🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $577 in Juiz de Fora versus $948 in Rio de Janeiro.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $932 in Juiz de Fora versus $1,487 in Rio de Janeiro.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,288 in Juiz de Fora versus $2,026 in Rio de Janeiro.
🙂Living in Juiz de Fora costs roughly 39% less than in Rio de Janeiro, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Juiz de Fora57% lower, Rio de Janeiro29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Juiz de Fora
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.63R$18.06
$7.03R$34.96
-48.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.94R$89.2
$35.46R$176
-49.41%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.55R$22.60
$6.19R$30.78
-26.49%
Cappuccino
$1.63R$8.11
$2.00R$9.92
-18.50%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92R$4.59
$1.29R$6.41
-28.68%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62R$3.06
$0.90R$4.46
-31.11%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$0.86R$4.28
$1.76R$8.75
-51.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.78R$8.83
$2.63R$13.09
-32.32%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Juiz de Fora
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.77R$3.84
$1.13R$5.62
-31.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.38R$6.86
$1.69R$8.40
-18.34%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.56R$7.73
$1.42R$7.04
9.86%
Eggs
$1.69R$8.39
$1.92R$9.55
-11.98%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.10R$35.30
$7.79R$38.73
-8.86%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.13R$15.55
$3.63R$18.05
-13.77%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.41R$36.81
$7.99R$39.72
-7.26%
Apples(1kg)
$1.82R$9.03
$2.33R$11.60
-21.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.18R$5.86
$1.60R$7.96
-26.25%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.09R$5.44
$1.46R$7.25
-25.34%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.33R$6.60
$1.57R$7.80
-15.29%
Potato(1kg)
$1.03R$5.11
$1.25R$6.19
-17.60%
Onion(1kg)
$0.65R$3.21
$1.16R$5.76
-43.97%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.49R$2.46
$0.69R$3.44
-28.99%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66R$3.27
$0.62R$3.07
6.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.07R$5.30
$1.97R$9.77
-45.69%
Wine(Bottle)
$6.06R$30.14
$7.90R$39.28
-23.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.78R$3.86
$1.27R$6.33
-38.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.00R$4.95
$2.12R$10.52
-52.83%
🚌 Getting Around
Juiz de Fora
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.65R$3.24
$1.28R$6.38
-49.22%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$30.30R$151
$38.38R$191
-21.05%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$0.99R$4.90
$1.11R$5.54
-10.81%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.67R$3.33
$0.71R$3.54
-5.63%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$5.68R$28.23
$7.79R$38.70
-27.09%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.05R$5.24
$1.06R$5.29
-0.94%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$18.1KR$89.9K
$20.9KR$104.0K
-13.58%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.8KR$133.3K
$27.9KR$138.6K
-3.81%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Juiz de Fora
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$58.6R$291
$103R$513
-43.22%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$6.73R$33.45
$12.22R$60.7
-44.93%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$15.97R$79.4
$18.82R$93.5
-15.14%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Juiz de Fora
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$17.26R$85.8
$25.63R$127
-32.66%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.54R$127
$24.19R$120
5.58%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60R$22.87
$6.38R$31.72
-27.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Juiz de Fora
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$69.0R$343
$551R$2,738
-87.49%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$2,385R$11.9K
$11.7KR$58.1K
-79.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Juiz de Fora
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$34.75R$173
$45.89R$228
-24.28%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.80R$183
$41.16R$205
-10.59%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$54.0R$268
$76.5R$380
-29.36%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$30.10R$150
$60.8R$302
-50.45%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Juiz de Fora
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$196R$974
$433R$2,154
-54.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$133R$659
$336R$1,669
-60.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$454R$2,256
$853R$4,237
-46.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$322R$1,602
$589R$2,926
-45.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$984R$4,892
$2,926R$14.5K
-66.36%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$614R$3,050
$1,342R$6,668
-54.25%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Juiz de Fora
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$468R$2,326
$545R$2,708
-14.10%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.83
11.33
-4.41%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Juiz de Fora: April 21, 2026
Last update for Rio de Janeiro: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $196 in Juiz de Fora and $433 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rio de Janeiro pays 16% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
🛒Dining out: $18 in Juiz de Fora vs $35 in Rio de Janeiro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $153 vs $185 per month, with Juiz de Fora 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
Juiz de Fora vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Juiz de Fora or Rio de Janeiro?
Juiz de Fora wins on cost – living expenses run 64% lower than in Rio de Janeiro. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Juiz de Fora the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Juiz de Fora or Rio de Janeiro?
On paper, Rio de Janeiro earns 16% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Juiz de Fora vs Rio de Janeiro?
Rent for a central apartment: $196 in Juiz de Fora versus $433 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Juiz de Fora vs Rio de Janeiro?
Dining out is cheaper in Juiz de Fora – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $35.00 in Rio de Janeiro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Juiz de Fora compared to Rio de Janeiro?
All in, you'll spend $577 per month in Juiz de Fora versus $948 in Rio de Janeiro – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in Juiz de Fora or Rio de Janeiro?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Juiz de Fora 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, Juiz de Fora or Rio de Janeiro?
Both work as nomad bases, but Juiz de Fora delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $577 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Juiz de Fora hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Juiz de Fora gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Juiz de Fora vs other spots: cost of living compared