🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $963 in Porto Alegre versus $1,012 in Rostov-on-Don.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,511 in Porto Alegre versus $1,524 in Rostov-on-Don.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,058 in Porto Alegre versus $2,036 in Rostov-on-Don.
🌍Living in Porto Alegre costs roughly 5% less than in Rostov-on-Don, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Porto Alegre30% lower, Rostov-on-Don26% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.74R$39.66
$10.24₽879
-24.41%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.15R$195
$34.33₽2,947
11.13%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.94R$35.56
$5.86₽503
18.43%
Cappuccino
$2.58R$13.22
$2.63₽226
-1.90%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.35R$6.90
$1.12₽96.2
20.54%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02R$5.23
$0.54₽46.49
88.89%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34R$11.98
$2.02₽173
15.84%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.88R$14.75
$3.08₽264
-6.49%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$0.93R$4.77
$1.14₽98.1
-18.42%
White Bread(500g)
$1.61R$8.26
$0.67₽57.1
140.30%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.10R$5.64
$1.36₽117
-19.12%
Eggs
$2.49R$12.78
$1.28₽110
94.53%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.06R$51.5
$11.78₽1,011
-14.60%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.50R$23.03
$4.93₽423
-8.72%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.42R$48.29
$8.98₽771
4.90%
Apples(1kg)
$2.31R$11.82
$1.34₽115
72.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.40R$7.18
$1.75₽150
-20.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.36R$6.96
$1.46₽126
-6.85%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.58R$8.12
$2.61₽224
-39.46%
Potato(1kg)
$1.22R$6.25
$0.81₽69.8
50.62%
Onion(1kg)
$1.08R$5.55
$0.55₽47.44
96.36%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.89R$4.57
$1.22₽104
-27.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.80R$4.12
$0.61₽52.1
31.15%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.34R$11.99
$2.85₽245
-17.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.86R$40.27
$6.63₽569
18.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.13R$5.79
$0.87₽74.8
29.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.06R$10.53
$1.98₽170
4.04%
🚌 Getting Around
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.92R$4.73
$0.52₽44.84
76.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$57.3R$294
$13.81₽1,185
315.13%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.26R$6.47
$3.17₽272
-60.25%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.77R$3.96
$0.16₽13.48
381.25%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.94R$40.69
$3.93₽337
102.04%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.24R$6.35
$0.81₽69.5
53.09%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.7KR$116.3K
$28.9K₽2.5M
-21.54%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.0KR$169.1K
$30.7K₽2.6M
7.52%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$73.1R$375
$127₽10.9K
-42.52%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.85R$60.7
$8.89₽763
33.30%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.80R$112
$7.72₽662
182.38%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$29.87R$153
$29.45₽2,528
1.43%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.48R$156
$20.11₽1,726
51.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.70R$34.35
$5.05₽434
32.67%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$542R$2,777
$323₽27.7K
67.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$25.4KR$130.0K
-
-
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$50.5R$259
$51.5₽4,421
-2.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.5R$294
$43.02₽3,692
33.57%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$97.4R$499
$87.5₽7,510
11.26%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$75.4R$386
$108₽9,288
-30.36%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$480R$2,460
$482₽41.3K
-0.34%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$277R$1,418
$326₽27.9K
-15.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$776R$3,974
$973₽83.5K
-20.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$461R$2,361
$509₽43.7K
-9.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,627R$8,334
$2,397₽205.7K
-32.13%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,260R$6,455
$1,438₽123.4K
-12.41%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$523R$2,678
$790₽67.8K
-33.87%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.5
20.14
-42.90%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Porto Alegre: September 1, 2026
Last update for Rostov-on-Don: August 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $480 in Porto Alegre and $482 in Rostov-on-Don. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rostov-on-Don pays 51% 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: $38.00 in Porto Alegre vs $34.00 in Rostov-on-Don for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $199 vs $189 per month, with Rostov-on-Don cheaper across the board.
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
Porto Alegre vs Rostov-on-Don: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Porto Alegre or Rostov-on-Don?
Porto Alegre wins on cost – living expenses run 5% lower than in Rostov-on-Don. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Porto Alegre the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Porto Alegre or in Rostov-on-Don?
On paper, salaries run 51% lower in Rostov-on-Don. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Porto Alegre compared to Rostov-on-Don?
Rent for a central apartment: $480 in Porto Alegre versus $482 in Rostov-on-Don. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Porto Alegre and in Rostov-on-Don?
Dining out is cheaper in Porto Alegre – a meal for two runs $38.00 versus $34.00 in Rostov-on-Don. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Porto Alegre compared to Rostov-on-Don?
All in, you'll spend $963 per month in Porto Alegre versus $1,012 in Rostov-on-Don – a 5% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Porto Alegre or in Rostov-on-Don?
At $963 in Porto Alegre versus $1,012 in Rostov-on-Don, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Porto Alegre but tight or insufficient in Rostov-on-Don. The gap between the two cities makes Porto Alegre the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Porto Alegre or Rostov-on-Don?
Both work as nomad bases, but Porto Alegre delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $963 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Porto Alegre hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Porto Alegre gentler on the wallet – expenses run 5% less than in Rostov-on-Don. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Porto Alegre vs other spots: cost of living compared