Brazil: cost of living

How fast are food prices rising in Brazil?

Food and drink prices in Brazil's IPCA rose 4.66% in the 12 months to September 2026, according to IBGE (SIDRA table 7060), slightly above the overall index at 4.58%. In September alone food and drink rose 0.83%.

Individual items moved differently: meat prices rose 9.83% over 12 months, while rice fell 2.61%, even though rice rose 4.56% in September. The IPCA measures prices for households earning between one and 40 minimum wages in the main metropolitan areas, and IBGE publishes monthly changes and weights for each group, sub-group and item.

Official sources: IBGE SIDRA: IPCA by group and item (table 7060)

What is the price of petrol in Brazil?

Regular petrol (gasolina comum) cost an average of R$6.54 a litre in Brazil in the week of 4 to 10 October 2026, according to the ANP's weekly fuel price survey. Hydrated ethanol averaged R$4.14 a litre, S10 diesel R$7.36 and a 13 kg bottle of cooking gas (LPG) R$114.61.

The figures are average pump prices from about 4,500 petrol stations surveyed that week, and the weekly summary file also gives averages for each state, capital and surveyed municipality. Prices vary widely by region. In the IPCA, IBGE recorded petrol prices up 5.61% in the 12 months to September 2026.

Official sources: ANP: fuel price survey, latest weeks · ANP weekly summary, 4 to 10 October 2026 (xlsx)

Are electricity bills going up in Brazil?

Residential electricity prices rose 7.98% in September 2026, according to IBGE's IPCA (SIDRA table 7060). Over the 12 months to September they were up 2.74%. Housing costs as a whole rose 2.31% in the month.

Monthly electricity changes in the IPCA are often large because they reflect tariff adjustments by distributors and the tariff flag system, which adds a charge when generation costs rise. A large monthly increase can therefore sit alongside a modest 12-month change. Residential rent rose 4.71% over the same 12 months.

Official sources: IBGE SIDRA: IPCA by group and item (table 7060)

What is the average household income per person in Brazil?

Average monthly household income per person in Brazil was R$2,264 in 2025, at average 2025 prices, according to IBGE's PNAD Contínua (SIDRA table 7531).

This measure adds all income received by household members, including work, pensions, benefits and rents, and divides it by the number of residents. It is an average, so it is pulled up by high incomes. The same survey puts the Gini index of household income per person at 0.511 in 2025, compared with 0.504 in 2024 (SIDRA table 7435); the Gini runs from 0 (full equality) to 1.

Official sources: IBGE SIDRA: household income per person (table 7531) · IBGE SIDRA: Gini index (table 7435)

How much are rents rising in Brazil?

Residential rents in the IPCA rose 4.71% in the 12 months to September 2026 and 0.27% in September alone, according to IBGE (SIDRA table 7060). The overall IPCA rose 4.58% over the same 12 months.

The IPCA rent item tracks rents paid by tenants in the metropolitan areas the index covers, including existing contracts, so it moves more slowly than asking rents for new lettings. According to IBGE's PNAD Contínua, 23.8% of Brazilian homes were rented in 2025 (SIDRA table 6821).

Official sources: IBGE SIDRA: IPCA by item (table 7060) · IBGE SIDRA: homes by tenure (table 6821)

What is Brazil's inflation rate?

The IMF puts consumer price inflation in Brazil at 5.0% in 2025. Since 2005 it has ranged from 3.2% (2020) to 9.3% (2022). Latin America & Caribbean median: 2.1%; Brazil is 5th highest of 29. Of 165 countries with 2025 data, 36th highest.

How much do people in Brazil spend?

In 2025, household consumption per person in Brazil was $6,276, according to the World Bank. That is the highest since at least 2005. Latin America & Caribbean median: $4,566; Brazil is 6th highest of 15. Worldwide: 50th of 124.

What is the extreme poverty rate in Brazil?

The latest figure from the World Bank, for 2024, is 3.0%. The peak was 13.7% in 2005 and the low 2.8% in 2020. Latin America & Caribbean median: 2.1%; Brazil is 6th highest of 14.

What is Brazil's Gini coefficient?

In 2024, the Gini index in Brazil was 50.3, according to the World Bank. The peak was 56.3 in 2005 and the low 48.8 in 2020. Latin America & Caribbean median: 43.6; Brazil is 2nd highest of 14.

What is food insecurity in Brazil?

The FAO puts moderate or severe food insecurity in Brazil at 9.6% in 2024. No year since 2015 has been lower. Latin America & Caribbean median: 28.0%; Brazil is 21st highest of 21. Worldwide: 93rd of 135.