Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Grand Turk

For one person, living is cheaper in Grand Turk: $342 a month against $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro, rent and utilities included – about $11,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

63

Cost of Living Index in Rio de Janeiro
Learn more

Rio de Janeiro Living Index

Jump to prices

Rio de Janeiro

🇧🇷 Brazil

$1,285

/mo nomad

Grand Turk

🇹🇨 Turks and Caicos Islands

$342

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rio de Janeiro and in Grand Turk

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro versus $342 in Grand Turk.

Rio de Janeiro $1,285
Grand Turk $342

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,888 in Rio de Janeiro versus $527 in Grand Turk.

Rio de Janeiro $1,888
Grand Turk $527

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,491 in Rio de Janeiro versus $712 in Grand Turk.

Rio de Janeiro $2,491
Grand Turk $712

Living in Rio de Janeiro is roughly 275% more expensive than in Grand Turk, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rio de Janeiro 4% lower, Grand Turk 74% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.98 R$49.83

$20.38 $20.38

-51.03%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$40.34 R$201

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.48 R$42.35

Cappuccino

$2.36 R$11.80

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.63 R$8.13

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.01 R$5.06

$4.02 $4.02

-74.88%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.44 R$12.19

$12.18 $12.18

-79.97%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.69 R$18.43

$15.04 $15.04

-75.47%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.15 R$5.72

White Bread (500g)

$2.07 R$10.34

$3.73 $3.73

-44.50%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.29 R$6.42

Eggs

$2.27 R$11.32

Local Cheese (1kg)

$11.00 R$54.9

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.31 R$21.51

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.74 R$48.63

Apples (1kg)

$2.83 R$14.12

Banana (1kg)

$1.84 R$9.17

Oranges (1kg)

$1.60 R$7.96

Tomato (1kg)

$1.80 R$9.00

$6.50 $6.50

-72.31%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 R$6.28

Onion (1kg)

$1.07 R$5.34

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 R$3.75

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.66 R$3.29

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.05 R$15.21

Wine (Bottle)

$8.18 R$40.84

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.19 R$5.92

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.39 R$11.92

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.01 R$5.06

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.2 R$250

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 R$6.33

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 R$4.51

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.44 R$47.13

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.33 R$6.65

$2.02 $2.02

-34.16%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.4K R$117.0K

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$33.6K R$167.6K

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$134 R$666

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$12.23 R$61.0

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$22.65 R$113

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$31.56 R$158

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$30.87 R$154

Cinema Ticket

$8.23 R$41.07

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$603 R$3,011

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.2K R$66.1K

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$41.62 R$208

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$49.94 R$249

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.0 R$375

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$68.3 R$341

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$905 R$4,519

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$527 R$2,633

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,346 R$6,720

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$774 R$3,865

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,981 R$19.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,562 R$7,798

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$643 R$3,210

$7,993 $7,993

-91.96%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.93

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 Grand Turk: October 4, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Rio de Janeiro

$527 41%

Grand Turk

–

Groceries & Markets

Rio de Janeiro

$215 16.7%

Grand Turk

–

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Rio de Janeiro

$168 13.1%

Grand Turk

–

Eating Out

Rio de Janeiro

$164 12.7%

Grand Turk

–

Clothing & Footwear

Rio de Janeiro

$106 8.2%

Grand Turk

–

Getting Around

Rio de Janeiro

$60 4.7%

Grand Turk

–

Sport & Entertainment

Rio de Janeiro

$48 3.7%

Grand Turk

–

Cost Breakdown

Grand Turk pays 1143% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Good to know

🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro

🇹🇨 Grand Turk

🕒 Local time

09:02 9:02 AM

08:02 8:02 AM

1 h behind Rio de Janeiro

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

6,211,223

3,720

💱 Currency

Brazilian Real BRL R$

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 BRL = 0.2 USD

1 BRL = 0.179 EUR

1 USD = 0.892 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇧🇷 Brazilian Real (R$)

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).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

USD to BRL in detail →

On the map

Lowest

Highest

Between locations

Rio de Janeiro Grand Turk 5,790 km ≈ 8 h nonstop flight

From you

Rio de Janeiro
Grand Turk

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 Grand Turk: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rio de Janeiro and Grand Turk differ by about 275% in total monthly costs ($1,285 vs $342 including rent). Grand Turk is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 1143% lower in Grand Turk. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Supermarket bills run roughly 208% higher in Rio de Janeiro. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.

All in, you'll spend $1,285 per month in Rio de Janeiro versus $342 in Grand Turk – a 275% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $342 in Grand Turk versus $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Grand Turk but tight or insufficient in Rio de Janeiro. The gap between the two cities makes Grand Turk the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Rio de Janeiro and Grand Turk are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Grand Turk gentler on the wallet – expenses run 275% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.