Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Ecuador and Rio de Janeiro
For one person, living is cheaper in Ecuador: $874 a month against $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro, rent and utilities included – about $4,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
-
Ecuador Living Index42Cost of Living Index in EcuadorLearn more -
Rio de Janeiro Living Index63Cost of Living Index in Rio de JaneiroLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Ecuador is 11.4% cheaper than Rio de Janeiro without rent, and 32% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Ecuador is 12.5% cheaper than Rio de Janeiro without rent, and 24.2% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.54 $3.54
$9.98 R$49.83
-64.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$34.47 $34.47
$40.34 R$201
-14.55%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.97 $6.97
$8.48 R$42.35
-17.81%
Cappuccino
$2.72 $2.72
$2.36 R$11.80
15.25%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.63 R$8.13
-36.81%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.81 $0.81
$1.01 R$5.06
-19.80%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.95 $1.95
$2.44 R$12.19
-20.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.92 $3.92
$3.69 R$18.43
6.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.15 R$5.72
-9.57%
White Bread (500g)
$1.78 $1.78
$2.07 R$10.34
-14.01%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.45 $1.45
$1.29 R$6.42
12.40%
Eggs
$2.05 $2.05
$2.27 R$11.32
-9.69%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$6.10 $6.10
$11.00 R$54.9
-44.55%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.43 $5.43
$4.31 R$21.51
25.99%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.76 $7.76
$9.74 R$48.63
-20.33%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 $2.04
$2.83 R$14.12
-27.92%
Banana (1kg)
$1.05 $1.05
$1.84 R$9.17
-42.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.33 $1.33
$1.60 R$7.96
-16.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.21 $1.21
$1.80 R$9.00
-32.78%
Potato (1kg)
$1.18 $1.18
$1.26 R$6.28
-6.35%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 $1.01
$1.07 R$5.34
-5.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 $0.77
$0.75 R$3.75
2.67%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.08 $1.08
$0.66 R$3.29
63.64%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$5.88 $5.88
$3.05 R$15.21
92.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.06 $10.06
$8.18 R$40.84
22.98%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 $1.71
$1.19 R$5.92
43.70%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.00 $3.00
$2.39 R$11.92
25.52%
🚌 Getting Around
Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.33 $0.33
$1.01 R$5.06
-67.33%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$21.01 $21.01
$50.2 R$250
-58.11%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.51 $1.51
$1.27 R$6.33
18.90%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.51 $1.51
$0.90 R$4.51
67.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$10.12 $10.12
$9.44 R$47.13
7.20%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.79 $0.79
$1.33 R$6.65
-40.60%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5K $20.5K
$23.4K R$117.0K
-12.36%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.5K $29.5K
$33.6K R$167.6K
-12.04%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$44.19 $44.19
$134 R$666
-66.90%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.55 $13.55
$12.23 R$61.0
10.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$28.23 $28.23
$22.65 R$113
24.64%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.74 $34.74
$31.56 R$158
10.08%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.45 $15.45
$30.87 R$154
-49.95%
Cinema Ticket
$6.95 $6.95
$8.23 R$41.07
-15.55%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$398 $398
$603 R$3,011
-33.97%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,244 $6,244
$13.2K R$66.1K
-52.84%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$62.9 $62.9
$41.62 R$208
51.08%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.80 $45.80
$49.94 R$249
-8.29%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$107 $107
$75.0 R$375
42.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$77.7 $77.7
$68.3 R$341
13.76%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$381 $381
$905 R$4,519
-57.91%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$278 $278
$527 R$2,633
-47.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$603 $603
$1,346 R$6,720
-55.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 $482
$774 R$3,865
-37.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,565 $1,565
$3,981 R$19.9K
-60.67%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$812 $812
$1,562 R$7,798
-48.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ecuador
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$544 $544
$643 R$3,210
-15.43%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10.34
11.93
-13.33%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ecuador: October 5, 2026
Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Ecuador $278 31.7%
Rio de Janeiro $527 41% 90% $250
Groceries & Markets
Ecuador $195 22.2%
Rio de Janeiro $215 16.7% 10% $20
Clothing & Footwear
Ecuador $132 15%
Rio de Janeiro $106 8.2% 19.8% $26
Eating Out
Ecuador $107 12.2%
Rio de Janeiro $164 12.7% 53.4% $57
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ecuador $86 9.8%
Rio de Janeiro $168 13.1% 95.8% $82
Sport & Entertainment
Ecuador $49 5.5%
Rio de Janeiro $48 3.7% 1.3% $0.6
Getting Around
Ecuador $31 3.6%
Rio de Janeiro $60 4.7% 90.8% $29
Accommodation & Living
Ecuador $482 25.8%
Rio de Janeiro $774 31.4% 60.6% $292
Groceries & Markets
Ecuador $438 23.5%
Rio de Janeiro $498 20.2% 13.7% $60
Clothing & Footwear
Ecuador $293 15.7%
Rio de Janeiro $235 9.5% 19.8% $58
Eating Out
Ecuador $379 20.3%
Rio de Janeiro $531 21.5% 40.2% $152
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ecuador $100 5.3%
Rio de Janeiro $181 7.3% 81.5% $81
Sport & Entertainment
Ecuador $113 6%
Rio de Janeiro $127 5.1% 12.6% $14
Getting Around
Ecuador $64 3.4%
Rio de Janeiro $122 4.9% 92% $58
Good to know
🇪🇨 Ecuador
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
Weather
Population
16,938,986
6,211,223
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Ecuador Rio de Janeiro 4,570 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
- Ecuador
- 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
Ecuador vs other spots: cost of living compared
Similar countries
44
Cost of Living Index in Brazil
Learn more
🇲🇾 Malaysia
44
Cost of Living Index in Malaysia
Learn more
🇦🇿 Azerbaijan
44
Cost of Living Index in Azerbaijan
Learn more
🇺🇿 Uzbekistan
44
Cost of Living Index in Uzbekistan
Learn more
🇧🇾 Belarus
44
Cost of Living Index in Belarus
Learn more
🇵🇪 Peru
41
Cost of Living Index in Peru
Learn more
🇰🇬 Kyrgyzstan
43
Cost of Living Index in Kyrgyzstan
Learn more
🇿🇼 Zimbabwe
41
Cost of Living Index in Zimbabwe
Learn more