Last update: Nov 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Bathurst, Canada

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,185 a month against $1,766 in Bathurst, rent and utilities included – about $7,000 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil
Bathurst, Canada
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,185
/mo nomad
Bathurst
🇨🇦 Canada
$1,766
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rio de Janeiro and in Bathurst

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 Bathurst actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,185 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $1,766 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,185
  • Bathurst $1,766

A couple spends around $1,737 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $2,053 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,737
  • Bathurst $2,053

A family of three spends $2,289 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $2,339 in Bathurst, rent included.

  • Rio de Janeiro $2,289
  • Bathurst $2,339

Rio de Janeiro is about 33% cheaper than Bathurst, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Rio de Janeiro sits 12% below the global median, while Bathurst is 31% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Bathurst
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.16 R$44.75
$15.87 CA$22.24
-48.58%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.20 R$204
$43.09 CA$60.4
-13.67%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$7.52 R$41.27
$11.65 CA$16.33
-35.45%
Cappuccino
$2.10 R$11.54
$3.38 CA$4.74
-37.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.36 R$7.47
$2.01 CA$2.82
-32.34%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.96 R$5.27
$1.57 CA$2.20
-38.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.98 R$10.84
$4.91 CA$6.88
-59.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.26 R$17.89
$4.93 CA$6.91
-33.87%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Bathurst
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.09 R$5.96
$1.81 CA$2.53
-39.78%
White Bread (500g)
$1.87 R$10.24
$2.54 CA$3.57
-26.38%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.12 R$6.17
$2.57 CA$3.60
-56.42%
Eggs
$2.20 R$12.08
$3.64 CA$5.11
-39.56%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.91 R$54.4
$11.43 CA$16.02
-13.30%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.11 R$22.55
$9.22 CA$12.92
-55.42%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.25 R$50.7
$6.53 CA$9.15
41.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.59 R$14.22
$4.64 CA$6.50
-44.18%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 R$9.26
$1.61 CA$2.25
4.97%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.47 R$8.05
$4.69 CA$6.57
-68.66%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.72 R$9.42
$1.89 CA$2.65
-8.99%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 R$6.34
$2.61 CA$3.66
-55.56%
Onion (1kg)
$1.00 R$5.48
$1.52 CA$2.13
-34.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.66 R$3.60
$2.16 CA$3.03
-69.44%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 R$3.34
$1.58 CA$2.21
-61.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.69 R$14.77
$10.12 CA$14.18
-73.42%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.20 R$39.52
$12.00 CA$16.82
-40.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.07 R$5.88
$3.24 CA$4.55
-66.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.24 R$12.28
$4.70 CA$6.58
-52.34%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Bathurst
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.88 R$4.81
$3.63 CA$5.09
-75.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$52.3 R$287
$64.1 CA$89.9
-18.38%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.18 R$6.47
$2.94 CA$4.12
-59.86%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.68 R$3.71
$1.38 CA$1.93
-50.72%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.71 R$47.79
$21.38 CA$29.98
-59.26%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.20 R$6.57
$1.24 CA$1.74
-3.23%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$21.9K R$120.0K
$28.5K CA$39.9K
-23.15%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.0K R$170.1K
$21.3K CA$29.9K
45.61%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Bathurst
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$126 R$689
$103 CA$145
21.85%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.14 R$55.6
$70.9 CA$99.4
-85.70%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.95 R$115
$61.1 CA$85.7
-65.71%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Bathurst
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$28.51 R$156
$45.42 CA$63.7
-37.23%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$28.87 R$158
$31.85 CA$44.65
-9.36%
Cinema Ticket
$7.40 R$40.62
$9.09 CA$12.75
-18.59%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Bathurst
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$537 R$2,946
$589 CA$825
-8.79%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.9K R$87.2K
$6,759 CA$9,474
135.07%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Bathurst
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$38.68 R$212
$54.0 CA$75.7
-28.41%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$45.06 R$247
$39.61 CA$55.5
13.76%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.6 R$376
$78.5 CA$110
-12.66%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.1 R$352
$82.8 CA$116
-22.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Bathurst
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$768 R$4,212
$750 CA$1,052
2.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$491 R$2,692
$696 CA$975
-29.48%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,458 R$8,002
-
-
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$743 R$4,076
-
-
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,325 R$18.2K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,552 R$8,516
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Bathurst
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$674 R$3,697
$2,031 CA$2,847
-66.83%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.93
4.77
150.10%

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

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: November 3, 2026

Last update for Bathurst: November 1, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
$491
Bathurst
$696 41.8% $205
Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
$198
Bathurst
$317 60.3% $119
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
$157
Bathurst
$235 50% $78
Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
$139
Bathurst
$251 81% $112
Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
$97
Bathurst
$115 17.8% $17
Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
$60
Bathurst
$88 46.5% $28
Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
$43
Bathurst
$64 46.8% $20

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $768 in Rio de Janeiro versus $750 in Bathurst. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries in Bathurst are about 3 times higher. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $37 in Rio de Janeiro versus $43 in Bathurst. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $198 vs $317 – making Rio de Janeiro the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🇨🇦 Bathurst
🕒 Local time
03:38 3:38 AM
02:38 2:38 AM
1 h behind Rio de Janeiro
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,211,223
12,157
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 5.49 BRL (1 BRL = 0.182 USD). 1 EUR = 6.16 BRL (1 BRL = 0.162 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of November 6, 2026: 1 USD = 1.4 CAD (1 CAD = 0.713 USD). 1 EUR = 1.57 CAD (1 CAD = 0.635 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rio de Janeiro Bathurst 8,160 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Bathurst

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 Bathurst: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rio de Janeiro cheaper than Bathurst?
Yes – Bathurst is pricier by about 49%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,778 per month in Rio de Janeiro and $2,649 in Bathurst. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
What is the rent difference between Rio de Janeiro and Bathurst?
A central 1-bedroom goes for about $768 in Rio de Janeiro and $750 in Bathurst. The gap holds across neighborhoods – outer areas show a similar spread, just at lower price points.
What are total monthly expenses in Rio de Janeiro and in Bathurst?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,185 in Rio de Janeiro and $1,766 in Bathurst. That makes Rio de Janeiro about 33% cheaper.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
Public transport costs about 18% less in Rio de Janeiro. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Is $2,000 enough for either Rio de Janeiro or Bathurst?
$2,000 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $1,185 in Rio de Janeiro and $1,766 in Bathurst, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Is it better to live in Rio de Janeiro or in Bathurst?
It depends on your priorities. Rio de Janeiro has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,185 in Rio de Janeiro to $1,766 in Bathurst. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Rio de Janeiro. If higher salaries or specific career opportunities are the priority, Bathurst makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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