Cost of Living Comparison Between Foz do Iguaçu and Rio de Janeiro Cost of Living Comparison Between Foz do Iguaçu and Rio de Janeiro

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $756 per month in Foz do Iguaçu vs $960 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,168 per month in Foz do Iguaçu vs $1,479 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,580 per month in Foz do Iguaçu vs $1,997 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

Foz do Iguaçu is about 21% cheaper than Rio de Janeiro, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Foz do Iguaçu and Rio de Janeiro are more affordable than the global median – Foz do Iguaçu 44% lower, Rio de Janeiro 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$5.33 R$26.67

$7.20 R$36.03

-25.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.84 R$179

$35.52 R$178

0.90%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.25 R$31.28

$6.44 R$32.25

-2.95%

Cappuccino

$1.47 R$7.37

$1.97 R$9.88

-25.38%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.12 R$5.58

$1.27 R$6.38

-11.81%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.38 R$1.88

$0.90 R$4.49

-57.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.06 R$5.30

$1.76 R$8.83

-39.77%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.66 R$13.30

$2.68 R$13.43

-0.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$0.85 R$4.26

$1.16 R$5.82

-26.72%

White Bread (500g)

$1.34 R$6.70

$1.70 R$8.50

-21.18%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.54 R$7.69

$1.41 R$7.07

9.22%

Eggs

$2.41 R$12.05

$2.00 R$10.00

20.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.32 R$36.61

$8.05 R$40.27

-9.07%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.57 R$17.86

$3.62 R$18.11

-1.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.72 R$38.62

$8.20 R$41.04

-5.85%

Apples (1kg)

$2.03 R$10.14

$2.40 R$12.00

-15.42%

Banana (1kg)

$1.09 R$5.47

$1.58 R$7.91

-31.01%

Oranges (1kg)

$0.87 R$4.37

$1.49 R$7.48

-41.61%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 R$5.32

$1.56 R$7.81

-32.05%

Potato (1kg)

$0.88 R$4.43

$1.30 R$6.53

-32.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 R$5.11

$1.10 R$5.52

-7.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.79 R$3.97

$0.68 R$3.42

16.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.75 R$3.74

$0.58 R$2.90

29.31%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.64 R$13.20

$1.95 R$9.75

35.38%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.72 R$38.61

$8.73 R$43.69

-11.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.65 R$8.26

$1.21 R$6.08

36.36%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 R$13.43

$2.15 R$10.77

24.65%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.89 R$4.45

$1.23 R$6.16

-27.64%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.22 R$196

$39.30 R$197

-0.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 R$5.55

$1.11 R$5.57

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 R$3.55

$0.71 R$3.57

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.48 R$32.45

$7.37 R$36.90

-12.08%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.91 R$4.56

$1.07 R$5.37

-14.95%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$21.0K R$105.0K

$20.4K R$101.9K

3.08%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.4K R$137.0K

$27.1K R$135.6K

1.06%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$64.2 R$321

$104 R$519

-38.19%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$17.70 R$88.6

$12.18 R$61.0

45.32%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$17.94 R$89.8

$18.70 R$93.6

-4.06%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$17.79 R$89.1

$25.68 R$128

-30.72%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$21.51 R$108

$24.37 R$122

-11.74%

Cinema Ticket

$8.34 R$41.75

$6.60 R$33.05

26.36%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$215 R$1,077

$542 R$2,712

-60.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,583 R$32.9K

$11.8K R$59.1K

-44.25%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.19 R$206

$44.23 R$221

-6.87%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.52 R$82.7

$41.91 R$210

-60.58%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$44.82 R$224

$76.8 R$385

-41.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$34.25 R$171

$62.0 R$310

-44.77%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$293 R$1,465

$438 R$2,194

-33.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$241 R$1,204

$331 R$1,654

-27.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$534 R$2,674

$838 R$4,196

-36.27%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$357 R$1,789

$569 R$2,849

-37.23%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,291 R$6,461

$3,356 R$16.8K

-61.53%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$906 R$4,533

$1,389 R$6,950

-34.77%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$399 R$1,997

$548 R$2,743

-27.18%

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 Foz do Iguaçu: June 2, 2026

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $293 in Foz do Iguaçu versus $438 in Rio de Janeiro. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 37% higher in Rio de Janeiro, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Foz do Iguaçu versus $36.00 in Rio de Janeiro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $172 vs $188 – making Foz do Iguaçu the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Foz do Iguaçu vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $756 in Foz do Iguaçu, $960 in Rio de Janeiro – roughly 27% apart. Rio de Janeiro costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,134 per month in Foz do Iguaçu and $1,440 in Rio de Janeiro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Foz do Iguaçu, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $215 per month in Foz do Iguaçu and $542 in Rio de Janeiro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 9% more in Rio de Janeiro, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Foz do Iguaçu, where all-in costs run around $756, than in Rio de Janeiro at $960. In Foz do Iguaçu it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rio de Janeiro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Rio de Janeiro has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $756 in Foz do Iguaçu to $960 in Rio de Janeiro. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

If budget matters most, go with Foz do Iguaçu. 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.