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Is the word inicial the same in Brazilian and European Portuguese?

Yes

The only differences between the use of "inicial" in Brazilian Portuguese and Continental Portuguese are in pronunciation.

In Brazil, the vowels are generally more open and the rhythm of speech is more "syllable-timed," meaning each syllable receives more equal weight. In Portugal, the rhythm is "stress-timed," and vowels that are not stressed tend to be much more closed or even reduced to a near-silent state. This makes the word sound more "clipped" or compressed to a Brazilian ear. The spelling, grammar, and meaning of the word are identical in both variants.

Brazilian Portuguese Examples

  1. O investimento inicial é muito alto. (The initial investment is very high.)
  2. Ela apresentou o plano inicial para o projeto. (She presented the initial plan for the project.)
  3. O estágio inicial da doença é mais fácil de tratar. (The initial stage of the disease is easier to treat.)
  4. O custo inicial do curso é bem barato. (The initial cost of the course is quite cheap.)
  5. Nosso contato inicial foi por e-mail. (Our initial contact was via email.)

Continental Portuguese Examples

  1. O investimento inicial é bastante elevado. (The initial investment is quite high.)
  2. Ela apresentou o plano inicial para o projeto. (She presented the initial plan for the project.)
  3. A fase inicial da doença é mais fácil de tratar. (The initial stage of the disease is easier to treat.)
  4. O custo inicial do curso é bastante acessível. (The initial cost of the course is quite affordable.)
  5. O nosso contacto inicial foi por e-mail. (Our initial contact was via email.)