Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Passo Fundo and Rio de Janeiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Passo Fundo: $891 a month against $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro, rent and utilities included – about $4,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Passo Fundo
🇧🇷 Brazil
$891
/mo nomad
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,289
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $891 in Passo Fundo versus $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Passo Fundo $891
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,289

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,545 in Passo Fundo versus $1,868 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Passo Fundo $1,545
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,868

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,200 in Passo Fundo versus $2,448 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Passo Fundo $2,200
  • Rio de Janeiro $2,448

Living in Passo Fundo costs roughly 31% less than in Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Passo Fundo 34% lower, Rio de Janeiro 5% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Passo Fundo
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.89 R$29.87
$10.06 R$51.0
-41.45%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$32.63 R$165
$40.44 R$205
-19.31%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.05 R$35.74
$8.55 R$43.35
-17.54%
Cappuccino
$2.03 R$10.28
$2.38 R$12.04
-14.71%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 R$7.25
$1.61 R$8.18
-11.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 R$4.55
$1.03 R$5.22
-12.62%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.35 R$11.92
$2.47 R$12.54
-4.86%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 R$15.13
$3.70 R$18.77
-19.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Passo Fundo
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 R$5.02
$1.19 R$6.05
-16.81%
White Bread (500g)
$1.73 R$8.77
$2.05 R$10.38
-15.61%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.83 R$4.22
$1.28 R$6.49
-35.16%
Eggs
$2.35 R$11.92
$2.29 R$11.60
2.62%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.40 R$52.7
$10.76 R$54.5
-3.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.82 R$24.46
$4.41 R$22.36
9.30%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.88 R$50.1
$9.84 R$49.86
0.41%
Apples (1kg)
$2.38 R$12.06
$2.81 R$14.25
-15.30%
Banana (1kg)
$1.18 R$5.96
$1.78 R$9.03
-33.71%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.03 R$5.20
$1.60 R$8.13
-35.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.53
$1.80 R$9.11
-28.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.21 R$6.13
$1.22 R$6.17
-0.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.14 R$5.76
$1.04 R$5.26
9.62%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.87 R$4.39
$0.77 R$3.92
12.99%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.77 R$3.92
$0.67 R$3.38
14.93%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.55 R$12.94
$3.01 R$15.27
-15.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.06 R$40.85
$8.08 R$40.94
-0.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.12 R$5.67
$1.19 R$6.03
-5.88%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.20 R$11.15
$2.51 R$12.73
-12.35%
🚌 Getting Around
Passo Fundo
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.23 R$6.25
$0.99 R$5.00
24.24%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$53.4 R$271
$50.1 R$254
6.57%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 R$6.45
$1.22 R$6.20
4.10%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 R$4.03
$0.92 R$4.66
-13.04%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.13 R$41.22
$8.97 R$45.45
-9.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.24 R$6.31
$1.30 R$6.57
-4.62%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.5K R$119.1K
$23.9K R$121.0K
-1.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.4K R$169.3K
$32.9K R$166.6K
1.60%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Passo Fundo
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$75.9 R$385
$133 R$676
-43.09%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.78 R$44.51
$10.82 R$54.8
-18.85%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.42 R$109
$22.90 R$116
-6.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Passo Fundo
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.35 R$144
$30.79 R$156
-7.92%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.72 R$89.8
$31.85 R$161
-44.36%
Cinema Ticket
$6.68 R$33.88
$8.05 R$40.83
-17.02%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Passo Fundo
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$187 R$950
$598 R$3,029
-68.64%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,208 R$36.5K
$13.4K R$68.0K
-46.28%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Passo Fundo
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.77 R$252
$42.04 R$213
18.39%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5 R$292
$49.68 R$252
15.82%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$105 R$530
$74.5 R$378
40.27%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$78.2 R$396
$68.7 R$348
13.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Passo Fundo
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$317 R$1,608
$903 R$4,578
-64.87%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$230 R$1,166
$529 R$2,684
-56.57%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$806 R$4,083
$1,326 R$6,724
-39.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$705 R$3,574
$756 R$3,831
-6.72%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,995 R$10.1K
$4,010 R$20.3K
-50.26%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,816 R$9,203
$1,560 R$7,910
16.36%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Passo Fundo
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$707 R$3,584
$640 R$3,242
10.54%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.5
11.93
-3.60%

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

Last update for Passo Fundo: October 11, 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
Passo Fundo
$230
Rio de Janeiro
$529 130% $299
Groceries & Markets
Passo Fundo
$199
Rio de Janeiro
$215 7.8% $15
Clothing & Footwear
Passo Fundo
$131
Rio de Janeiro
$106 19% $25
Eating Out
Passo Fundo
$120
Rio de Janeiro
$165 37.9% $45
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Passo Fundo
$106
Rio de Janeiro
$167 57.5% $61
Getting Around
Passo Fundo
$64
Rio de Janeiro
$60 5.8% $3.7
Sport & Entertainment
Passo Fundo
$42
Rio de Janeiro
$47 12.4% $5.2

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $317 in Passo Fundo and $903 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Passo Fundo pays 11% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $33.00 in Passo Fundo vs $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $215 per month, with Passo Fundo cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Passo Fundo
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🕒 Local time
09:34 9:34 AM
09:34 9:34 AM
Same time as Passo Fundo
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
206,215
6,211,223
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 19, 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
  • Passo Fundo Rio de Janeiro 1,100 km ≈ 1 h 45 min nonstop flight
From you
  • Passo Fundo
  • 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
Passo Fundo vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rio de Janeiro cheaper than Passo Fundo?
Passo Fundo is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and leisure. The 45% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Passo Fundo or Rio de Janeiro?
Average pay runs 11% higher in Passo Fundo, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Passo Fundo and Rio de Janeiro?
Rent for a central apartment: $317 in Passo Fundo versus $903 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Is eating out cheaper in Passo Fundo or in Rio de Janeiro?
Dining out is cheaper in Passo Fundo – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
What are total monthly expenses in Passo Fundo and in Rio de Janeiro?
All in, you'll spend $891 per month in Passo Fundo versus $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro – a 45% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Passo Fundo or in Rio de Janeiro?
At $891 in Passo Fundo versus $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Passo Fundo but tight or insufficient in Rio de Janeiro. The gap between the two cities makes Passo Fundo the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Passo Fundo or Rio de Janeiro more family-friendly?
For families, Passo Fundo is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Rio de Janeiro, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Passo Fundo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 45% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

Passo Fundo vs other spots: cost of living compared

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