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

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $945 in Rio de Janeiro versus $835 in Davao.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,472 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,279 in Davao.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,000 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,722 in Davao.

Living in Rio de Janeiro is roughly 13% more expensive than in Davao, driven mainly by Monthly Utilities & Internet.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rio de Janeiro 29% lower, Davao 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.35 R$37.57

$4.54 ₱279

61.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.43 R$181

$23.96 ₱1,475

47.87%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.28 R$32.12

$4.64 ₱286

35.34%

Cappuccino

$1.90 R$9.72

$2.06 ₱127

-7.77%

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

$1.29 R$6.57

$0.87 ₱53.3

48.28%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.91 R$4.66

$0.54 ₱32.95

68.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.75 R$8.95

$1.41 ₱86.5

24.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.73 R$13.98

$1.72 ₱106

58.72%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 R$5.77

$1.68 ₱103

-32.74%

White Bread (500g)

$1.71 R$8.73

$1.22 ₱75.0

40.16%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.43 R$7.29

$0.96 ₱59.4

48.96%

Eggs

$2.04 R$10.42

$2.06 ₱127

-0.97%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.74 R$39.58

$6.20 ₱382

24.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.49 R$17.82

$4.60 ₱283

-24.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.01 R$40.93

$7.43 ₱457

7.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.30 R$11.76

$2.88 ₱177

-20.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 R$8.05

$1.14 ₱70.4

37.72%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.51 R$7.73

$2.41 ₱148

-37.34%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.55 R$7.90

$1.42 ₱87.3

9.15%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 R$6.36

$2.22 ₱137

-44.14%

Onion (1kg)

$1.12 R$5.70

$3.15 ₱194

-64.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.64 R$3.27

$1.31 ₱80.7

-51.15%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 R$2.91

$0.61 ₱37.28

-6.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.00 R$10.22

$2.71 ₱167

-26.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.92 R$40.48

$8.29 ₱510

-4.46%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.26 R$6.43

$1.41 ₱86.6

-10.64%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.05 R$10.47

$1.57 ₱96.4

30.57%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.29 R$6.58

$0.22 ₱13.45

486.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$39.50 R$202

$14.45 ₱890

173.36%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.07 R$5.46

$0.90 ₱55.5

18.89%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 R$3.39

$0.25 ₱15.47

164.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.39 R$37.78

$2.10 ₱129

251.90%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.11 R$5.66

$1.09 ₱66.9

1.83%

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

$20.7K R$105.7K

$22.0K ₱1.4M

-5.95%

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

$27.5K R$140.6K

$21.0K ₱1.3M

31.07%

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

$103 R$526

$105 ₱6,463

-1.92%

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

$11.99 R$61.3

$33.78 ₱2,080

-64.51%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.51 R$94.6

$35.75 ₱2,201

-48.22%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$26.11 R$133

$41.25 ₱2,539

-36.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.43 R$125

$4.34 ₱267

462.90%

Cinema Ticket

$6.34 R$32.40

$4.40 ₱271

44.09%

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

$554 R$2,831

$119 ₱7,315

366.12%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.8K R$60.2K

$7,829 ₱482.0K

50.48%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.24 R$231

$65.6 ₱4,040

-31.07%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.69 R$213

$29.82 ₱1,836

39.81%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 R$391

$77.8 ₱4,792

-1.76%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.0 R$317

$69.4 ₱4,273

-10.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$444 R$2,269

$321 ₱19.8K

38.09%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$326 R$1,664

$183 ₱11.3K

77.52%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$847 R$4,328

$816 ₱50.2K

3.76%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$578 R$2,952

$361 ₱22.2K

60.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,657 R$18.7K

$1,621 ₱99.8K

125.61%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,475 R$7,538

$1,447 ₱89.1K

1.93%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$594 R$3,035

$220 ₱13.5K

170.34%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.33

9.56

18.51%

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 Davao: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $444 in Rio de Janeiro and $321 in Davao. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rio de Janeiro pays 170% 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 $24.00 in Davao. Groceries flip the comparison at $183 vs $195, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper for home cooking.

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 Davao: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Davao is cheaper overall, especially in Eating Out, Getting Around. The 13% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Average pay runs 170% 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 $321 in Davao. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Davao – a meal for two runs $24.00 versus $35.00 in Rio de Janeiro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $945 per month in Rio de Janeiro versus $835 in Davao – a 13% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

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

For families, Davao 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.

Safety-wise, Rio de Janeiro and Davao are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Davao gentler on the wallet – expenses run 13% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.