😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $953 in Rio de Janeiro versus $744 in Goiana.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,460 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,208 in Goiana.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,967 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,672 in Goiana.
😐Living in Rio de Janeiro is roughly 28% more expensive than Goiana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rio de Janeiro29% lower, Goiana44% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.03R$35.08
$5.74R$28.64
22.47%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.78R$179
$36.75R$183
-2.64%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.24R$31.16
$6.22R$31.06
0.32%
Cappuccino
$1.99R$9.93
$1.82R$9.08
9.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34R$6.67
$1.21R$6.05
10.74%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84R$4.19
$0.61R$3.04
37.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78R$8.88
$1.58R$7.88
12.66%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67R$13.31
$2.18R$10.86
22.48%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11R$5.56
$1.11R$5.52
-
White Bread(500g)
$1.77R$8.84
$1.25R$6.24
41.60%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49R$7.42
$1.04R$5.21
43.27%
Eggs
$1.93R$9.62
$1.92R$9.59
0.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.11R$40.47
$6.50R$32.45
24.77%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.55R$17.71
$3.67R$18.29
-3.27%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.25R$41.17
$6.20R$30.95
33.06%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32R$11.58
$2.15R$10.75
7.91%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63R$8.13
$0.86R$4.31
89.53%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44R$7.19
$0.88R$4.38
63.64%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55R$7.73
$1.12R$5.61
38.39%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23R$6.15
$0.99R$4.96
24.24%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15R$5.76
$1.00R$5.00
15.00%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69R$3.45
$0.52R$2.61
32.69%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58R$2.87
$0.51R$2.57
13.73%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99R$9.93
$1.66R$8.27
19.88%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05R$40.18
$7.95R$39.65
1.26%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25R$6.26
$1.24R$6.19
0.81%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03R$10.14
$2.58R$12.86
-21.32%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23R$6.13
$0.93R$4.65
32.26%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.49R$197
$38.85R$194
1.65%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07R$5.33
$0.88R$4.39
21.59%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69R$3.46
$0.67R$3.34
2.99%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.53R$37.60
$10.66R$53.2
-29.36%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10R$5.50
$0.98R$4.88
12.24%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2KR$100.6K
$21.4KR$106.7K
-5.73%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KR$135.7K
$31.2KR$155.9K
-12.92%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104R$519
$43.26R$216
140.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.99R$59.8
$12.59R$62.8
-4.77%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.48R$92.2
$18.96R$94.6
-2.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.17R$131
$22.48R$112
16.41%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.31R$121
$21.50R$107
13.07%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43R$32.07
$6.95R$34.66
-7.48%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$553R$2,761
$119R$592
366.70%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5KR$57.3K
$4,309R$21.5K
166.60%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.53R$222
$60.8R$304
-26.78%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.97R$209
$42.87R$214
-2.10%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.5R$382
$56.6R$282
35.25%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.2R$305
$71.0R$354
-13.82%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429R$2,143
$320R$1,596
34.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$324R$1,618
$219R$1,091
48.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$835R$4,165
$584R$2,914
42.93%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$580R$2,894
$430R$2,146
34.83%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,964R$14.8K
$1,614R$8,053
83.70%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,333R$6,650
$1,185R$5,913
12.46%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$535R$2,671
$610R$3,043
-12.24%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.33
12
-5.58%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rio de Janeiro: April 27, 2026
Last update for Goiana: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $429 in Rio de Janeiro and $320 in Goiana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Goiana pays 14% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Rio de Janeiro vs $37.00 in Goiana. Groceries flip the comparison at $186 vs $157, with Goiana 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 Goiana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rio de Janeiro and Goiana?
Rio de Janeiro and Goiana differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($953 vs $744 including rent). Goiana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Goiana earns 14% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Rio de Janeiro and Goiana?
Rent for a central apartment: $429 in Rio de Janeiro versus $320 in Goiana. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Goiana – a meal for two runs $37.00 versus $36.00 in Rio de Janeiro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Rio de Janeiro or Goiana?
All in, you'll spend $953 per month in Rio de Janeiro versus $744 in Goiana – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Rio de Janeiro vs Goiana?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Goiana gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Rio de Janeiro and Goiana?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Where should expats move: Rio de Janeiro or Goiana?
Expats usually find Goiana gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rio de Janeiro vs other spots: cost of living compared