Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Elkhorn, WI

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,289 a month against $2,421 in Elkhorn, WI, rent and utilities included – about $13,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,289
/mo nomad
Elkhorn, WI
🇺🇸 United States
$2,421
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rio de Janeiro and in Elkhorn, WI

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

A single person spends $1,289 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $2,421 in Elkhorn, WI, rent included.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,289
  • Elkhorn, WI $2,421

A couple spends around $1,868 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $3,426 in Elkhorn, WI, rent included.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,868
  • Elkhorn, WI $3,426

A family of three spends $2,448 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $4,430 in Elkhorn, WI, rent included.

  • Rio de Janeiro $2,448
  • Elkhorn, WI $4,430

Rio de Janeiro is about 47% cheaper than Elkhorn, WI, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Rio de Janeiro sits 5% below the global median, while Elkhorn, WI is 79% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Elkhorn, WI
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.06 R$51.0
$14.73 $14.73
-31.70%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.44 R$205
$78.9 $78.9
-48.71%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 R$43.35
$11.79 $11.79
-27.48%
Cappuccino
$2.38 R$12.04
$4.16 $4.16
-42.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 R$8.18
$2.52 $2.52
-36.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 R$5.22
$1.46 $1.46
-29.45%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.47 R$12.54
$3.59 $3.59
-31.20%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 R$18.77
$4.81 $4.81
-23.08%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Elkhorn, WI
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 R$6.05
$0.72 $0.72
65.28%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 R$10.38
$2.79 $2.79
-26.52%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 R$6.49
$1.84 $1.84
-30.43%
Eggs
$2.29 R$11.60
$4.68 $4.68
-51.07%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.76 R$54.5
$9.70 $9.70
10.93%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.41 R$22.36
$14.51 $14.51
-69.61%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.84 R$49.86
$12.25 $12.25
-19.67%
Apples (1kg)
$2.81 R$14.25
$4.84 $4.84
-41.94%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 R$9.03
$1.26 $1.26
41.27%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 R$8.13
$3.51 $3.51
-54.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 R$9.11
$4.26 $4.26
-57.75%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 R$6.17
$2.63 $2.63
-53.61%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 R$5.26
$2.11 $2.11
-50.71%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 R$3.92
$1.93 $1.93
-60.10%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 R$3.38
$1.97 $1.97
-65.99%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01 R$15.27
$9.70 $9.70
-68.97%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.08 R$40.94
$11.76 $11.76
-31.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 R$6.03
$2.52 $2.52
-52.78%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 R$12.73
$2.46 $2.46
2.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Elkhorn, WI
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.99 R$5.00
$2.05 $2.05
-51.71%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.1 R$254
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 R$6.20
$3.26 $3.26
-62.58%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 R$4.66
$1.42 $1.42
-35.21%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.97 R$45.45
$24.35 $24.35
-63.16%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.30 R$6.57
$0.98 $0.98
32.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.9K R$121.0K
$36.2K $36.2K
-33.96%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K R$166.6K
$26.2K $26.2K
25.34%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Elkhorn, WI
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 R$676
$149 $149
-10.66%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.82 R$54.8
$69.5 $69.5
-84.42%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.90 R$116
$50.5 $50.5
-54.66%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Elkhorn, WI
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.79 R$156
$44.68 $44.68
-31.09%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.85 R$161
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.05 R$40.83
$9.74 $9.74
-17.35%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Elkhorn, WI
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$598 R$3,029
$1,545 $1,545
-61.32%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K R$68.0K
$31.5K $31.5K
-57.42%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Elkhorn, WI
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.04 R$213
$50.5 $50.5
-16.74%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.68 R$252
$45.27 $45.27
9.74%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.5 R$378
$66.2 $66.2
12.53%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.7 R$348
$94.8 $94.8
-27.53%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Elkhorn, WI
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$903 R$4,578
$1,615 $1,615
-44.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$529 R$2,684
$1,356 $1,356
-60.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,326 R$6,724
$2,491 $2,491
-46.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$756 R$3,831
$1,967 $1,967
-61.59%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,010 R$20.3K
$2,650 $2,650
51.35%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,560 R$7,910
$2,078 $2,078
-24.91%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Elkhorn, WI
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$640 R$3,242
$3,841 $3,841
-83.35%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.93
6.75
76.74%

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

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 10, 2026

Last update for Elkhorn, WI: October 13, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
$529
Elkhorn, WI
$1.4K 156% $827
Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
$215
Elkhorn, WI
$351 63.6% $137
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
$167
Elkhorn, WI
$269 61.1% $102
Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
$165
Elkhorn, WI
$247 49.5% $82
Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
$106
Elkhorn, WI
$116 9.3% $9.8
Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
$60
Elkhorn, WI
$19 * 69.1% $41
Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
$47
Elkhorn, WI
$64 36.9% $17

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

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $903 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,615 in Elkhorn, WI. 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 501% higher in Elkhorn, WI, 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 $79.0 in Elkhorn, WI. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $215 vs $351 – making Rio de Janeiro the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🇺🇸 Elkhorn, WI
🕒 Local time
20:07 8:07 PM
18:07 6:07 PM
2 h behind Rio de Janeiro
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,211,223
10,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 19, 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 19, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rio de Janeiro Elkhorn, WI 8,650 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Elkhorn, WI

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 Elkhorn, WI: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rio de Janeiro or Elkhorn, WI?
Elkhorn, WI costs about 88% more than Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the gap comes mainly from groceries. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rio de Janeiro and in Elkhorn, WI?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,933 per month in Rio de Janeiro and $3,632 in Elkhorn, WI. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Elkhorn, WI?
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.
How much does it cost to live in Rio de Janeiro compared to Elkhorn, WI?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro and $2,421 in Elkhorn, WI. That's a gap of about 88%.
How do childcare costs compare in Rio de Janeiro and in Elkhorn, WI?
Kindergarten costs $598 per month in Rio de Janeiro and $1,545 in Elkhorn, WI. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Rio de Janeiro or in Elkhorn, WI?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rio de Janeiro, where all-in costs run around $1,289, than in Elkhorn, WI at $2,421. In Rio de Janeiro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Elkhorn, WI it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rio de Janeiro or Elkhorn, WI?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Rio de Janeiro costs $1,289 versus $2,421 in Elkhorn, WI. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Rio de Janeiro or to Elkhorn, WI?
If budget matters most, go with Rio de Janeiro. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Elkhorn, WI makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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