Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Great Falls, MT and Rio de Janeiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,285 a month against $2,207 in Great Falls, MT, rent and utilities included – about $11,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Great Falls, MT
🇺🇸 United States
$2,207
/mo nomad
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,285
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,207 per month in Great Falls, MT vs $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Great Falls, MT $2,207
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,285

A couple spends around $3,040 per month in Great Falls, MT vs $1,888 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Great Falls, MT $3,040
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,888

A family of three spends $3,874 per month in Great Falls, MT vs $2,491 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Great Falls, MT $3,874
  • Rio de Janeiro $2,491

Great Falls, MT costs about 72% more than Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Great Falls, MT sits 65% above the global median, while Rio de Janeiro is 4% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Great Falls, MT
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.33 $11.33
$9.98 R$49.69
13.53%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.38 $37.38
$40.34 R$201
-7.34%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.47 $9.47
$8.48 R$42.23
11.67%
Cappuccino
$4.20 $4.20
$2.36 R$11.77
77.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28 $2.28
$1.63 R$8.11
39.88%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06 $2.06
$1.01 R$5.05
103.96%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.95 $5.95
$2.44 R$12.15
143.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.07 $6.07
$3.69 R$18.38
64.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Great Falls, MT
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 $1.08
$1.15 R$5.70
-6.09%
White Bread (500g)
$3.33 $3.33
$2.07 R$10.31
60.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.87 $4.87
$1.29 R$6.40
277.52%
Eggs
$3.24 $3.24
$2.27 R$11.29
42.73%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$16.85 $16.85
$11.00 R$54.7
53.18%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$9.82 $9.82
$4.31 R$21.44
127.84%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$11.92 $11.92
$9.74 R$48.49
22.38%
Apples (1kg)
$4.76 $4.76
$2.83 R$14.07
68.20%
Banana (1kg)
$1.40 $1.40
$1.84 R$9.14
-23.91%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.25 $4.25
$1.60 R$7.94
165.62%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.23 $2.23
$1.80 R$8.97
23.89%
Potato (1kg)
$2.42 $2.42
$1.26 R$6.26
92.06%
Onion (1kg)
$2.85 $2.85
$1.07 R$5.32
166.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.40 $2.40
$0.75 R$3.74
220.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$3.37 $3.37
$0.66 R$3.28
410.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.30 $8.30
$3.05 R$15.16
172.13%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.20 $18.20
$8.18 R$40.72
122.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.02 $2.02
$1.19 R$5.90
69.75%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.63 $4.63
$2.39 R$11.88
93.72%
🚌 Getting Around
Great Falls, MT
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
-
$1.01 R$5.04
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$29.86 $29.86
$50.2 R$250
-40.46%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$6.17 $6.17
$1.27 R$6.31
385.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.34 $1.34
$0.90 R$4.50
48.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$40.76 $40.76
$9.44 R$46.99
331.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.92 $0.92
$1.33 R$6.63
-30.83%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$33.0K $33.0K
$23.4K R$116.6K
40.91%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.5K $25.5K
$33.6K R$167.1K
-24.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Great Falls, MT
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 $133
$134 R$664
-0.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$39.87 $39.87
$12.23 R$60.9
226.00%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$70.6 $70.6
$22.65 R$113
211.70%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Great Falls, MT
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$63.8 $63.8
$31.56 R$157
102.28%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$30.87 R$154
-
Cinema Ticket
$11.41 $11.41
$8.23 R$40.95
38.64%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Great Falls, MT
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$925 $925
$603 R$3,002
53.38%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.8K $13.8K
$13.2K R$65.9K
3.98%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Great Falls, MT
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$25.45 $25.45
$41.62 R$207
-38.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$30.02 $30.02
$49.94 R$249
-39.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$81.2 $81.2
$75.0 R$373
8.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.0 $64.0
$68.3 R$340
-6.37%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Great Falls, MT
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,405 $1,405
$905 R$4,506
55.17%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,123 $1,123
$527 R$2,625
112.90%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,691 $2,691
$1,346 R$6,700
99.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,669 $1,669
$774 R$3,854
115.60%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,115 $2,115
$3,981 R$19.8K
-46.86%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,120 $2,120
$1,562 R$7,775
35.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Great Falls, MT
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,503 $3,503
$643 R$3,200
444.82%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.2
11.93
-48.03%

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

Last update for Great Falls, MT: October 4, 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
Great Falls, MT
$1.1K
Rio de Janeiro
$527 53% $596
Groceries & Markets
Great Falls, MT
$391
Rio de Janeiro
$215 45.1% $176
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Great Falls, MT
$243
Rio de Janeiro
$168 30.8% $75
Eating Out
Great Falls, MT
$229
Rio de Janeiro
$164 28.3% $65
Clothing & Footwear
Great Falls, MT
$90
Rio de Janeiro
$106 17.1% $15
Sport & Entertainment
Great Falls, MT
$87
Rio de Janeiro
$48 44.6% $39
Getting Around
Great Falls, MT
$43 *
Rio de Janeiro
$60 40.3% $17

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,405 in Great Falls, MT versus $905 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 445% higher in Great Falls, MT, 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 $37.00 in Great Falls, MT versus $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro. Groceries tell a different story – $391 in Great Falls, MT vs $215 in Rio de Janeiro – so Rio de Janeiro wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Great Falls, MT
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🕒 Local time
23:04 11:04 PM
02:04 2:04 AM
3 h ahead of Great Falls, MT
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
60,442
6,211,223
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 4.98 BRL (1 BRL = 0.201 USD). 1 EUR = 5.58 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Great Falls, MT Rio de Janeiro 10,360 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Great Falls, MT
  • 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
Great Falls, MT vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Great Falls, MT or Rio de Janeiro?
Great Falls, MT costs about 72% more than Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Great Falls, MT and in Rio de Janeiro?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $3,310 per month in Great Falls, MT and $1,927 in Rio de Janeiro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Great Falls, MT or Rio de Janeiro?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rio de Janeiro, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Are groceries more expensive in Great Falls, MT or in Rio de Janeiro?
Groceries cost about 82% more in Great Falls, MT, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
How do dining costs compare in Great Falls, MT and in Rio de Janeiro?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $37.00 in Great Falls, MT and $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Great Falls, MT or in Rio de Janeiro?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rio de Janeiro, where all-in costs run around $1,285, than in Great Falls, MT at $2,207. In Rio de Janeiro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Great Falls, MT it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Great Falls, MT or Rio de Janeiro?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rio de Janeiro costs $1,285 versus $2,207 in Great Falls, MT. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
How safe is Great Falls, MT compared to 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.
Should I move to Great Falls, MT or to Rio de Janeiro?
If budget matters most, go with Rio de Janeiro. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Great Falls, MT makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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