example rent, groceries samples, transport tickets, utilities, restaurant meals, and net salary where available). From those items, the platform derives relative indices such as CPI, rent, groceries, restaurants, and local purchasing power, using New York City = 100 as the familiar baseline convention for relative comparison.