Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Alegre and Rostov-on-Don Cost of Living Comparison Between Porto Alegre and Rostov-on-Don

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $884 in Porto Alegre versus $1,005 in Rostov-on-Don.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,434 in Porto Alegre versus $1,542 in Rostov-on-Don.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,985 in Porto Alegre versus $2,079 in Rostov-on-Don.

Living in Porto Alegre costs roughly 12% less than in Rostov-on-Don, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both cities sit below the global median: Porto Alegre 34% lower, Rostov-on-Don 25% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.31 R$32.14
$11.16 ₽876
-43.46%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$26.55 R$135
$37.79 ₽2,969
-29.74%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.40 R$32.56
$4.97 ₽390
28.77%
Cappuccino
$1.96 R$9.97
$2.53 ₽199
-22.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.18 R$6.01
$1.19 ₽93.1
-0.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 R$3.90
$0.72 ₽56.9
6.94%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.17 R$11.06
$1.25 ₽97.9
73.60%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.62 R$18.46
$2.16 ₽170
67.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.91 R$4.61
$1.02 ₽80.2
-10.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.40 R$7.11
$0.55 ₽43.52
154.55%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.09 R$5.56
$1.15 ₽90.6
-5.22%
Eggs
$2.06 R$10.47
$1.57 ₽123
31.21%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.00 R$56.0
$8.24 ₽647
33.50%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.51 R$22.94
$4.86 ₽381
-7.20%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.17 R$46.68
$7.61 ₽598
20.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.04 R$10.38
$1.27 ₽99.5
60.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 R$6.40
$1.62 ₽127
-22.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.32 R$6.74
$1.52 ₽119
-13.16%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.50 R$7.65
$2.42 ₽190
-38.02%
Potato (1kg)
$1.09 R$5.56
$0.71 ₽55.8
53.52%
Onion (1kg)
$1.03 R$5.24
$0.55 ₽43.34
87.27%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 R$3.75
$1.19 ₽93.8
-37.82%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.59 R$3.00
$0.63 ₽49.41
-6.35%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$1.96 R$9.97
$3.20 ₽251
-38.75%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.89 R$40.19
$7.61 ₽598
3.68%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$0.99 R$5.02
$0.89 ₽69.5
11.24%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.79 R$9.10
$2.11 ₽165
-15.17%
🚌 Getting Around
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.86 R$4.39
$0.51 ₽40.31
68.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$64.4 R$328
$19.36 ₽1,521
232.75%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.59 R$8.11
$1.96 ₽154
-18.88%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.01 R$5.15
$0.33 ₽25.83
206.06%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.33 R$27.14
$6.65 ₽522
-19.85%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.05 R$5.35
$0.77 ₽60.6
36.36%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.5K R$124.6K
$25.7K ₽2.0M
-4.61%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.0K R$142.4K
$39.7K ₽3.1M
-29.47%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.1 R$311
$99.1 ₽7,787
-38.35%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$14.41 R$73.4
$7.17 ₽563
100.98%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.18 R$103
$8.05 ₽632
150.68%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.40 R$134
$41.54 ₽3,263
-36.45%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.23 R$103
$25.69 ₽2,018
-21.25%
Cinema Ticket
$6.27 R$31.94
$5.06 ₽397
23.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$310 R$1,579
$286 ₽22.5K
8.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$7,291 R$37.1K
$8,396 ₽659.6K
-13.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$49.28 R$251
$48.48 ₽3,808
1.65%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$57.6 R$293
$60.4 ₽4,743
-4.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$79.2 R$403
$114 ₽8,992
-30.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.9 R$325
$102 ₽8,000
-37.24%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$307 R$1,563
$490 ₽38.5K
-37.40%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$268 R$1,362
$353 ₽27.7K
-24.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$614 R$3,124
$928 ₽72.9K
-33.89%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$574 R$2,922
$580 ₽45.6K
-1.08%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,662 R$8,462
$2,635 ₽207.0K
-36.91%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,253 R$6,382
$1,630 ₽128.0K
-23.09%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Porto Alegre
Rostov-on-Don
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$523 R$2,664
$904 ₽71.0K
-42.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
10
16.33
-38.76%

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

Last update for Porto Alegre: July 12, 2026

Last update for Rostov-on-Don: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $307 in Porto Alegre and $490 in Rostov-on-Don. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rostov-on-Don pays 73% 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: $27.00 in Porto Alegre vs $38.00 in Rostov-on-Don. Groceries flip the comparison at $189 vs $172, with Rostov-on-Don cheaper for home cooking.

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 14% 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 73% 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: $307 in Porto Alegre versus $490 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 $27.00 versus $38.00 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 $884 per month in Porto Alegre versus $1,005 in Rostov-on-Don – a 14% 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 $884 in Porto Alegre versus $1,005 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 $884 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 14% 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

Similar cities