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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $945 in Rio de Janeiro versus $669 in Criciuma.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,472 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,005 in Criciuma.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,000 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,341 in Criciuma.

Living in Rio de Janeiro is roughly 41% more expensive than in Criciuma, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rio de Janeiro 29% lower, Criciuma 50% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.35 R$37.42

$5.05 R$25.73

45.54%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.43 R$180

$21.31 R$109

66.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 R$32.00

$5.16 R$26.26

21.71%

Cappuccino

$1.90 R$9.68

$1.21 R$6.16

57.02%

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

$1.29 R$6.55

$0.89 R$4.53

44.94%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 R$4.64

$0.57 R$2.89

59.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 R$8.91

$1.65 R$8.38

6.06%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 R$13.92

$1.49 R$7.57

83.22%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 R$5.75

$0.88 R$4.48

28.41%

White Bread (500g)

$1.71 R$8.70

$1.24 R$6.30

37.90%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 R$7.26

$0.98 R$5.00

45.92%

Eggs

$2.04 R$10.38

$1.83 R$9.34

11.48%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 R$39.43

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 R$17.75

$3.16 R$16.10

10.44%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 R$40.77

$6.59 R$33.55

21.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 R$11.72

$1.86 R$9.45

23.66%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 R$8.01

$0.83 R$4.25

89.16%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 R$7.70

$0.92 R$4.68

64.13%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 R$7.87

$1.27 R$6.49

22.05%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.34

$1.00 R$5.09

24.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 R$5.68

$0.99 R$5.02

13.13%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 R$3.26

$0.65 R$3.33

-1.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 R$2.89

$0.62 R$3.17

-8.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 R$10.18

$2.49 R$12.69

-19.68%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.92 R$40.33

$4.88 R$24.82

62.30%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 R$6.41

$1.03 R$5.24

22.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 R$10.43

$1.31 R$6.66

56.49%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 R$6.56

$0.93 R$4.72

38.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.50 R$201

$32.24 R$164

22.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 R$5.43

$0.41 R$2.08

160.98%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 R$3.38

$1.06 R$5.39

-37.74%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.39 R$37.64

$2.13 R$10.86

246.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 R$5.64

$1.04 R$5.30

6.73%

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

$20.7K R$105.3K

$19.8K R$100.7K

4.52%

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

$27.5K R$140.1K

$25.4K R$129.5K

8.20%

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

$103 R$524

$59.3 R$302

73.57%

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

$11.99 R$61.0

$13.86 R$70.6

-13.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.51 R$94.2

$20.47 R$104

-9.57%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.11 R$133

$24.87 R$127

4.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.43 R$124

$21.28 R$108

14.80%

Cinema Ticket

$6.34 R$32.27

$7.79 R$39.65

-18.61%

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

$554 R$2,820

$128 R$654

331.34%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K R$60.0K

$1,502 R$7,648

684.26%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.24 R$230

$23.97 R$122

88.74%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.69 R$212

$30.11 R$153

38.46%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 R$389

$68.8 R$350

11.23%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.0 R$315

$31.40 R$160

97.32%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 R$2,260

$218 R$1,111

103.47%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 R$1,657

$195 R$991

67.20%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$847 R$4,311

$301 R$1,532

181.35%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$578 R$2,941

$248 R$1,260

133.40%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,657 R$18.6K

$1,185 R$6,032

208.69%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 R$7,509

$626 R$3,186

135.65%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$594 R$3,023

$310 R$1,576

91.80%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.33

8.4

34.88%

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

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: July 13, 2026

Last update for Criciuma: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $444 in Rio de Janeiro and $218 in Criciuma. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rio de Janeiro pays 92% 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: $35.00 in Rio de Janeiro vs $21.00 in Criciuma for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $183 vs $148 per month, with Criciuma 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 Criciuma: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Criciuma is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around. The 41% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 92% higher in Rio de Janeiro, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $444 in Rio de Janeiro versus $218 in Criciuma. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in Criciuma runs roughly 23% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $554 in Rio de Janeiro versus $128 in Criciuma. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Criciuma gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Criciuma 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.

Expats usually find Criciuma gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.