Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Durango, CO

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,273 a month against $3,013 in Durango, CO, rent and utilities included – about $20,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,273
/mo nomad
Durango, CO
🇺🇸 United States
$3,013
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rio de Janeiro and in Durango, 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 Durango, CO actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,273 in Rio de Janeiro versus $3,013 in Durango, CO.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,273
  • Durango, CO $3,013

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,841 in Rio de Janeiro versus $4,094 in Durango, CO.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,841
  • Durango, CO $4,094

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,409 in Rio de Janeiro versus $5,175 in Durango, CO.

  • Rio de Janeiro $2,409
  • Durango, CO $5,175

Living in Rio de Janeiro costs roughly 58% less than in Durango, CO, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Rio de Janeiro is 6% below, Durango, CO is 122% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Durango, CO
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.38 R$47.54
$15.10 $15.10
-37.88%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.00 R$203
$61.0 $61.0
-34.44%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.34 R$42.28
$8.07 $8.07
3.35%
Cappuccino
$2.29 R$11.62
$4.80 $4.80
-52.29%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 R$8.05
$2.89 $2.89
-44.98%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 R$5.10
$2.34 $2.34
-56.84%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 R$10.85
$5.99 $5.99
-64.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 R$18.55
$6.80 $6.80
-46.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Durango, CO
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 R$5.72
$0.99 $0.99
14.14%
White Bread (500g)
$2.09 R$10.60
$3.14 $3.14
-33.44%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 R$6.36
$3.29 $3.29
-62.01%
Eggs
$2.25 R$11.39
$4.96 $4.96
-54.64%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.92 R$55.3
$11.92 $11.92
-8.39%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.36 R$22.10
$9.43 $9.43
-53.76%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.60 R$48.66
$11.01 $11.01
-12.81%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 R$14.46
$4.30 $4.30
-33.72%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 R$9.16
$1.42 $1.42
27.46%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.58 R$8.02
$4.22 $4.22
-62.56%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.83 R$9.28
$5.08 $5.08
-63.98%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 R$6.10
$3.24 $3.24
-62.96%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 R$5.35
$3.33 $3.33
-68.17%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 R$3.81
$1.97 $1.97
-61.93%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 R$3.45
$2.84 $2.84
-76.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94 R$14.90
$10.70 $10.70
-72.52%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.98 R$40.43
$3.95 $3.95
102.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 R$5.98
$2.40 $2.40
-50.83%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 R$12.26
$3.57 $3.57
-32.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Durango, CO
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 R$4.78
-
-
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.3 R$255
$29.77 $29.77
69.03%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.20 R$6.10
$3.69 $3.69
-67.48%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 R$4.20
$2.01 $2.01
-58.71%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.97 R$45.48
$31.81 $31.81
-71.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 R$6.53
$0.83 $0.83
55.42%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K R$115.5K
$28.9K $28.9K
-21.27%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K R$172.1K
$25.2K $25.2K
34.51%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Durango, CO
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 R$681
$156 $156
-13.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.73 R$54.4
$52.1 $52.1
-79.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.84 R$116
$67.3 $67.3
-66.07%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Durango, CO
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.16 R$153
$19.12 $19.12
57.74%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.49 R$160
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.73 R$39.17
$11.66 $11.66
-33.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Durango, CO
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$584 R$2,960
$1,493 $1,493
-60.89%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K R$64.9K
$25.3K $25.3K
-49.31%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Durango, CO
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.12 R$208
$54.9 $54.9
-25.07%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.26 R$250
$44.12 $44.12
11.65%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.7 R$373
$106 $106
-30.19%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.9 R$334
$116 $116
-43.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Durango, CO
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$900 R$4,561
$2,358 $2,358
-61.84%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$527 R$2,673
$1,892 $1,892
-72.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,332 R$6,754
$3,491 $3,491
-61.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$748 R$3,790
$2,709 $2,709
-72.40%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,990 R$20.2K
$4,879 $4,879
-18.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,560 R$7,908
$4,812 $4,812
-67.58%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Durango, CO
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$640 R$3,246
$4,619 $4,619
-86.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.93
6.36
87.58%

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

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 18, 2026

Last update for Durango, CO: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
$527
Durango, CO
$1.9K 259% $1.4K
Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
$214
Durango, CO
$348 62.8% $134
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
$168
Durango, CO
$275 64.1% $108
Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
$156
Durango, CO
$267 71.3% $111
Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
$103
Durango, CO
$144 39.6% $41
Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
$59
Durango, CO
$44 * 26.8% $16
Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
$46
Durango, CO
$42 7% $3.2

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $900 in Rio de Janeiro and $2,358 in Durango, CO. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Durango, CO pays 621% 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 $61.0 in Durango, CO for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $348 per month, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🇺🇸 Durango, CO
🕒 Local time
02:15 2:15 AM
23:15 11:15 PM
3 h behind Rio de Janeiro
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,211,223
19,071
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rio de Janeiro Durango, CO 9,510 km ≈ 12 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Durango, 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 Durango, CO: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Durango, CO cheaper than Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 137% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Rio de Janeiro or Durango, CO?
On paper, salaries run 621% lower in Durango, 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 Durango, CO?
Rent for a central apartment: $900 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,358 in Durango, CO. 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 Rio de Janeiro runs roughly 69% less than in Durango, CO. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $584 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,493 in Durango, CO. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Rio de Janeiro or in Durango, CO?
At $1,273 in Rio de Janeiro versus $3,013 in Durango, CO, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rio de Janeiro but tight or insufficient in Durango, CO. The gap between the two cities makes Rio de Janeiro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Rio de Janeiro or Durango, CO more family-friendly?
For families, Rio de Janeiro is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Durango, 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 Durango, CO?
Safety-wise, Rio de Janeiro and Durango, 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 137% less than in Durango, CO. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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