Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Chiquimula and Rio de Janeiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Chiquimula: $829 a month against $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro, rent and utilities included – about $5,500 less a year. Higher rent and utilities in Rio de Janeiro outweigh lower spending on other living expenses.

Chiquimula
🇬🇹 Guatemala
$829
/mo nomad
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,285
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $829 per month in Chiquimula vs $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Chiquimula $829
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,285

A couple spends around $1,379 per month in Chiquimula vs $1,888 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Chiquimula $1,379
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,888

A family of three spends $1,929 per month in Chiquimula vs $2,491 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Chiquimula $1,929
  • Rio de Janeiro $2,491

Chiquimula is about 35% cheaper than Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both Chiquimula and Rio de Janeiro are more affordable than the global median – Chiquimula 38% lower, Rio de Janeiro 4% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Chiquimula
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.60 Q 65.7
$9.98 R$49.83
-13.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$52.6 Q 402
$40.34 R$201
30.47%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.85 Q 67.6
$8.48 R$42.35
4.36%
Cappuccino
$4.00 Q 30.56
$2.36 R$11.80
69.49%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12 Q 16.24
$1.63 R$8.13
30.06%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.45 Q 11.11
$1.01 R$5.06
43.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.93 Q 30.02
$2.44 R$12.19
61.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.04 Q 46.12
$3.69 R$18.43
63.69%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Chiquimula
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.04 Q 15.56
$1.15 R$5.72
77.39%
White Bread (500g)
$3.59 Q 27.43
$2.07 R$10.34
73.43%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.00 Q 15.30
$1.29 R$6.42
55.04%
Eggs
$2.35 Q 17.95
$2.27 R$11.32
3.52%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.34 Q 40.77
$11.00 R$54.9
-51.45%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.79 Q 105
$4.31 R$21.51
219.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$10.20 Q 78.0
$9.74 R$48.63
4.72%
Apples (1kg)
$4.75 Q 36.29
$2.83 R$14.12
67.84%
Banana (1kg)
$2.38 Q 18.15
$1.84 R$9.17
29.35%
Oranges (1kg)
$5.24 Q 40.05
$1.60 R$7.96
227.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.58 Q 12.11
$1.80 R$9.00
-12.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.85 Q 14.17
$1.26 R$6.28
46.83%
Onion (1kg)
$1.76 Q 13.48
$1.07 R$5.34
64.49%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.30 Q 9.91
$0.75 R$3.75
73.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.37 Q 10.48
$0.66 R$3.29
107.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.91 Q 29.85
$3.05 R$15.21
28.20%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.81 Q 59.7
$8.18 R$40.84
-4.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.86 Q 21.88
$1.19 R$5.92
140.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.78 Q 28.85
$2.39 R$11.92
58.16%
🚌 Getting Around
Chiquimula
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.01 R$5.06
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$50.2 R$250
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.73 Q 36.14
$1.27 R$6.33
272.44%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
-
$0.90 R$4.51
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
-
$9.44 R$47.13
-
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.25 Q 9.52
$1.33 R$6.65
-6.02%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7K Q 173.7K
$23.4K R$117.0K
-2.99%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$21.4K Q 163.8K
$33.6K R$167.6K
-36.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiquimula
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$56.5 Q 432
$134 R$666
-57.70%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.05 Q 298
$12.23 R$61.0
219.30%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$62.1 Q 475
$22.65 R$113
174.17%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Chiquimula
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
-
$31.56 R$158
-
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$30.87 R$154
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.27 Q 63.2
$8.23 R$41.07
0.49%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Chiquimula
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$545 Q 4,163
$603 R$3,011
-9.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.2K Q 108.8K
$13.2K R$66.1K
7.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Chiquimula
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$43.74 Q 334
$41.62 R$208
5.09%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$53.2 Q 406
$49.94 R$249
6.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.9 Q 717
$75.0 R$375
25.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.6 Q 616
$68.3 R$341
17.96%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Chiquimula
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$905 R$4,519
-
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$527 R$2,633
-
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
-
$1,346 R$6,720
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
-
$774 R$3,865
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$3,981 R$19.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,562 R$7,798
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Chiquimula
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
-
$643 R$3,210
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
0
11.93
-

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

Last update for Chiquimula: October 3, 2026

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Chiquimula
–
Rio de Janeiro
$527
Groceries & Markets
Chiquimula
–
Rio de Janeiro
$215
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Chiquimula
–
Rio de Janeiro
$168
Eating Out
Chiquimula
–
Rio de Janeiro
$164
Clothing & Footwear
Chiquimula
–
Rio de Janeiro
$106
Getting Around
Chiquimula
–
Rio de Janeiro
$60
Sport & Entertainment
Chiquimula
–
Rio de Janeiro
$48

Cost Breakdown

A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Chiquimula versus $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $324 vs $215 – making Rio de Janeiro the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇬🇹 Chiquimula
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🕒 Local time
04:35 4:35 AM
07:35 7:35 AM
3 h ahead of Chiquimula
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
79,815
6,211,223
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to GTQ – Guatemalan Quetzal Converter

Guatemalan Quetzal exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 7.64 GTQ (1 GTQ = 0.131 USD). 1 EUR = 8.56 GTQ (1 GTQ = 0.117 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.59 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Chiquimula Rio de Janeiro 6,560 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Chiquimula
  • 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
Chiquimula vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rio de Janeiro cheaper than Chiquimula?
Yes – Rio de Janeiro is pricier by about 55%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,243 per month in Chiquimula and $1,927 in Rio de Janeiro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Is eating out cheaper in Chiquimula or in Rio de Janeiro?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $53.0 in Chiquimula and $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Chiquimula and in Rio de Janeiro?
Interestingly, groceries are about 51% cheaper in Rio de Janeiro – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Chiquimula or in Rio de Janeiro?
A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Chiquimula, where all-in costs run around $829, than in Rio de Janeiro at $1,285. In Chiquimula it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rio de Janeiro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Chiquimula or Rio de Janeiro more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Chiquimula – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is safer, Chiquimula or Rio de Janeiro?
Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Chiquimula. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rio de Janeiro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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