🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $787 in Dourados versus $948 in Rio de Janeiro.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,238 in Dourados versus $1,487 in Rio de Janeiro.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,689 in Dourados versus $2,026 in Rio de Janeiro.
🙂Living in Dourados costs roughly 17% less than in Rio de Janeiro, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Dourados41% lower, Rio de Janeiro29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Dourados
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.27R$26.17
$7.03R$34.96
-25.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.12R$135
$35.46R$176
-23.52%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.28R$31.19
$6.19R$30.78
1.45%
Cappuccino
$1.79R$8.91
$2.00R$9.92
-10.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.08R$5.36
$1.29R$6.41
-16.28%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.29
$0.90R$4.46
-26.67%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.85R$9.19
$1.76R$8.75
5.11%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.72R$13.53
$2.63R$13.09
3.42%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Dourados
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.01R$5.04
$1.13R$5.62
-10.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.52R$7.56
$1.69R$8.40
-10.06%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.13R$5.63
$1.42R$7.04
-20.42%
Eggs
$1.94R$9.62
$1.92R$9.55
1.04%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.06R$40.07
$7.79R$38.73
3.47%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.58R$17.78
$3.63R$18.05
-1.38%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.21R$35.82
$7.99R$39.72
-9.76%
Apples(1kg)
$2.15R$10.68
$2.33R$11.60
-7.73%
Banana(1kg)
$1.25R$6.19
$1.60R$7.96
-21.88%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.19R$5.91
$1.46R$7.25
-18.49%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.46R$7.26
$1.57R$7.80
-7.01%
Potato(1kg)
$1.19R$5.93
$1.25R$6.19
-4.80%
Onion(1kg)
$1.11R$5.49
$1.16R$5.76
-4.31%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74R$3.66
$0.69R$3.44
7.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61R$3.03
$0.62R$3.07
-1.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.15R$10.69
$1.97R$9.77
9.14%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.27R$36.12
$7.90R$39.28
-7.97%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27R$6.30
$1.27R$6.33
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.04R$10.15
$2.12R$10.52
-3.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Dourados
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86R$4.30
$1.28R$6.38
-32.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.33R$191
$38.38R$191
-0.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11R$5.53
$1.11R$5.54
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71R$3.52
$0.71R$3.54
-
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.45R$32.04
$7.79R$38.70
-17.20%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.04R$5.15
$1.06R$5.29
-1.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.0KR$104.6K
$20.9KR$104.0K
0.55%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.3KR$135.8K
$27.9KR$138.6K
-1.97%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Dourados
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.8R$302
$103R$513
-41.10%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.46R$66.9
$12.22R$60.7
10.15%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.56R$92.3
$18.82R$93.5
-1.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Dourados
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.12R$110
$25.63R$127
-13.69%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.96R$109
$24.19R$120
-9.22%
Cinema Ticket
$6.12R$30.44
$6.38R$31.72
-4.08%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Dourados
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$272R$1,353
$551R$2,738
-50.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,463R$32.1K
$11.7KR$58.1K
-44.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Dourados
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.84R$248
$45.89R$228
8.61%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.84R$213
$41.16R$205
4.08%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$75.9R$377
$76.5R$380
-0.76%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.6R$326
$60.8R$302
7.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Dourados
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$311R$1,544
$433R$2,154
-28.35%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$215R$1,068
$336R$1,669
-36.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$591R$2,937
$853R$4,237
-30.69%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$431R$2,145
$589R$2,926
-26.70%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,873R$9,309
$2,926R$14.5K
-35.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,220R$6,062
$1,342R$6,668
-9.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Dourados
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
-
$545R$2,708
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
11.33
-3.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Dourados: April 20, 2026
Last update for Rio de Janeiro: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $311 in Dourados and $433 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $27 in Dourados vs $35 in Rio de Janeiro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $173 vs $185 per month, with Dourados cheaper across the board.
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
Dourados vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Dourados or Rio de Janeiro?
Dourados wins on cost – living expenses run 20% lower than in Rio de Janeiro. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Dourados the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Dourados vs Rio de Janeiro?
You'd need roughly $1,181 in Dourados and $1,422 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 much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Dourados vs Rio de Janeiro?
Rent for a central apartment: $311 in Dourados versus $433 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Dourados or Rio de Janeiro?
Supermarket bills run roughly 7% higher in Rio de Janeiro. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How do dining costs compare in Dourados vs Rio de Janeiro?
Dining out is cheaper in Dourados – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $35.00 in Rio de Janeiro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $800/month in Dourados or Rio de Janeiro?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Dourados gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Dourados or Rio de Janeiro?
Both work as nomad bases, but Dourados delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $787 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Dourados hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Dourados gentler on the wallet – expenses run 20% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.