Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Key West, FL and Rio de Janeiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,289 a month against $4,808 in Key West, FL, rent and utilities included – about $42,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Key West, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$4,808
/mo nomad
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,289
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Key West, FL 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 Key West, FL and in Rio de Janeiro actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $4,808 per month in Key West, FL vs $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Key West, FL $4,808
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,289

A couple spends around $7,043 per month in Key West, FL vs $1,868 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Key West, FL $7,043
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,868

A family of three spends $9,278 per month in Key West, FL vs $2,448 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Key West, FL $9,278
  • Rio de Janeiro $2,448

Key West, FL costs about 273% more than Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Key West, FL sits 256% above the global median, while Rio de Janeiro is 5% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Key West, FL
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$22.31 $22.31
$10.06 R$51.0
121.77%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$98.3 $98.3
$40.44 R$205
143.10%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.87 $11.87
$8.55 R$43.35
38.83%
Cappuccino
$4.56 $4.56
$2.38 R$12.04
91.60%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.26 $2.26
$1.61 R$8.18
40.37%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.90 $1.90
$1.03 R$5.22
84.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.85 $5.85
$2.47 R$12.54
136.84%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.84 $6.84
$3.70 R$18.77
84.86%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Key West, FL
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 $0.99
$1.19 R$6.05
-16.81%
White Bread (500g)
$3.68 $3.68
$2.05 R$10.38
79.51%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$6.74 $6.74
$1.28 R$6.49
426.56%
Eggs
$5.16 $5.16
$2.29 R$11.60
125.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.61 $11.61
$10.76 R$54.5
7.90%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.34 $13.34
$4.41 R$22.36
202.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$23.97 $23.97
$9.84 R$49.86
143.60%
Apples (1kg)
$4.81 $4.81
$2.81 R$14.25
71.17%
Banana (1kg)
$1.86 $1.86
$1.78 R$9.03
4.49%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.67 $3.67
$1.60 R$8.13
129.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.17 $5.17
$1.80 R$9.11
187.22%
Potato (1kg)
$5.93 $5.93
$1.22 R$6.17
386.07%
Onion (1kg)
$3.33 $3.33
$1.04 R$5.26
220.19%
Lettuce (1 head)
$3.60 $3.60
$0.77 R$3.92
367.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.65 $2.65
$0.67 R$3.38
295.52%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$8.18 $8.18
$3.01 R$15.27
171.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.18 $14.18
$8.08 R$40.94
75.50%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.99 $1.99
$1.19 R$6.03
67.23%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.38 $2.38
$2.51 R$12.73
-5.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Key West, FL
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$3.98 $3.98
$0.99 R$5.00
302.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
-
$50.1 R$254
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.90 $3.90
$1.22 R$6.20
219.67%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.12 $3.12
$0.92 R$4.66
239.13%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$30.20 $30.20
$8.97 R$45.45
236.68%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.91 $0.91
$1.30 R$6.57
-30.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$36.5K $36.5K
$23.9K R$121.0K
52.81%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.8K $25.8K
$32.9K R$166.6K
-21.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Key West, FL
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$215 $215
$133 R$676
61.27%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$54.4 $54.4
$10.82 R$54.8
402.50%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$73.3 $73.3
$22.90 R$116
220.22%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Key West, FL
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$79.6 $79.6
$30.79 R$156
158.53%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$31.85 R$161
-
Cinema Ticket
$14.05 $14.05
$8.05 R$40.83
74.53%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Key West, FL
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,090 $1,090
$598 R$3,029
82.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$20.7K $20.7K
$13.4K R$68.0K
54.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Key West, FL
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$47.58 $47.58
$42.04 R$213
13.18%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.78 $41.78
$49.68 R$252
-15.90%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$71.7 $71.7
$74.5 R$378
-3.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$69.1 $69.1
$68.7 R$348
0.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Key West, FL
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,436 $3,436
$903 R$4,578
280.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$3,432 $3,432
$529 R$2,684
548.30%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$7,122 $7,122
$1,326 R$6,724
436.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$6,144 $6,144
$756 R$3,831
712.97%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$9,644 $9,644
$4,010 R$20.3K
140.48%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$9,886 $9,886
$1,560 R$7,910
533.63%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Key West, FL
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$5,967 $5,967
$640 R$3,242
833.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.38
11.93
-46.52%

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

Last update for Key West, FL: October 13, 2026

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Key West, FL
$3.4K
Rio de Janeiro
$529 84.6% $2.9K
Groceries & Markets
Key West, FL
$457
Rio de Janeiro
$215 53.1% $243
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Key West, FL
$343
Rio de Janeiro
$167 51.3% $176
Eating Out
Key West, FL
$328
Rio de Janeiro
$165 49.8% $163
Sport & Entertainment
Key West, FL
$108
Rio de Janeiro
$47 56.5% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Key West, FL
$104
Rio de Janeiro
$106 2% $2.1
Getting Around
Key West, FL
$35 *
Rio de Janeiro
$60 69% $24

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $3,436 in Key West, FL versus $903 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 833% higher in Key West, FL, 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 $98.0 in Key West, FL versus $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $457 vs $215 – making Rio de Janeiro the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇺🇸 Key West, FL
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🕒 Local time
15:10 3:10 PM
16:10 4:10 PM
1 h ahead of Key West, FL
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
24,684
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 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Key West, FL Rio de Janeiro 6,720 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Key West, FL
  • 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
Key West, FL vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rio de Janeiro cheaper than Key West, FL?
Yes – Key West, FL is pricier by about 273%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $7,211 per month in Key West, FL and $1,933 in Rio de Janeiro. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
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.
Is eating out cheaper in Key West, FL or in Rio de Janeiro?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $98.0 in Key West, FL and $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Key West, FL and in Rio de Janeiro?
Groceries cost about 113% more in Key West, FL, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Key West, FL or in Rio de Janeiro?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rio de Janeiro, where all-in costs run around $1,289, than in Key West, FL at $4,808. In Rio de Janeiro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Key West, FL it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Key West, FL or Rio de Janeiro more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rio de Janeiro – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Rio de Janeiro. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Key West, FL makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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