Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio Branco and Mexico City

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio Branco: $847 a month against $1,608 in Mexico City, rent and utilities included – about $9,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rio Branco, Brazil
Mexico City, Mexico
Rio Branco
🇧🇷 Brazil
$847
/mo nomad
Mexico City
🇲🇽 Mexico
$1,608
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rio Branco and in Mexico City

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Rio Branco and in Mexico City actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $847 in Rio Branco versus $1,608 in Mexico City.

  • Rio Branco $847
  • Mexico City $1,608

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,331 in Rio Branco versus $2,549 in Mexico City.

  • Rio Branco $1,331
  • Mexico City $2,549

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,815 in Rio Branco versus $3,490 in Mexico City.

  • Rio Branco $1,815
  • Mexico City $3,490

Living in Rio Branco costs roughly 47% less than in Mexico City, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Rio Branco is 38% below, Mexico City is 18% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio Branco
Mexico City
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$6.68 R$35.74
$10.62 MX$198
-37.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.63 R$132
$48.35 MX$901
-49.06%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.16 R$38.29
$10.35 MX$193
-30.82%
Cappuccino
$2.82 R$15.10
$3.69 MX$68.8
-23.58%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.28 R$6.86
$1.67 MX$31.07
-23.35%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72 R$3.83
$1.27 MX$23.59
-43.31%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.90 R$10.18
$3.19 MX$59.5
-40.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.75 R$14.71
$5.31 MX$98.9
-48.21%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio Branco
Mexico City
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.99 R$5.28
$1.72 MX$32.15
-42.44%
White Bread (500g)
$1.54 R$8.24
$3.04 MX$56.7
-49.34%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.16 R$6.20
$1.94 MX$36.19
-40.21%
Eggs
$1.99 R$10.64
$2.89 MX$53.8
-31.14%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$8.67 R$46.34
$10.97 MX$205
-20.97%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.08 R$21.81
$9.25 MX$172
-55.89%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.89 R$42.17
$15.13 MX$282
-47.85%
Apples (1kg)
$2.06 R$11.01
$3.05 MX$56.8
-32.46%
Banana (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.58
$1.94 MX$36.19
-36.60%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.09 R$5.84
$2.03 MX$37.75
-46.31%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.46 R$7.78
$2.31 MX$43.15
-36.80%
Potato (1kg)
$1.13 R$6.05
$2.04 MX$37.94
-44.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.01 R$5.39
$1.80 MX$33.55
-43.89%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 R$4.11
$1.48 MX$27.58
-47.97%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.76 R$4.06
$1.27 MX$23.63
-40.16%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.28 R$12.20
$5.30 MX$98.9
-56.98%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.30 R$39.02
$16.10 MX$300
-54.66%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.04 R$5.54
$1.98 MX$36.97
-47.47%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.92 R$10.25
$4.25 MX$79.3
-54.82%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio Branco
Mexico City
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.63 R$3.36
$0.31 MX$5.69
103.23%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$42.25 R$226
$19.73 MX$368
114.14%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.24 R$6.62
$1.84 MX$34.25
-32.61%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.85 R$4.53
$0.53 MX$9.94
60.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.55 R$40.34
$5.30 MX$98.7
42.45%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.28 R$6.86
$1.51 MX$28.16
-15.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.0K R$117.8K
$21.8K MX$405.5K
1.24%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.5K R$168.4K
$24.0K MX$447.1K
31.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio Branco
Mexico City
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$72.1 R$385
$63.0 MX$1,174
14.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.32 R$60.6
$27.39 MX$511
-58.67%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$19.70 R$105
$35.67 MX$665
-44.77%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio Branco
Mexico City
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.58 R$131
$58.9 MX$1,099
-58.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.43 R$136
$23.64 MX$441
7.57%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60 R$35.29
$6.40 MX$119
3.12%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio Branco
Mexico City
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$264 R$1,410
$432 MX$8,045
-38.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,146 R$32.9K
$11.4K MX$212.9K
-46.20%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio Branco
Mexico City
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.0 R$273
$68.2 MX$1,272
-25.21%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.00 R$246
$53.1 MX$990
-13.42%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 R$454
$108 MX$2,009
-21.14%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.8 R$357
$117 MX$2,186
-43.05%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio Branco
Mexico City
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$343 R$1,831
$1,113 MX$20.8K
-69.24%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$233 R$1,248
$710 MX$13.2K
-67.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$623 R$3,332
$2,588 MX$48.2K
-75.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$453 R$2,420
$1,406 MX$26.2K
-67.81%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,562 R$8,351
$3,631 MX$67.7K
-56.99%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,550 R$8,288
$2,135 MX$39.8K
-27.39%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio Branco
Mexico City
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$238 R$1,271
$946 MX$17.6K
-74.88%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11
11.35
-3.08%

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

Last update for Rio Branco: October 25, 2026

Last update for Mexico City: October 25, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio Branco
$233
Mexico City
$710 204% $477
Groceries & Markets
Rio Branco
$178
Mexico City
$320 79% $141
Eating Out
Rio Branco
$132
Mexico City
$199 50.6% $67
Clothing & Footwear
Rio Branco
$112
Mexico City
$156 39.2% $44
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio Branco
$103
Mexico City
$126 22.3% $23
Getting Around
Rio Branco
$50
Mexico City
$25 49.3% $25
Sport & Entertainment
Rio Branco
$38
Mexico City
$72 89.8% $34

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $343 in Rio Branco and $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Mexico City pays about 4 times more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $25 in Rio Branco vs $48 in Mexico City for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $178 vs $320 per month, with Rio Branco cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio Branco
🇲🇽 Mexico City
🕒 Local time
18:02 6:02 PM
17:02 5:02 PM
1 h behind Rio Branco
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
364,756
9,209,944 Capital
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MXN, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 5.35 BRL (1 BRL = 0.187 USD). 1 EUR = 5.95 BRL (1 BRL = 0.168 EUR).

Mexican Peso exchange rates as of October 28, 2026: 1 USD = 18.64 MXN (100 MXN = 5.36 USD). 1 EUR = 20.75 MXN (100 MXN = 4.82 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rio Branco Mexico City 4,740 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio Branco
  • Mexico City

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
Rio Branco vs Mexico City: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rio Branco and in Mexico City?
Total monthly costs including rent come to $847 in Rio Branco and $1,608 in Mexico City, so Rio Branco is about 47% cheaper – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 75% lower in Rio Branco. That’s worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Rio Branco and in Mexico City?
Rent for a central apartment: $343 in Rio Branco versus $1,113 in Mexico City. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Rio Branco and in Mexico City?
A monthly transit pass in Mexico City runs roughly 53% less than in Rio Branco. The price difference matters if you commute daily and watch your budget.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Rio Branco and Mexico City?
Childcare runs $264 in Rio Branco versus $432 in Mexico City. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $847 in Rio Branco versus $1,608 in Mexico City, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Rio Branco but tight or insufficient in Mexico City. The gap between the two cities makes Rio Branco the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rio Branco and Mexico City?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
How do I decide between Rio Branco and Mexico City?
It comes down to priorities – Rio Branco wins on affordability, Mexico City on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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