Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Edmonton

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,285 a month against $2,202 in Edmonton, rent and utilities included – about $11,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,285
/mo nomad
Edmonton
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,202
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rio de Janeiro and in Edmonton

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 Edmonton actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,285 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $2,202 in Edmonton, rent included.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,285
  • Edmonton $2,202

A couple spends around $1,888 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $3,234 in Edmonton, rent included.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,888
  • Edmonton $3,234

A family of three spends $2,491 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $4,267 in Edmonton, rent included.

  • Rio de Janeiro $2,491
  • Edmonton $4,267

Rio de Janeiro is about 42% cheaper than Edmonton, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Rio de Janeiro sits 4% below the global median, while Edmonton is 64% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Edmonton
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.98 R$49.83
$19.26 CA$27.46
-48.18%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.34 R$201
$76.9 CA$110
-47.56%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.48 R$42.35
$10.02 CA$14.28
-15.37%
Cappuccino
$2.36 R$11.80
$3.88 CA$5.53
-39.18%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 R$8.13
$2.22 CA$3.17
-26.58%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 R$5.06
$1.96 CA$2.79
-48.47%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 R$12.19
$5.62 CA$8.02
-56.58%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 R$18.43
$6.30 CA$8.98
-41.43%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Edmonton
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 R$5.72
$1.57 CA$2.24
-26.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 R$10.34
$2.13 CA$3.03
-2.82%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.42
$3.00 CA$4.28
-57.00%
Eggs
$2.27 R$11.32
$3.51 CA$5.00
-35.33%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.00 R$54.9
$10.71 CA$15.26
2.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 R$21.51
$11.26 CA$16.05
-61.72%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.74 R$48.63
$18.50 CA$26.37
-47.35%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 R$14.12
$4.26 CA$6.07
-33.57%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 R$9.17
$1.38 CA$1.97
33.33%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 R$7.96
$4.15 CA$5.91
-61.45%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 R$9.00
$4.07 CA$5.80
-55.77%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 R$6.28
$2.12 CA$3.02
-40.57%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 R$5.34
$1.83 CA$2.60
-41.53%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 R$3.75
$2.37 CA$3.38
-68.35%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 R$3.29
$1.85 CA$2.64
-64.32%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05 R$15.21
$13.83 CA$19.72
-77.95%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.18 R$40.84
$11.26 CA$16.05
-27.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 R$5.92
$3.55 CA$5.06
-66.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 R$11.92
$2.90 CA$4.14
-17.59%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Edmonton
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 R$5.06
$2.70 CA$3.85
-62.59%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.2 R$250
$70.7 CA$101
-29.10%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 R$6.33
$2.80 CA$3.99
-54.64%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 R$4.51
$1.37 CA$1.95
-34.31%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.44 R$47.13
$21.34 CA$30.42
-55.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 R$6.65
$1.11 CA$1.58
19.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K R$117.0K
$28.1K CA$40.1K
-16.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K R$167.6K
$19.7K CA$28.0K
70.80%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Edmonton
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 R$666
$223 CA$318
-40.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.23 R$61.0
$44.02 CA$62.7
-72.22%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.65 R$113
$53.2 CA$75.8
-57.43%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Edmonton
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.56 R$158
$46.33 CA$66.1
-31.88%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.87 R$154
$18.21 CA$25.96
69.52%
Cinema Ticket
$8.23 R$41.07
$12.91 CA$18.41
-36.25%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Edmonton
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$603 R$3,011
$762 CA$1,086
-20.81%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K R$66.1K
$9,587 CA$13.7K
38.11%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Edmonton
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.62 R$208
$43.40 CA$61.9
-4.10%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.94 R$249
$45.36 CA$64.7
10.10%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 R$375
$83.4 CA$119
-9.99%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.3 R$341
$96.8 CA$138
-29.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Edmonton
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$905 R$4,519
$1,086 CA$1,548
-16.65%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$527 R$2,633
$900 CA$1,283
-41.41%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 R$6,720
$1,702 CA$2,426
-20.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 R$3,865
$1,409 CA$2,008
-45.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,981 R$19.9K
$2,153 CA$3,069
84.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,562 R$7,798
$1,988 CA$2,834
-21.43%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Edmonton
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$643 R$3,210
$3,684 CA$5,251
-82.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.93
4.32
176.16%

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 Edmonton: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
$527
Edmonton
$900 70.7% $373
Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
$215
Edmonton
$361 68.3% $147
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
$168
Edmonton
$320 90.1% $152
Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
$164
Edmonton
$288 75.9% $124
Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
$106
Edmonton
$121 14.5% $15
Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
$60
Edmonton
$91 52% $31
Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
$48
Edmonton
$72 50.3% $24

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $905 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,086 in Edmonton. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 473% higher in Edmonton, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro versus $77.0 in Edmonton. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $361 – making Rio de Janeiro the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🇨🇦 Edmonton
🕒 Local time
04:23 4:23 AM
01:23 1:23 AM
3 h behind Rio de Janeiro
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,211,223
1,010,899
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

CAD, 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 = 5.6 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rio de Janeiro Edmonton 10,830 km ≈ 14 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Edmonton

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 Edmonton: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
How do living costs in Rio de Janeiro and in Edmonton compare overall?
Monthly costs with rent: $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro, $2,202 in Edmonton – roughly 71% apart. Outside of rent, the biggest gap is in groceries.
What salary covers living expenses in Rio de Janeiro compared to Edmonton?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,927 per month in Rio de Janeiro and $3,302 in Edmonton. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
How do rents compare between Rio de Janeiro and Edmonton?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rio de Janeiro, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Which city is more expensive overall: Rio de Janeiro or Edmonton?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro and $2,202 in Edmonton. That's a gap of about 71%.
How do commuting costs compare in Rio de Janeiro and in Edmonton?
Public transport costs about 41% less in Rio de Janeiro. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rio de Janeiro, where all-in costs run around $1,285, than in Edmonton at $2,202. In Rio de Janeiro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Edmonton it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
How does quality of life compare between Rio de Janeiro and Edmonton?
It depends on your priorities. Rio de Janeiro has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro to $2,202 in Edmonton. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.
How do I decide between Rio de Janeiro and Edmonton?
If budget matters most, go with Rio de Janeiro. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Edmonton makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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