Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Brunswick, ME and Rio de Janeiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,289 a month against $2,646 in Brunswick, ME, rent and utilities included – about $16,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Brunswick, ME
🇺🇸 United States
$2,646
/mo nomad
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,289
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Brunswick, ME and in Rio de Janeiro

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Brunswick, ME and in Rio de Janeiro actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,646 in Brunswick, ME versus $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Brunswick, ME $2,646
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,289

Estimated couple costs with rent: $4,011 in Brunswick, ME versus $1,868 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Brunswick, ME $4,011
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,868

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $5,375 in Brunswick, ME versus $2,448 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Brunswick, ME $5,375
  • Rio de Janeiro $2,448

Living in Brunswick, ME is roughly 105% more expensive than in Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Brunswick, ME is 96% above, Rio de Janeiro is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brunswick, ME
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.69 $24.69
$10.06 R$51.0
145.43%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$119 $119
$40.44 R$205
194.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$14.97 $14.97
$8.55 R$43.35
75.09%
Cappuccino
$6.10 $6.10
$2.38 R$12.04
156.30%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.06 $3.06
$1.61 R$8.18
90.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.45 $2.45
$1.03 R$5.22
137.86%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.96 $7.96
$2.47 R$12.54
222.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.85 $7.85
$3.70 R$18.77
112.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brunswick, ME
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.19 R$6.05
-23.53%
White Bread (500g)
$3.25 $3.25
$2.05 R$10.38
58.54%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.47 $3.47
$1.28 R$6.49
171.09%
Eggs
$2.55 $2.55
$2.29 R$11.60
11.35%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.99 $12.99
$10.76 R$54.5
20.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$10.39 $10.39
$4.41 R$22.36
135.60%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.21 $16.21
$9.84 R$49.86
64.74%
Apples (1kg)
$4.89 $4.89
$2.81 R$14.25
74.02%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 $1.46
$1.78 R$9.03
-17.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.40 $4.40
$1.60 R$8.13
175.00%
Tomato (1kg)
$6.50 $6.50
$1.80 R$9.11
261.11%
Potato (1kg)
$3.37 $3.37
$1.22 R$6.17
176.23%
Onion (1kg)
$3.65 $3.65
$1.04 R$5.26
250.96%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.52 $2.52
$0.77 R$3.92
227.27%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.88 $1.88
$0.67 R$3.38
180.60%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.87 $8.87
$3.01 R$15.27
194.68%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.07 $13.07
$8.08 R$40.94
61.76%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.19 R$6.03
11.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.87 $1.87
$2.51 R$12.73
-25.50%
🚌 Getting Around
Brunswick, ME
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.80 $1.80
$0.99 R$5.00
81.82%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$50.1 R$254
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.97 $1.97
$1.22 R$6.20
61.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 $1.51
$0.92 R$4.66
64.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.87 $10.87
$8.97 R$45.45
21.18%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.30 R$6.57
-19.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.7K $35.7K
$23.9K R$121.0K
49.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.1K $26.1K
$32.9K R$166.6K
-20.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brunswick, ME
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$162 $162
$133 R$676
21.51%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$70.3 $70.3
$10.82 R$54.8
549.45%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$76.4 $76.4
$22.90 R$116
233.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brunswick, ME
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.77 $44.77
$30.79 R$156
45.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$31.85 R$161
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.18 $14.18
$8.05 R$40.83
76.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brunswick, ME
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,227 $1,227
$598 R$3,029
105.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$23.6K $23.6K
$13.4K R$68.0K
75.93%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brunswick, ME
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.9 $51.9
$42.04 R$213
23.43%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$81.5 $81.5
$49.68 R$252
64.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$100 $100
$74.5 R$378
34.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$135 $135
$68.7 R$348
97.13%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brunswick, ME
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,594 $1,594
$903 R$4,578
76.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,313 $1,313
$529 R$2,684
147.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,518 $2,518
$1,326 R$6,724
89.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,189 $2,189
$756 R$3,831
189.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,920 $2,920
$4,010 R$20.3K
-27.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,155 $2,155
$1,560 R$7,910
38.15%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brunswick, ME
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,638 $4,638
$640 R$3,242
625.12%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.5
11.93
-45.52%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Brunswick, ME: October 12, 2026

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Brunswick, ME
$1.3K
Rio de Janeiro
$529 59.7% $783
Eating Out
Brunswick, ME
$393
Rio de Janeiro
$165 58% $228
Groceries & Markets
Brunswick, ME
$375
Rio de Janeiro
$215 42.8% $160
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brunswick, ME
$309
Rio de Janeiro
$167 45.9% $142
Clothing & Footwear
Brunswick, ME
$166
Rio de Janeiro
$106 36.4% $60
Sport & Entertainment
Brunswick, ME
$73
Rio de Janeiro
$47 35.9% $26
Getting Around
Brunswick, ME
$17 *
Rio de Janeiro
$60 258% $43

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,594 in Brunswick, ME and $903 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Brunswick, ME pays 625% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $119 in Brunswick, ME vs $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $375 vs $215 per month, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Brunswick, ME
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🕒 Local time
03:30 3:30 AM
04:30 4:30 AM
1 h ahead of Brunswick, ME
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
16,287
6,211,223
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Brunswick, ME Rio de Janeiro 7,920 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Brunswick, ME
  • Rio de Janeiro

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Brunswick, ME vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rio de Janeiro cheaper than Brunswick, ME?
Rio de Janeiro is cheaper overall, especially in eating out, groceries, and clothing. The 105% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Brunswick, ME or Rio de Janeiro?
Average pay runs 625% higher in Brunswick, ME, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Brunswick, ME and Rio de Janeiro?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,594 in Brunswick, ME versus $903 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $1,227 in Brunswick, ME versus $598 in Rio de Janeiro. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is eating out cheaper in Brunswick, ME or in Rio de Janeiro?
Dining out is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $119 in Brunswick, ME. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Brunswick, ME or in Rio de Janeiro?
At $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,646 in Brunswick, ME, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rio de Janeiro but tight or insufficient in Brunswick, ME. The gap between the two cities makes Rio de Janeiro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Brunswick, ME or Rio de Janeiro more family-friendly?
For families, Rio de Janeiro is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Brunswick, ME, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Rio de Janeiro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 105% less than in Brunswick, ME. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Brunswick, ME vs other spots: cost of living compared

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