Brazil
A sun-drenched northeastern Brazilian coastal city known for its dramatic sand dunes, vibrant forró music scene, and affordable beach lifestyle.
#169 of 250
42% below average
Monthly cost, one adult
$ 830
Based on NYC = 100 index
Fortaleza is the 169. most expensive of the 250 cities we track — a month here comes to $ 830 for one adult.
Most of that goes on basic grocery basket, which runs 28% above the median city and adds $ 41 a month: chicken breast (1kg) $ 9, pork (1kg) $ 8.
Cheaper here than almost anywhere else is housing, 70% below the median: 1br apartment (city center) $ 321, 1br apartment (outside center) $ 306. You also get off lightly on restaurants, utilities.
Percentages compare this city against the median of all tracked cities, category by category.
48 prices on this page come from live scrapers (12 sources, observed September 28, 2026 to October 14, 2026). They are free to reuse under CC BY 4.0: credit CostCompass and link this page.
CostCompass (2026). Cost of living in Fortaleza, Brazil. Data as of 2026-10-14. https://costcompass.net/living/cities/fortaleza. Licensed under CC BY 4.0.
| Item | Price (USD) | Observations | Last observed | Source |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1BR Apartment (City Center) | 320.82 / month | 1 | 2026-10-14 | VivaReal |
| 1BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 305.78 / month | 1 | 2026-10-14 | VivaReal |
| 3BR Apartment (City Center) | 601.54 / month | 1 | 2026-10-14 | VivaReal |
| 3BR Apartment (Outside Center) | 701.79 / month | 1 | 2026-10-14 | VivaReal |
| Chicken Breast (1kg) | 8.52 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Pork (1kg) | 7.62 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Beef (1kg) | 14.03 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Fish Fillet (1kg) | 17.54 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Deli Meat / Ham (1kg) | 9.62 / item | 1 | 2026-09-28 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Milk (1 liter) | 1.76 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Yogurt (150g) | 1.06 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Cheese (1kg) | 12.43 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Butter (200g) | 3.61 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Bread (500g) | 3.26 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Pasta (500g) | 2.60 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Rice (1kg) | 1.40 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Oats (500g) | 6.11 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 2.60 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 3.41 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Bell Peppers (1kg) | 6.01 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Carrots (1kg) | 5.50 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Onions (1kg) | 2.60 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Garlic (1kg) | 1.60 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 1.80 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Apples (1kg) | 3.41 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Banana (1kg) | 3.11 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Oranges (1kg) | 1.60 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Lentils (1kg) | 9.62 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Canned Tomatoes (400g) | 2.60 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Sunflower Oil (1L) | 2.23 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Flour (1kg) | 1.85 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Sugar (1kg) | 2.00 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Coffee (250g) | 6.01 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Water (1.5 liter) | 0.90 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Orange Juice (1L) | 4.01 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Latin American supermarkets (VTEX) |
| Gasoline (1 liter) | 1.40 / liter | 1 | 2026-10-13 | National fuel price sources |
| Basic Utilities (85m2 Apt) | 41.04 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Official Electricity Tariffs (BR/TH/IN distributors not on energy-tariffs) |
| Mobile Plan (10GB+) | 7.00 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Telecom Tariffs Japan / Brazil / South Africa |
| Internet (60 Mbps+) | 9.40 / month | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Telecom Tariffs Japan / Brazil / South Africa |
| Fitness Club (Monthly) | 24.04 / month | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Gym Chains, Americas Entertainment Chains |
| Cinema Ticket | 7.22 / ticket | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Cinema Ticket Prices |
| Doctor Visit (15 min) | 28.07 / visit | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Private Clinics & Telehealth |
| Cold Medicine (6 days) | 1.94 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Online Pharmacies (API), Global Local Pharmacies |
| Antibiotics (12 doses) | 2.12 / item | 2 | 2026-10-13 | Global Local Pharmacies, Online Pharmacies (API) |
| Jeans (Levis or Similar) | 71.98 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
| Summer Dress (Chain Store) | 71.98 / item | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
| Running Shoes (Nike, Adidas) | 140.36 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
| Business Shoes (Leather) | 32.08 / pair | 1 | 2026-10-13 | Americas Local Fashion Stores |
Cities where the money splits the same way
China
Similar share of Housing & Transportation · compared on 6 of 8 categories
Brazil
Similar share of Housing & Utilities
Brazil
Similar share of Basic Grocery Basket & Utilities
Japan
Similar share of Housing & Basic Grocery Basket
Monthly average costs by category
$ 313
per month
$ 188
per month
$ 96
per month
$ 52
per month
$ 57
per month
$ 71
per month
$ 15
per month
$ 38
per month