Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Marathon and Rio de Janeiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,273 a month against $2,218 in Marathon, rent and utilities included – about $11,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Marathon
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,218
/mo nomad
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,273
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

A single person spends $2,218 per month in Marathon vs $1,273 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Marathon $2,218
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,273

A couple spends around $3,213 per month in Marathon vs $1,841 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Marathon $3,213
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,841

A family of three spends $4,209 per month in Marathon vs $2,409 in Rio de Janeiro, rent included.

  • Marathon $4,209
  • Rio de Janeiro $2,409

Marathon costs about 74% more than Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Marathon sits 64% above the global median, while Rio de Janeiro is 6% below – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Marathon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.17 CA$24.27
$9.38 R$47.54
83.05%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$66.1 CA$93.4
$40.00 R$203
65.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$10.61 CA$15.00
$8.34 R$42.28
27.22%
Cappuccino
$3.65 CA$5.16
$2.29 R$11.62
59.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.93 CA$2.72
$1.59 R$8.05
21.38%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.60 CA$2.26
$1.01 R$5.10
58.42%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.13 CA$7.25
$2.14 R$10.85
139.72%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.57 CA$7.88
$3.66 R$18.55
52.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Marathon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.99 CA$2.81
$1.13 R$5.72
76.11%
White Bread (500g)
$2.52 CA$3.56
$2.09 R$10.60
20.57%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$3.27 CA$4.62
$1.25 R$6.36
161.60%
Eggs
$3.42 CA$4.83
$2.25 R$11.39
52.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.04 CA$14.19
$10.92 R$55.3
-8.06%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.16 CA$15.78
$4.36 R$22.10
155.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.71 CA$20.80
$9.60 R$48.66
53.23%
Apples (1kg)
$3.85 CA$5.44
$2.85 R$14.46
35.09%
Banana (1kg)
$1.29 CA$1.82
$1.81 R$9.16
-28.73%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.69 CA$5.21
$1.58 R$8.02
133.54%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.77 CA$5.32
$1.83 R$9.28
106.01%
Potato (1kg)
$2.48 CA$3.51
$1.20 R$6.10
106.67%
Onion (1kg)
$2.13 CA$3.01
$1.06 R$5.35
100.94%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.44 CA$3.45
$0.75 R$3.81
225.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.55 CA$2.19
$0.68 R$3.45
127.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.15 CA$20.01
$2.94 R$14.90
381.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.51 CA$17.68
$7.98 R$40.43
56.77%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.55 CA$3.60
$1.18 R$5.98
116.10%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.01 CA$4.25
$2.42 R$12.26
24.38%
🚌 Getting Around
Marathon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.32 CA$3.28
$0.94 R$4.78
146.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$62.1 CA$87.8
$50.3 R$255
23.39%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$2.95 CA$4.18
$1.20 R$6.10
145.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.41 CA$1.99
$0.83 R$4.20
69.88%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$23.24 CA$32.86
$8.97 R$45.48
159.09%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 CA$1.60
$1.29 R$6.53
-12.40%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.6K CA$39.0K
$22.8K R$115.5K
21.23%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K CA$27.0K
$34.0K R$172.1K
-43.72%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marathon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$132 CA$187
$134 R$681
-1.73%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$38.75 CA$54.8
$10.73 R$54.4
261.14%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$54.5 CA$77.1
$22.84 R$116
138.75%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Marathon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.87 CA$56.4
$30.16 R$153
32.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.63 CA$24.92
$31.49 R$160
-44.01%
Cinema Ticket
$11.17 CA$15.79
$7.73 R$39.17
44.50%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Marathon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$760 CA$1,074
$584 R$2,960
30.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K CA$18.0K
$12.8K R$64.9K
-0.38%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Marathon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.5 CA$75.6
$41.12 R$208
29.99%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.54 CA$53.1
$49.26 R$250
-23.79%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.0 CA$119
$73.7 R$373
14.02%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$103 CA$145
$65.9 R$334
55.62%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Marathon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,241 CA$1,754
$900 R$4,561
37.88%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,114 CA$1,575
$527 R$2,673
111.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,930 CA$2,728
$1,332 R$6,754
44.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,701 CA$2,405
$748 R$3,790
127.53%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,211 CA$5,953
$3,990 R$20.2K
5.55%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$3,537 CA$5,000
$1,560 R$7,908
126.73%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Marathon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,720 CA$2,431
$640 R$3,246
168.51%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.66
11.93
-60.94%

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

Last update for Marathon: October 17, 2026

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 18, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Marathon
$1.1K
Rio de Janeiro
$527 52.7% $587
Groceries & Markets
Marathon
$346
Rio de Janeiro
$214 38.3% $133
Eating Out
Marathon
$264
Rio de Janeiro
$156 40.9% $108
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Marathon
$225
Rio de Janeiro
$168 25.5% $57
Clothing & Footwear
Marathon
$125
Rio de Janeiro
$103 17.2% $21
Getting Around
Marathon
$81
Rio de Janeiro
$59 26.9% $22
Sport & Entertainment
Marathon
$62
Rio de Janeiro
$46 26.7% $17

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $1,241 in Marathon versus $900 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 169% higher in Marathon, 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 $66.0 in Marathon versus $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $346 vs $214 – making Rio de Janeiro the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Marathon
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🕒 Local time
11:31 11:31 AM
12:31 12:31 PM
1 h ahead of Marathon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
3,300
6,211,223
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 21, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 21, 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
  • Marathon Rio de Janeiro 9,040 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Marathon
  • 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
Marathon vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rio de Janeiro cheaper than Marathon?
Yes – Marathon is pricier by about 74%, 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 $3,326 per month in Marathon and $1,910 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.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Kindergarten costs $760 per month in Marathon and $584 in Rio de Janeiro. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
How do food prices compare in Marathon and in Rio de Janeiro?
Groceries cost about 62% more in Marathon, 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 Marathon or in Rio de Janeiro?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rio de Janeiro, where all-in costs run around $1,273, than in Marathon at $2,218. In Rio de Janeiro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Marathon it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Marathon 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 safer, Marathon or 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.
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, Marathon makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

Marathon vs other spots: cost of living compared

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?