😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,237 in Rio de Janeiro versus $794 in Campos dos Goytacazes.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,799 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,266 in Campos dos Goytacazes.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,360 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,739 in Campos dos Goytacazes.
🌍Living in Rio de Janeiro is roughly 56% more expensive than in Campos dos Goytacazes, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rio de Janeiro10% lower, Campos dos Goytacazes42% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.14R$47.10
$5.96R$30.69
53.36%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.73R$200
$28.95R$149
33.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$8.05R$41.47
$6.95R$35.78
15.83%
Cappuccino
$2.24R$11.52
$1.60R$8.22
40.00%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.58R$8.16
$1.34R$6.90
17.91%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.02R$5.27
$0.59R$3.05
72.88%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$2.34R$12.06
$1.20R$6.16
95.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$3.24R$16.70
$2.99R$15.42
8.36%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.09R$5.64
$0.98R$5.03
11.22%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97R$10.18
$1.53R$7.88
28.76%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.36R$7.02
$1.33R$6.85
2.26%
Eggs
$2.28R$11.75
$1.86R$9.57
22.58%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$10.83R$55.8
$8.68R$44.74
24.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.19R$21.61
$3.44R$17.71
21.80%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.62R$49.58
$7.89R$40.67
21.93%
Apples(1kg)
$2.63R$13.53
$1.88R$9.67
39.89%
Banana(1kg)
$1.73R$8.91
$1.16R$5.96
49.14%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.53R$7.90
$0.94R$4.86
62.77%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.84R$9.46
$1.24R$6.40
48.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23R$6.35
$0.64R$3.31
92.19%
Onion(1kg)
$1.00R$5.17
$0.78R$4.04
28.21%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.74R$3.81
$0.56R$2.89
32.14%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61R$3.14
$0.79R$4.08
-22.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$2.93R$15.12
$1.52R$7.84
92.76%
Wine(Bottle)
$9.00R$46.38
$5.71R$29.43
57.62%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19R$6.12
$0.99R$5.10
20.20%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.33R$12.00
$1.33R$6.84
75.19%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.93R$4.78
$0.95R$4.90
-2.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$49.48R$255
$43.11R$222
14.78%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.19R$6.12
$1.19R$6.15
-
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.84R$4.31
$0.51R$2.62
64.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$9.03R$46.51
$7.67R$39.49
17.73%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.28R$6.58
$1.22R$6.26
4.92%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.0KR$118.3K
$21.2KR$109.4K
8.19%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.1KR$165.4K
$29.9KR$153.9K
7.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$136R$699
$57.4R$296
136.46%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.02R$61.9
$9.49R$48.87
26.66%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.89R$113
$17.55R$90.4
24.73%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$30.08R$155
$20.70R$107
45.31%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$29.58R$152
$28.01R$144
5.61%
Cinema Ticket
$7.94R$40.89
$3.55R$18.28
123.66%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$551R$2,837
$143R$735
286.23%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$13.3KR$68.6K
$2,607R$13.4K
410.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$40.13R$207
$68.1R$351
-41.04%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$46.79R$241
$79.9R$412
-41.44%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$72.0R$371
$66.6R$343
8.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$66.4R$342
$46.32R$239
43.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$833R$4,289
$277R$1,428
200.28%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$482R$2,481
$230R$1,183
109.70%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,278R$6,586
$647R$3,334
97.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$702R$3,616
$464R$2,388
51.43%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,929R$20.2K
$1,848R$9,520
112.66%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,477R$7,608
$1,025R$5,282
44.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Campos dos Goytacazes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$643R$3,311
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.93
10.67
11.81%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rio de Janeiro: September 12, 2026
Last update for Campos dos Goytacazes: September 15, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $833 in Rio de Janeiro and $277 in Campos dos Goytacazes. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
🛒Dining out: $39.00 in Rio de Janeiro vs $29.00 in Campos dos Goytacazes for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $211 vs $165 per month, with Campos dos Goytacazes cheaper across the board.
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 Campos dos Goytacazes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Campos dos Goytacazes cheaper than Rio de Janeiro?
Campos dos Goytacazes is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment, Monthly Utilities & Internet. The 56% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
What income do you need for each city?
You'd need roughly $1,856 in Rio de Janeiro and $1,191 in Campos dos Goytacazes to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
What is the rent difference between Rio de Janeiro and Campos dos Goytacazes?
Rent for a central apartment: $833 in Rio de Janeiro versus $277 in Campos dos Goytacazes. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Campos dos Goytacazes runs roughly 15% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $551 in Rio de Janeiro versus $143 in Campos dos Goytacazes. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for living in Rio de Janeiro or in Campos dos Goytacazes?
At $794 in Campos dos Goytacazes versus $1,237 in Rio de Janeiro, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Campos dos Goytacazes but tight or insufficient in Rio de Janeiro. The gap between the two cities makes Campos dos Goytacazes the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Rio de Janeiro or Campos dos Goytacazes more family-friendly?
For families, Campos dos Goytacazes is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Rio de Janeiro, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Campos dos Goytacazes gentler on the wallet – expenses run 56% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rio de Janeiro vs other spots: cost of living compared