Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Colorado Springs, CO

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,285 a month against $2,990 in Colorado Springs, CO, rent and utilities included – about $20,500 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,285
/mo nomad
Colorado Springs, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$2,990
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rio de Janeiro and in Colorado Springs, CO

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 Colorado Springs, CO actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,990 in Colorado Springs, CO.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,285
  • Colorado Springs, CO $2,990

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,888 in Rio de Janeiro versus $4,361 in Colorado Springs, CO.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,888
  • Colorado Springs, CO $4,361

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,491 in Rio de Janeiro versus $5,733 in Colorado Springs, CO.

  • Rio de Janeiro $2,491
  • Colorado Springs, CO $5,733

Living in Rio de Janeiro costs roughly 57% less than in Colorado Springs, CO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Rio de Janeiro is 4% below, Colorado Springs, CO is 123% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Colorado Springs, CO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.98 R$49.83
$19.68 $19.68
-49.29%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.34 R$201
$83.9 $83.9
-51.93%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.48 R$42.35
$13.09 $13.09
-35.22%
Cappuccino
$2.36 R$11.80
$5.49 $5.49
-57.01%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 R$8.13
$2.69 $2.69
-39.41%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 R$5.06
$2.29 $2.29
-55.90%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 R$12.19
$5.93 $5.93
-58.85%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 R$18.43
$7.15 $7.15
-48.39%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Colorado Springs, CO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 R$5.72
$0.97 $0.97
18.56%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 R$10.34
$3.16 $3.16
-34.49%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.42
$4.29 $4.29
-69.93%
Eggs
$2.27 R$11.32
$6.06 $6.06
-62.54%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.00 R$54.9
$14.95 $14.95
-26.42%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 R$21.51
$13.71 $13.71
-68.56%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.74 R$48.63
$19.73 $19.73
-50.63%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 R$14.12
$5.55 $5.55
-49.01%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 R$9.17
$1.41 $1.41
30.50%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 R$7.96
$4.56 $4.56
-64.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 R$9.00
$4.60 $4.60
-60.87%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 R$6.28
$2.48 $2.48
-49.19%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 R$5.34
$2.61 $2.61
-59.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 R$3.75
$2.31 $2.31
-67.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 R$3.29
$1.91 $1.91
-65.45%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05 R$15.21
$10.70 $10.70
-71.50%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.18 R$40.84
$19.07 $19.07
-57.11%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 R$5.92
$3.27 $3.27
-63.61%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 R$11.92
$4.71 $4.71
-49.26%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Colorado Springs, CO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 R$5.06
$1.71 $1.71
-40.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.2 R$250
$61.8 $61.8
-18.89%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 R$6.33
$3.74 $3.74
-66.04%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 R$4.51
$1.41 $1.41
-36.17%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.44 R$47.13
$25.02 $25.02
-62.27%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 R$6.65
$1.01 $1.01
31.68%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K R$117.0K
$24.6K $24.6K
-4.66%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K R$167.6K
$24.9K $24.9K
34.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Colorado Springs, CO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 R$666
$198 $198
-32.45%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.23 R$61.0
$94.4 $94.4
-87.05%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.65 R$113
$101 $101
-77.63%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Colorado Springs, CO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.56 R$158
$58.3 $58.3
-45.83%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.87 R$154
$34.02 $34.02
-9.26%
Cinema Ticket
$8.23 R$41.07
$14.78 $14.78
-44.32%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Colorado Springs, CO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$603 R$3,011
$1,475 $1,475
-59.11%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K R$66.1K
$24.2K $24.2K
-45.18%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Colorado Springs, CO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.62 R$208
$58.4 $58.4
-28.75%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.94 R$249
$35.60 $35.60
40.28%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 R$375
$83.1 $83.1
-9.73%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.3 R$341
$103 $103
-33.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Colorado Springs, CO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$905 R$4,519
$1,725 $1,725
-47.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$527 R$2,633
$1,543 $1,543
-65.81%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 R$6,720
$2,689 $2,689
-49.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 R$3,865
$2,441 $2,441
-68.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,981 R$19.9K
$2,559 $2,559
55.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,562 R$7,798
$2,484 $2,484
-37.11%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Colorado Springs, CO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$643 R$3,210
$4,309 $4,309
-85.08%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.93
6.72
77.53%

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 Colorado Springs, CO: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
$527
Colorado Springs, CO
$1.5K 193% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
$215
Colorado Springs, CO
$441 106% $227
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
$168
Colorado Springs, CO
$393 134% $225
Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
$164
Colorado Springs, CO
$326 99.2% $163
Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
$106
Colorado Springs, CO
$126 19.2% $20
Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
$60
Colorado Springs, CO
$79 32.5% $19
Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
$48
Colorado Springs, CO
$88 82.9% $40

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $905 in Rio de Janeiro and $1,725 in Colorado Springs, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Colorado Springs, CO pays 570% 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 $84.0 in Colorado Springs, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $441 per month, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🇺🇸 Colorado Springs, CO
🕒 Local time
06:57 6:57 AM
03:57 3:57 AM
3 h behind Rio de Janeiro
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,211,223
478,961
💱 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 = 5.59 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 Colorado Springs, CO 9,390 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Colorado Springs, CO

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 Colorado Springs, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Colorado Springs, CO cheaper than Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 133% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Rio de Janeiro or Colorado Springs, CO?
On paper, salaries run 570% lower in Colorado Springs, CO. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Rio de Janeiro and Colorado Springs, CO?
Rent for a central apartment: $905 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,725 in Colorado Springs, CO. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do food prices compare in Rio de Janeiro and in Colorado Springs, CO?
Supermarket bills run roughly 106% higher in Colorado Springs, CO. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Is eating out cheaper in Rio de Janeiro or in Colorado Springs, CO?
Dining out is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $84.0 in Colorado Springs, CO. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Rio de Janeiro or in Colorado Springs, CO?
At $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,990 in Colorado Springs, CO, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rio de Janeiro but tight or insufficient in Colorado Springs, CO. The gap between the two cities makes Rio de Janeiro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Rio de Janeiro or Colorado Springs, CO more family-friendly?
For families, Rio de Janeiro is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Colorado Springs, CO, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is safer, Rio de Janeiro or Colorado Springs, CO?
Safety-wise, Rio de Janeiro and Colorado Springs, CO are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Rio de Janeiro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 133% less than in Colorado Springs, CO. 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?