🇧🇷 Brazil
44
Cost of Living Index in Brazil
Learn more Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Nicaragua and Rio de Janeiro
For one person, living is cheaper in Nicaragua: $946 a month against $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro, rent and utilities included – about $4,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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🍽 Eating Out
Nicaragua
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.95 NIO 181
$9.98 R$49.83
-50.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$30.88 NIO 1,131
$40.34 R$201
-23.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.80 NIO 286
$8.48 R$42.35
-8.02%
Cappuccino
$2.36 NIO 86.5
$2.36 R$11.80
-
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.89 NIO 32.75
$1.63 R$8.13
-45.40%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.66 NIO 24.09
$1.01 R$5.06
-34.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.34 NIO 48.91
$2.44 R$12.19
-45.08%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.96 NIO 71.6
$3.69 R$18.43
-46.88%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Nicaragua
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.21 NIO 44.22
$1.15 R$5.72
5.22%
White Bread (500g)
$2.08 NIO 76.0
$2.07 R$10.34
0.48%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.66 NIO 60.7
$1.29 R$6.42
28.68%
Eggs
$2.25 NIO 82.5
$2.27 R$11.32
-0.88%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.34 NIO 342
$11.00 R$54.9
-15.09%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.96 NIO 218
$4.31 R$21.51
38.28%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.06 NIO 295
$9.74 R$48.63
-17.25%
Apples (1kg)
$4.73 NIO 173
$2.83 R$14.12
67.14%
Banana (1kg)
$0.81 NIO 29.68
$1.84 R$9.17
-55.98%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.95 NIO 71.6
$1.60 R$7.96
21.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.34 NIO 85.7
$1.80 R$9.00
30.00%
Potato (1kg)
$3.80 NIO 139
$1.26 R$6.28
201.59%
Onion (1kg)
$2.29 NIO 83.9
$1.07 R$5.34
114.02%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.08 NIO 39.44
$0.75 R$3.75
44.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 NIO 37.95
$0.66 R$3.29
57.58%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.61 NIO 132
$3.05 R$15.21
18.36%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.20 NIO 483
$8.18 R$40.84
61.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.47 NIO 53.8
$1.19 R$5.92
23.53%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16 NIO 79.2
$2.39 R$11.92
-9.62%
🚌 Getting Around
Nicaragua
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.15 NIO 5.36
$1.01 R$5.06
-85.15%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$6.02 NIO 221
$50.2 R$250
-88.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.54 NIO 56.5
$1.27 R$6.33
21.26%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.48 NIO 54.1
$0.90 R$4.51
64.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.64 NIO 243
$9.44 R$47.13
-29.66%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 NIO 48.15
$1.33 R$6.65
-1.50%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.1K NIO 845.1K
$23.4K R$117.0K
-1.52%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$25.9K NIO 947.3K
$33.6K R$167.6K
-22.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nicaragua
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$113 NIO 4,138
$134 R$666
-15.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$17.92 NIO 656
$12.23 R$61.0
46.52%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$36.87 NIO 1,350
$22.65 R$113
62.78%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Nicaragua
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$34.42 NIO 1,260
$31.56 R$158
9.06%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$15.17 NIO 556
$30.87 R$154
-50.86%
Cinema Ticket
$9.29 NIO 340
$8.23 R$41.07
12.88%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Nicaragua
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$234 NIO 8,583
$603 R$3,011
-61.14%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,687 NIO 244.9K
$13.2K R$66.1K
-49.50%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Nicaragua
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.1 NIO 1,981
$41.62 R$208
29.96%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$44.45 NIO 1,628
$49.94 R$249
-10.99%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 NIO 4,155
$75.0 R$375
51.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$123 NIO 4,514
$68.3 R$341
80.41%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Nicaragua
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$359 NIO 13.1K
$905 R$4,519
-60.38%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$212 NIO 7,768
$527 R$2,633
-59.79%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$612 NIO 22.4K
$1,346 R$6,720
-54.54%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$463 NIO 17.0K
$774 R$3,865
-40.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,205 NIO 44.1K
$3,981 R$19.9K
-69.72%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$671 NIO 24.6K
$1,562 R$7,798
-57.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Nicaragua
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$353 NIO 12.9K
$643 R$3,210
-45.06%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.94
11.93
0.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Nicaragua: October 5, 2026
Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Groceries & Markets
Nicaragua $249 26.1%
Rio de Janeiro $215 16.7% 13.9% $35
Accommodation & Living
Nicaragua $212 22.2%
Rio de Janeiro $527 41% 149% $315
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nicaragua $168 17.5%
Rio de Janeiro $168 13.1% 0.4% $0.6
Clothing & Footwear
Nicaragua $151 15.8%
Rio de Janeiro $106 8.2% 29.9% $45
Eating Out
Nicaragua $108 11.3%
Rio de Janeiro $164 12.7% 51.5% $56
Sport & Entertainment
Nicaragua $53 5.5%
Rio de Janeiro $48 3.7% 9.4% $5
Getting Around
Nicaragua $16 1.6%
Rio de Janeiro $60 4.7% 286% $44
Groceries & Markets
Nicaragua $568 27.4%
Rio de Janeiro $498 20.2% 12.3% $70
Accommodation & Living
Nicaragua $463 22.4%
Rio de Janeiro $774 31.4% 67.2% $311
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Nicaragua $186 9%
Rio de Janeiro $181 7.3% 2.7% $5.1
Clothing & Footwear
Nicaragua $335 16.2%
Rio de Janeiro $235 9.5% 29.9% $100
Eating Out
Nicaragua $367 17.7%
Rio de Janeiro $531 21.5% 44.6% $164
Sport & Entertainment
Nicaragua $121 5.9%
Rio de Janeiro $127 5.1% 4.7% $5.7
Getting Around
Nicaragua $31 1.5%
Rio de Janeiro $122 4.9% 289% $91
Good to know
🇳🇮 Nicaragua
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
Weather
Population
6,676,948
6,211,223
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Nicaragua Rio de Janeiro 6,100 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight
From you
- Nicaragua
- 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
Nicaragua vs other spots: cost of living compared
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