Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Artesia, NM

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,285 a month against $2,347 in Artesia, NM, rent and utilities included – about $12,700 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,285
/mo nomad
Artesia, NM
🇺🇸 United States
$2,347
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rio de Janeiro and in Artesia, NM

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,347 in Artesia, NM.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,285
  • Artesia, NM $2,347

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,888 in Rio de Janeiro versus $3,116 in Artesia, NM.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,888
  • Artesia, NM $3,116

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,491 in Rio de Janeiro versus $3,886 in Artesia, NM.

  • Rio de Janeiro $2,491
  • Artesia, NM $3,886

Living in Rio de Janeiro costs roughly 45% less than in Artesia, NM, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Rio de Janeiro is 4% below, Artesia, NM is 75% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Artesia, NM
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.98 R$49.83
$16.20 $16.20
-38.40%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.34 R$201
$47.74 $47.74
-15.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.48 R$42.35
$11.80 $11.80
-28.14%
Cappuccino
$2.36 R$11.80
$6.15 $6.15
-61.63%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 R$8.13
$2.29 $2.29
-28.82%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 R$5.06
$1.60 $1.60
-36.88%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 R$12.19
$6.09 $6.09
-59.93%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 R$18.43
$6.92 $6.92
-46.68%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Artesia, NM
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 R$5.72
$0.84 $0.84
36.90%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 R$10.34
$2.85 $2.85
-27.37%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.42
$2.41 $2.41
-46.47%
Eggs
$2.27 R$11.32
$3.47 $3.47
-34.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.00 R$54.9
$12.01 $12.01
-8.41%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 R$21.51
$11.48 $11.48
-62.46%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.74 R$48.63
$12.98 $12.98
-24.96%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 R$14.12
$3.58 $3.58
-20.95%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 R$9.17
$1.47 $1.47
25.17%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 R$7.96
$2.58 $2.58
-37.98%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 R$9.00
$3.59 $3.59
-49.86%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 R$6.28
$2.17 $2.17
-41.94%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 R$5.34
$2.69 $2.69
-60.22%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 R$3.75
$1.77 $1.77
-57.63%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 R$3.29
$1.58 $1.58
-58.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05 R$15.21
$9.61 $9.61
-68.26%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.18 R$40.84
$9.29 $9.29
-11.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 R$5.92
$2.01 $2.01
-40.80%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 R$11.92
$4.92 $4.92
-51.42%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Artesia, NM
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 R$5.06
$2.14 $2.14
-52.80%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.2 R$250
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 R$6.33
$1.68 $1.68
-24.40%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 R$4.51
$1.38 $1.38
-34.78%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.44 R$47.13
$26.98 $26.98
-65.01%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 R$6.65
$0.89 $0.89
49.44%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K R$117.0K
$35.6K $35.6K
-34.16%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K R$167.6K
$25.1K $25.1K
33.94%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Artesia, NM
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 R$666
$148 $148
-9.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.23 R$61.0
$71.7 $71.7
-82.94%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.65 R$113
$68.3 $68.3
-66.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Artesia, NM
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.56 R$158
$42.15 $42.15
-25.12%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.87 R$154
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.23 R$41.07
$8.04 $8.04
2.36%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Artesia, NM
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$603 R$3,011
$584 $584
3.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K R$66.1K
$6,864 $6,864
92.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Artesia, NM
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.62 R$208
$37.22 $37.22
11.82%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.94 R$249
$37.15 $37.15
34.43%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 R$375
$85.2 $85.2
-11.90%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.3 R$341
$78.4 $78.4
-12.88%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Artesia, NM
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$905 R$4,519
$1,568 $1,568
-42.26%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$527 R$2,633
$1,205 $1,205
-56.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 R$6,720
$2,078 $2,078
-35.21%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 R$3,865
$1,640 $1,640
-52.79%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,981 R$19.9K
$2,752 $2,752
44.63%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,562 R$7,798
$2,419 $2,419
-35.42%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Artesia, NM
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$643 R$3,210
$3,521 $3,521
-81.74%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.93
6.51
83.26%

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

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 6, 2026

Last update for Artesia, NM: October 3, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
$527
Artesia, NM
$1.2K 129% $678
Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
$215
Artesia, NM
$324 51.1% $110
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
$168
Artesia, NM
$288 70.9% $119
Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
$164
Artesia, NM
$299 82.2% $135
Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
$106
Artesia, NM
$107 1.3% $1.4
Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
$60
Artesia, NM
$17 * 71.5% $43
Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
$48
Artesia, NM
$58 21.3% $10

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $905 in Rio de Janeiro and $1,568 in Artesia, NM. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Artesia, NM pays 448% 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: $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro vs $48.00 in Artesia, NM for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $324 per month, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🇺🇸 Artesia, NM
🕒 Local time
04:55 4:55 AM
01:55 1:55 AM
3 h behind Rio de Janeiro
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,211,223
16,522
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rio de Janeiro Artesia, NM 8,970 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Artesia, NM

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 de Janeiro vs Artesia, NM: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rio de Janeiro or Artesia, NM?
Rio de Janeiro wins on cost – living expenses run 83% lower than in Artesia, NM. 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 Rio de Janeiro or in Artesia, NM?
On paper, salaries run 448% lower in Artesia, NM. 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 Rio de Janeiro compared to Artesia, NM?
Rent for a central apartment: $905 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,568 in Artesia, NM. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do childcare costs compare in Rio de Janeiro and in Artesia, NM?
Childcare runs $603 in Rio de Janeiro versus $584 in Artesia, NM. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
How do dining costs compare in Rio de Janeiro and in Artesia, NM?
Dining out is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $48.00 in Artesia, NM. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Rio de Janeiro or in Artesia, NM?
At $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,347 in Artesia, NM, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rio de Janeiro but tight or insufficient in Artesia, NM. 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, Rio de Janeiro or Artesia, NM?
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 83% less than in Artesia, NM. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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