Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Astana Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Astana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $960 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $912 in Astana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,479 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $1,422 in Astana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,997 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $1,933 in Astana, rent included.

Rio de Janeiro costs about 5% more than Astana, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Rio de Janeiro and Astana are more affordable than the global median – Rio de Janeiro 28% lower, Astana 32% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.20 R$37.23

$8.10 ₸3,936

-11.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.52 R$184

$28.85 ₸14.0K

23.12%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.44 R$33.32

$5.76 ₸2,797

11.81%

Cappuccino

$1.97 R$10.21

$2.19 ₸1,066

-10.05%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.27 R$6.59

$0.91 ₸444

39.56%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 R$4.64

$0.53 ₸259

69.81%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 R$9.13

$1.14 ₸554

54.39%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.68 R$13.88

$2.95 ₸1,432

-9.15%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.16 R$6.01

$1.01 ₸492

14.85%

White Bread (500g)

$1.70 R$8.78

$0.50 ₸245

240.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.41 R$7.30

$1.40 ₸680

0.71%

Eggs

$2.00 R$10.33

$1.79 ₸868

11.73%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.05 R$41.62

$9.34 ₸4,537

-13.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.62 R$18.71

$4.73 ₸2,300

-23.47%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.20 R$42.41

$6.96 ₸3,381

17.82%

Apples (1kg)

$2.40 R$12.40

$1.36 ₸661

76.47%

Banana (1kg)

$1.58 R$8.17

$1.87 ₸907

-15.51%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.49 R$7.73

$1.92 ₸935

-22.40%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 R$8.07

$1.97 ₸959

-20.81%

Potato (1kg)

$1.30 R$6.74

$0.58 ₸283

124.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.10 R$5.70

$0.38 ₸183

189.47%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.68 R$3.53

$1.02 ₸495

-33.33%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.58 R$3.00

$0.75 ₸364

-22.67%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.95 R$10.08

$1.81 ₸878

7.73%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.73 R$45.14

$9.14 ₸4,440

-4.49%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.21 R$6.28

$1.02 ₸497

18.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.15 R$11.13

$1.70 ₸823

26.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.23 R$6.37

$0.21 ₸102

485.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.30 R$203

$14.56 ₸7,075

169.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 R$5.75

$1.79 ₸868

-37.99%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 R$3.69

$0.71 ₸345

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.37 R$38.12

$4.51 ₸2,191

63.41%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.07 R$5.55

$0.47 ₸226

127.66%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$20.4K R$105.3K

$20.7K ₸10.1M

-1.87%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$27.1K R$140.1K

$24.7K ₸12.0M

9.48%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$104 R$537

$53.9 ₸26.2K

92.45%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.18 R$63.0

$8.00 ₸3,888

52.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.70 R$96.7

$13.90 ₸6,751

34.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.68 R$133

$49.83 ₸24.2K

-48.46%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.37 R$126

$11.16 ₸5,419

118.37%

Cinema Ticket

$6.60 R$34.15

$5.30 ₸2,572

24.53%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$542 R$2,802

$238 ₸115.8K

127.40%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K R$61.1K

$4,790 ₸2.3M

146.54%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$44.23 R$229

$55.8 ₸27.1K

-20.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.91 R$217

$34.85 ₸16.9K

20.26%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.8 R$397

$88.8 ₸43.1K

-13.48%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.0 R$321

$86.1 ₸41.8K

-27.97%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$438 R$2,267

$478 ₸232.1K

-8.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$331 R$1,709

$328 ₸159.2K

0.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$838 R$4,336

$848 ₸412.2K

-1.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$569 R$2,944

$598 ₸290.3K

-4.73%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,356 R$17.4K

$1,378 ₸669.5K

143.52%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,389 R$7,181

$993 ₸482.3K

39.87%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$548 R$2,834

$798 ₸387.8K

-31.35%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.33

16.12

-29.71%

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

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: June 1, 2026

Last update for Astana: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $438 in Rio de Janeiro versus $478 in Astana. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 46% higher in Astana, which reinforces the cost advantage – you earn more and spend less. Purchasing power leans clearly in its favor.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $36.00 in Rio de Janeiro versus $29.00 in Astana. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $188 vs $178 – making Astana the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Astana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $960 in Rio de Janeiro, $912 in Astana – roughly 5% apart. Rio de Janeiro costs more across the board, with Getting Around showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,440 per month in Rio de Janeiro and $1,367 in Astana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Astana, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $542 per month in Rio de Janeiro and $238 in Astana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 5% more in Rio de Janeiro, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Astana, where all-in costs run around $912, than in Rio de Janeiro at $960. In Astana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Rio de Janeiro it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Rio de Janeiro has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $912 in Astana to $960 in Rio de Janeiro. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Astana. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rio de Janeiro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.