Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Cambridge Bay and Rio de Janeiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,289 a month against $2,410 in Cambridge Bay, rent and utilities included – about $13,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Cambridge Bay
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,410
/mo nomad
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,289
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Cambridge Bay 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 Cambridge Bay and in Rio de Janeiro actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,410 in Cambridge Bay versus $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Cambridge Bay $2,410
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,289

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,214 in Cambridge Bay versus $1,868 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Cambridge Bay $3,214
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,868

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,019 in Cambridge Bay versus $2,448 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Cambridge Bay $4,019
  • Rio de Janeiro $2,448

Living in Cambridge Bay is roughly 87% 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: Cambridge Bay is 79% above, Rio de Janeiro is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Cambridge Bay
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$21.76 CA$30.93
$10.06 R$50.5
116.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$64.7 CA$92.0
$40.44 R$203
59.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.24 CA$13.14
$8.55 R$42.90
8.07%
Cappuccino
$3.71 CA$5.27
$2.38 R$11.92
55.88%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.01 CA$2.86
$1.61 R$8.09
24.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.20
$1.03 R$5.17
50.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.20 CA$7.40
$2.47 R$12.41
110.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.17 CA$8.77
$3.70 R$18.58
66.76%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cambridge Bay
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.97 CA$2.81
$1.19 R$5.99
65.55%
White Bread (500g)
$2.53 CA$3.59
$2.05 R$10.28
23.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.27 CA$4.65
$1.28 R$6.42
155.47%
Eggs
$3.35 CA$4.77
$2.29 R$11.48
46.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.71 CA$13.81
$10.76 R$54.0
-9.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.57 CA$16.45
$4.41 R$22.13
162.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.03 CA$21.38
$9.84 R$49.35
52.74%
Apples (1kg)
$3.83 CA$5.44
$2.81 R$14.11
36.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.28 CA$1.81
$1.78 R$8.94
-28.09%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.23 CA$4.59
$1.60 R$8.05
101.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.42 CA$4.86
$1.80 R$9.02
90.00%
Potato (1kg)
$2.82 CA$4.00
$1.22 R$6.11
131.15%
Onion (1kg)
$2.23 CA$3.16
$1.04 R$5.21
114.42%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.75 CA$3.91
$0.77 R$3.88
257.14%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.52 CA$2.16
$0.67 R$3.34
126.87%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.50 CA$20.62
$3.01 R$15.12
381.73%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.23 CA$17.39
$8.08 R$40.52
51.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.74 CA$3.90
$1.19 R$5.97
130.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.18 CA$4.52
$2.51 R$12.60
26.69%
🚌 Getting Around
Cambridge Bay
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.59 CA$3.68
$0.99 R$4.95
161.62%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.5 CA$91.7
$50.1 R$251
28.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.83 CA$4.02
$1.22 R$6.14
131.97%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.53 CA$2.18
$0.92 R$4.61
66.30%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$20.29 CA$28.84
$8.97 R$44.98
126.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.18 CA$1.68
$1.30 R$6.51
-9.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K CA$36.5K
$23.9K R$119.8K
7.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K CA$27.2K
$32.9K R$164.9K
-41.82%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cambridge Bay
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$128 CA$181
$133 R$669
-4.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.88 CA$53.9
$10.82 R$54.3
250.09%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$53.7 CA$76.4
$22.90 R$115
134.54%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cambridge Bay
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$38.55 CA$54.8
$30.79 R$154
25.20%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$16.98 CA$24.14
$31.85 R$160
-46.69%
Cinema Ticket
$12.66 CA$18.00
$8.05 R$40.41
57.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cambridge Bay
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$669 CA$951
$598 R$2,998
11.96%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.3K CA$18.9K
$13.4K R$67.3K
-1.04%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cambridge Bay
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.9 CA$83.7
$42.04 R$211
39.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.41 CA$60.3
$49.68 R$249
-14.63%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.1 CA$105
$74.5 R$374
-0.58%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$89.2 CA$127
$68.7 R$345
29.89%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cambridge Bay
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,316 CA$1,871
$903 R$4,531
45.68%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,277 CA$1,815
$529 R$2,656
141.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,017 CA$2,867
$1,326 R$6,655
52.04%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,446 CA$2,056
$756 R$3,792
91.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,510 CA$6,413
$4,010 R$20.1K
12.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,974 CA$5,651
$1,560 R$7,829
154.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cambridge Bay
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$640 R$3,209
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.66
11.93
-60.94%

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

Last update for Cambridge Bay: October 11, 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
Cambridge Bay
$1.3K
Rio de Janeiro
$529 58.5% $747
Groceries & Markets
Cambridge Bay
$347
Rio de Janeiro
$215 38.2% $132
Eating Out
Cambridge Bay
$299
Rio de Janeiro
$165 44.8% $134
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cambridge Bay
$219
Rio de Janeiro
$167 23.7% $52
Clothing & Footwear
Cambridge Bay
$119
Rio de Janeiro
$106 11.2% $13
Getting Around
Cambridge Bay
$85
Rio de Janeiro
$60 29.8% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Cambridge Bay
$64
Rio de Janeiro
$47 26.6% $17

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,316 in Cambridge Bay and $903 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $65.0 in Cambridge Bay vs $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $347 vs $215 per month, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Cambridge Bay
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🕒 Local time
15:54 3:54 PM
18:54 6:54 PM
3 h ahead of Cambridge Bay
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
1,800
6,211,223
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 1.42 CAD (1 CAD = 0.703 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.628 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 14, 2026: 1 USD = 5.02 BRL (1 BRL = 0.199 USD). 1 EUR = 5.62 BRL (1 BRL = 0.178 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Cambridge Bay Rio de Janeiro 11,350 km ≈ 15 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Cambridge Bay
  • 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
Cambridge Bay vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Cambridge Bay and in Rio de Janeiro?
Cambridge Bay and Rio de Janeiro differ by about 87% in total monthly costs ($2,410 vs $1,289 including rent). Rio de Janeiro is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Cambridge Bay compared to Rio de Janeiro?
You'd need roughly $3,615 in Cambridge Bay and $1,933 in Rio de Janeiro to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Cambridge Bay and in Rio de Janeiro?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,316 in Cambridge Bay versus $903 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city is more expensive overall: Cambridge Bay or Rio de Janeiro?
All in, you'll spend $2,410 per month in Cambridge Bay versus $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro – a 87% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How do commuting costs compare in Cambridge Bay and in Rio de Janeiro?
A monthly transit pass in Rio de Janeiro runs roughly 29% less than in Cambridge Bay. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,410 in Cambridge Bay, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rio de Janeiro but tight or insufficient in Cambridge Bay. The gap between the two cities makes Rio de Janeiro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Cambridge Bay and Rio de Janeiro?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Cambridge Bay or Rio de Janeiro?
Expats usually find Rio de Janeiro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 87% less than in Cambridge Bay. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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