Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Oshawa and Rio de Janeiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,285 a month against $2,331 in Oshawa, rent and utilities included – about $12,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Oshawa
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,331
/mo nomad
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,285
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,331 in Oshawa versus $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Oshawa $2,331
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,285

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,293 in Oshawa versus $1,888 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Oshawa $3,293
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,888

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,255 in Oshawa versus $2,491 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Oshawa $4,255
  • Rio de Janeiro $2,491

Living in Oshawa is roughly 81% more expensive than in Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Oshawa is 74% above, Rio de Janeiro is 4% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Oshawa
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$13.89 CA$19.81
$9.98 R$49.83
39.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$60.6 CA$86.3
$40.34 R$201
50.15%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.41 CA$11.98
$8.48 R$42.35
-0.83%
Cappuccino
$3.36 CA$4.79
$2.36 R$11.80
42.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.74 CA$2.49
$1.63 R$8.13
6.75%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.39 CA$1.99
$1.01 R$5.06
37.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.83 CA$6.89
$2.44 R$12.19
97.95%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.83 CA$8.31
$3.69 R$18.43
57.99%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Oshawa
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.88 CA$4.11
$1.15 R$5.72
150.43%
White Bread (500g)
$2.86 CA$4.07
$2.07 R$10.34
38.16%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.05 CA$5.78
$1.29 R$6.42
213.95%
Eggs
$2.93 CA$4.18
$2.27 R$11.32
29.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.59 CA$13.67
$11.00 R$54.9
-12.82%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$13.92 CA$19.84
$4.31 R$21.51
222.97%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$16.33 CA$23.28
$9.74 R$48.63
67.66%
Apples (1kg)
$4.31 CA$6.14
$2.83 R$14.12
52.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.22 CA$1.74
$1.84 R$9.17
-33.70%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.79 CA$3.98
$1.60 R$7.96
74.37%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.74 CA$5.33
$1.80 R$9.00
107.78%
Potato (1kg)
$3.33 CA$4.75
$1.26 R$6.28
164.29%
Onion (1kg)
$2.60 CA$3.70
$1.07 R$5.34
142.99%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.23 CA$3.18
$0.75 R$3.75
197.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.72 CA$2.45
$0.66 R$3.29
160.61%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.14 CA$20.15
$3.05 R$15.21
363.61%
Wine (Bottle)
$12.27 CA$17.49
$8.18 R$40.84
50.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.54 CA$5.05
$1.19 R$5.92
197.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.56 CA$5.07
$2.39 R$11.92
48.95%
🚌 Getting Around
Oshawa
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.48 CA$3.53
$1.01 R$5.06
145.54%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$69.7 CA$99.4
$50.2 R$250
39.00%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.56 CA$5.07
$1.27 R$6.33
180.31%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 CA$0.96
$0.90 R$4.51
-24.44%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$17.25 CA$24.59
$9.44 R$47.13
82.73%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 CA$1.55
$1.33 R$6.65
-18.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$28.2K CA$40.2K
$23.4K R$117.0K
20.48%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.7K CA$28.1K
$33.6K R$167.6K
-41.36%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oshawa
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$137 CA$196
$134 R$666
2.78%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$37.26 CA$53.1
$12.23 R$61.0
204.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$51.8 CA$73.9
$22.65 R$113
128.87%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Oshawa
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.53 CA$40.66
$31.56 R$158
-9.60%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.76 CA$41.00
$30.87 R$154
-6.84%
Cinema Ticket
$10.43 CA$14.87
$8.23 R$41.07
26.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Oshawa
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,199 CA$1,709
$603 R$3,011
98.83%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
-
$13.2K R$66.1K
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Oshawa
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$55.5 CA$79.1
$41.62 R$208
33.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$55.2 CA$78.6
$49.94 R$249
10.45%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$102 CA$146
$75.0 R$375
36.17%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$128 CA$182
$68.3 R$341
87.38%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Oshawa
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,375 CA$1,959
$905 R$4,519
51.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,180 CA$1,682
$527 R$2,633
123.72%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,945 CA$2,772
$1,346 R$6,720
44.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,794 CA$2,558
$774 R$3,865
131.75%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$5,188 CA$7,394
$3,981 R$19.9K
30.32%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$10.2K CA$14.5K
$1,562 R$7,798
552.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Oshawa
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,881 CA$4,107
$643 R$3,210
348.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.53
11.93
-62.03%

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

Last update for Oshawa: 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
Oshawa
$1.2K
Rio de Janeiro
$527 55.3% $653
Groceries & Markets
Oshawa
$386
Rio de Janeiro
$215 44.3% $171
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Oshawa
$226
Rio de Janeiro
$168 25.6% $58
Eating Out
Oshawa
$225
Rio de Janeiro
$164 27.2% $61
Clothing & Footwear
Oshawa
$153
Rio de Janeiro
$106 31.1% $48
Getting Around
Oshawa
$87
Rio de Janeiro
$60 30.7% $27
Sport & Entertainment
Oshawa
$49
Rio de Janeiro
$48 2.8% $1.4

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,375 in Oshawa and $905 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Oshawa pays 348% 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: $61.0 in Oshawa vs $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $386 vs $215 per month, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Oshawa
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🕒 Local time
04:39 4:39 AM
05:39 5:39 AM
1 h ahead of Oshawa
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
159,458
6,211,223
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.6 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Oshawa Rio de Janeiro 8,270 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Oshawa
  • 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
Oshawa vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Oshawa or Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro wins on cost – living expenses run 81% lower than in Oshawa. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rio de Janeiro the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Oshawa or in Rio de Janeiro?
Average pay runs 348% higher in Oshawa, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Oshawa compared to Rio de Janeiro?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,375 in Oshawa versus $905 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 Oshawa and in Rio de Janeiro?
Dining out is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $61.0 in Oshawa. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Oshawa compared to Rio de Janeiro?
All in, you'll spend $2,331 per month in Oshawa versus $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro – a 81% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Oshawa or in Rio de Janeiro?
At $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,331 in Oshawa, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rio de Janeiro but tight or insufficient in Oshawa. The gap between the two cities makes Rio de Janeiro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Oshawa or Rio de Janeiro?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rio de Janeiro delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,285 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rio de Janeiro hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Rio de Janeiro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 81% less than in Oshawa. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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