Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Guararema Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Guararema

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $948 in Rio de Janeiro versus $713 in Guararema.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,487 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,161 in Guararema.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,026 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,609 in Guararema.

Living in Rio de Janeiro is roughly 33% more expensive than Guararema, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rio de Janeiro 29% lower, Guararema 47% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$7.03 R$34.96

$4.60 R$22.85

52.83%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$35.46 R$176

$32.72 R$163

8.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.19 R$30.78

$5.38 R$26.75

15.06%

Cappuccino

$2.00 R$9.92

$0.94 R$4.67

112.77%

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

$1.29 R$6.41

$0.93 R$4.61

38.71%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.90 R$4.46

$0.75 R$3.72

20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$1.76 R$8.75

$1.83 R$9.11

-3.83%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.63 R$13.09

$2.75 R$13.69

-4.36%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.13 R$5.62

$0.95 R$4.74

18.95%

White Bread (500g)

$1.69 R$8.40

$1.28 R$6.37

32.03%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.42 R$7.04

$1.11 R$5.50

27.93%

Eggs

$1.92 R$9.55

$2.29 R$11.40

-16.16%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.79 R$38.73

$9.19 R$45.70

-15.23%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.63 R$18.05

$4.21 R$20.90

-13.78%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.99 R$39.72

$8.27 R$41.08

-3.39%

Apples (1kg)

$2.33 R$11.60

$1.93 R$9.62

20.73%

Banana (1kg)

$1.60 R$7.96

$1.60 R$7.94

Oranges (1kg)

$1.46 R$7.25

$1.45 R$7.21

0.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.57 R$7.80

$1.48 R$7.33

6.08%

Potato (1kg)

$1.25 R$6.19

$1.46 R$7.27

-14.38%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 R$5.76

$1.39 R$6.93

-16.55%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.69 R$3.44

$0.38 R$1.87

81.58%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 R$3.07

$0.67 R$3.34

-7.46%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$1.97 R$9.77

$1.82 R$9.03

8.24%

Wine (Bottle)

$7.90 R$39.28

$6.08 R$30.21

29.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.27 R$6.33

$1.30 R$6.47

-2.31%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.12 R$10.52

$1.97 R$9.81

7.61%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.28 R$6.38

$0.87 R$4.34

47.13%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$38.38 R$191

$38.58 R$192

-0.52%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.11 R$5.54

$0.93 R$4.61

19.35%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 R$3.54

$0.53 R$2.61

33.96%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.79 R$38.70

$5.43 R$27.00

43.46%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.06 R$5.29

$1.08 R$5.34

-1.85%

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

$20.9K R$104.0K

$14.1K R$70.2K

48.07%

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

$27.9K R$138.6K

$21.3K R$105.9K

30.81%

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

$103 R$513

$26.53 R$132

289.30%

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

$12.22 R$60.7

$16.08 R$79.9

-24.00%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$18.82 R$93.5

$10.70 R$53.2

75.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$25.63 R$127

$22.47 R$112

14.06%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$24.19 R$120

$21.26 R$106

13.78%

Cinema Ticket

$6.38 R$31.72

$3.64 R$18.08

75.27%

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

$551 R$2,738

$331 R$1,644

66.55%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$11.7K R$58.1K

$8,926 R$44.4K

30.93%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$45.89 R$228

$54.0 R$268

-14.99%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$41.16 R$205

$23.01 R$114

78.88%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.5 R$380

$71.7 R$356

6.70%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$60.8 R$302

$53.5 R$266

13.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$433 R$2,154

$314 R$1,559

38.20%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$336 R$1,669

$215 R$1,067

56.36%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$853 R$4,237

$573 R$2,848

48.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$589 R$2,926

$426 R$2,117

38.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,926 R$14.5K

$1,702 R$8,457

71.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,342 R$6,668

$1,214 R$6,032

10.55%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$545 R$2,708

$306 R$1,519

78.20%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.33

88.83%

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

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: April 21, 2026

Last update for Guararema: April 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $433 in Rio de Janeiro and $314 in Guararema. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rio de Janeiro pays 78% 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: $35 in Rio de Janeiro vs $33 in Guararema for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $181 per month, with Guararema cheaper across the board.

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 Guararema: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Guararema is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 33% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

Rio de Janeiro pays 78% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $433 in Rio de Janeiro versus $314 in Guararema. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $948 per month in Rio de Janeiro versus $713 in Guararema – a 33% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Guararema runs roughly 1% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Guararema gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

For families, Guararema is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Rio de Janeiro, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Expats usually find Guararema gentler on the wallet – expenses run 33% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.