Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Goiana

For one person, living is cheaper in Goiana: $858 a month against $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro, rent and utilities included – about $5,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,285
/mo nomad
Goiana
🇧🇷 Brazil
$858
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

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

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro versus $858 in Goiana.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,285
  • Goiana $858

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,888 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,393 in Goiana.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,888
  • Goiana $1,393

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,491 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,928 in Goiana.

  • Rio de Janeiro $2,491
  • Goiana $1,928

Living in Rio de Janeiro is roughly 50% more expensive than in Goiana, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rio de Janeiro 4% lower, Goiana 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.98 R$49.83
$5.46 R$27.25
82.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.34 R$201
$38.62 R$193
4.45%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.48 R$42.35
$9.82 R$49.04
-13.65%
Cappuccino
$2.36 R$11.80
$2.60 R$12.97
-9.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 R$8.13
$1.11 R$5.55
46.85%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 R$5.06
$0.60 R$3.00
68.33%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 R$12.19
$1.63 R$8.14
49.69%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 R$18.43
$3.29 R$16.41
12.16%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 R$5.72
$1.46 R$7.30
-21.23%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 R$10.34
$1.63 R$8.12
26.99%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.42
$1.67 R$8.35
-22.75%
Eggs
$2.27 R$11.32
$1.95 R$9.74
16.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.00 R$54.9
$7.36 R$36.73
49.46%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 R$21.51
$4.43 R$22.09
-2.71%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.74 R$48.63
$6.83 R$34.10
42.61%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 R$14.12
$1.41 R$7.05
100.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 R$9.17
$1.35 R$6.72
36.30%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 R$7.96
$0.76 R$3.81
110.53%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 R$9.00
$1.27 R$6.35
41.73%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 R$6.28
$1.44 R$7.18
-12.50%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 R$5.34
$1.12 R$5.57
-4.46%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 R$3.75
$0.48 R$2.41
56.25%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 R$3.29
$0.84 R$4.21
-21.43%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05 R$15.21
$1.84 R$9.16
65.76%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.18 R$40.84
$8.16 R$40.71
0.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 R$5.92
$1.14 R$5.71
4.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 R$11.92
$1.53 R$7.62
56.21%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 R$5.06
$0.96 R$4.77
5.21%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.2 R$250
$37.73 R$188
32.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 R$6.33
$1.20 R$6.01
5.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 R$4.51
$0.75 R$3.74
20.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.44 R$47.13
$3.57 R$17.81
164.43%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 R$6.65
$1.05 R$5.24
26.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K R$117.0K
$23.9K R$119.5K
-2.14%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K R$167.6K
$32.6K R$162.8K
2.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 R$666
$80.2 R$401
66.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.23 R$61.0
$13.37 R$66.7
-8.53%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.65 R$113
$18.06 R$90.2
25.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.56 R$158
$25.99 R$130
21.43%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.87 R$154
$29.91 R$149
3.21%
Cinema Ticket
$8.23 R$41.07
$8.71 R$43.48
-5.51%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$603 R$3,011
$236 R$1,178
155.62%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K R$66.1K
$11.9K R$59.5K
11.14%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.62 R$208
$45.31 R$226
-8.14%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.94 R$249
$50.9 R$254
-1.94%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 R$375
$63.2 R$316
18.70%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.3 R$341
$81.6 R$407
-16.32%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$905 R$4,519
$367 R$1,831
146.85%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$527 R$2,633
$272 R$1,358
93.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 R$6,720
$609 R$3,040
121.01%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 R$3,865
$460 R$2,296
68.33%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,981 R$19.9K
$1,843 R$9,202
115.94%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,562 R$7,798
$1,189 R$5,937
31.33%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Goiana
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$643 R$3,210
$580 R$2,897
10.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.93
11.75
1.53%

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 Goiana: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
$527
Goiana
$272 48.4% $255
Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
$215
Goiana
$178 16.9% $36
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
$168
Goiana
$112 33.7% $57
Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
$164
Goiana
$126 23.2% $38
Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
$106
Goiana
$108 2.6% $2.8
Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
$60
Goiana
$47 22.5% $13
Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
$48
Goiana
$43 9.6% $4.6

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $905 in Rio de Janeiro and $367 in Goiana. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rio de Janeiro pays 11% 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 $39.00 in Goiana for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $178 per month, with Goiana cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Goiana
🕒 Local time
11:22 11:22 AM
11:22 11:22 AM
Same time as Rio de Janeiro
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,211,223
81,055
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

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 = 5.59 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rio de Janeiro Goiana 1,920 km ≈ 3 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Goiana

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 Goiana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rio de Janeiro and in Goiana?
Rio de Janeiro and Goiana differ by about 50% in total monthly costs ($1,285 vs $858 including rent). Goiana is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Rio de Janeiro or Goiana?
Average pay runs 11% 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.
How do apartment prices compare in Rio de Janeiro and in Goiana?
Rent for a central apartment: $905 in Rio de Janeiro versus $367 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 $39.00 versus $40.00 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 $1,285 per month in Rio de Janeiro versus $858 in Goiana – a 50% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $858 in Goiana versus $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Goiana but tight or insufficient in Rio de Janeiro. The gap between the two cities makes Goiana the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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 50% 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

Similar cities

Show times on the 12-hour clock, temperatures in °F and distances in miles?