Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Hampton, VA

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,289 a month against $3,311 in Hampton, VA, rent and utilities included – about $24,300 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,289
/mo nomad
Hampton, VA
🇺🇸 United States
$3,311
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rio de Janeiro and in Hampton, VA

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro versus $3,311 in Hampton, VA.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,289
  • Hampton, VA $3,311

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,868 in Rio de Janeiro versus $5,036 in Hampton, VA.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,868
  • Hampton, VA $5,036

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,448 in Rio de Janeiro versus $6,762 in Hampton, VA.

  • Rio de Janeiro $2,448
  • Hampton, VA $6,762

Living in Rio de Janeiro costs roughly 61% less than in Hampton, VA, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Rio de Janeiro is 5% below, Hampton, VA is 145% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Hampton, VA
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$10.06 R$51.0
$19.97 $19.97
-49.62%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.44 R$205
$75.4 $75.4
-46.36%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.55 R$43.35
$12.07 $12.07
-29.16%
Cappuccino
$2.38 R$12.04
$4.58 $4.58
-48.03%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.61 R$8.18
$3.41 $3.41
-52.79%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.03 R$5.22
$2.42 $2.42
-57.44%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.47 R$12.54
$6.59 $6.59
-62.52%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.70 R$18.77
$9.02 $9.02
-58.98%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Hampton, VA
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.19 R$6.05
$1.54 $1.54
-22.73%
White Bread (500g)
$2.05 R$10.38
$5.23 $5.23
-60.80%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 R$6.49
$7.27 $7.27
-82.39%
Eggs
$2.29 R$11.60
$5.69 $5.69
-59.75%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.76 R$54.5
$8.13 $8.13
32.35%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.41 R$22.36
$26.17 $26.17
-83.15%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.84 R$49.86
$20.14 $20.14
-51.14%
Apples (1kg)
$2.81 R$14.25
$13.36 $13.36
-78.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.78 R$9.03
$2.55 $2.55
-30.20%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 R$8.13
$9.92 $9.92
-83.87%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 R$9.11
$9.97 $9.97
-81.95%
Potato (1kg)
$1.22 R$6.17
$7.10 $7.10
-82.82%
Onion (1kg)
$1.04 R$5.26
$6.81 $6.81
-84.73%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.77 R$3.92
$3.50 $3.50
-78.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 R$3.38
$5.21 $5.21
-87.14%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.01 R$15.27
$10.71 $10.71
-71.90%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.08 R$40.94
$14.29 $14.29
-43.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 R$6.03
$1.78 $1.78
-33.15%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.51 R$12.73
$3.81 $3.81
-34.12%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Hampton, VA
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.99 R$5.00
$3.81 $3.81
-74.02%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.1 R$254
$55.8 $55.8
-10.16%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.22 R$6.20
$5.13 $5.13
-76.22%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 R$4.66
$1.89 $1.89
-51.32%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.97 R$45.45
$20.37 $20.37
-55.96%
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
$36.6K $36.6K
-34.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.9K R$166.6K
$24.8K $24.8K
32.27%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Hampton, VA
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$133 R$676
$217 $217
-38.62%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.82 R$54.8
$53.3 $53.3
-79.72%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.90 R$116
$78.3 $78.3
-70.76%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Hampton, VA
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.79 R$156
$112 $112
-72.39%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.85 R$161
$35.18 $35.18
-9.47%
Cinema Ticket
$8.05 R$40.83
$17.89 $17.89
-55.00%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Hampton, VA
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$598 R$3,029
$1,359 $1,359
-56.03%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.4K R$68.0K
$15.0K $15.0K
-10.52%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Hampton, VA
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.04 R$213
$47.00 $47.00
-10.55%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.68 R$252
$49.15 $49.15
1.08%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$74.5 R$378
$136 $136
-45.08%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.7 R$348
$133 $133
-48.49%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Hampton, VA
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$903 R$4,578
$1,626 $1,626
-44.44%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$529 R$2,684
$1,576 $1,576
-66.40%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,326 R$6,724
$2,908 $2,908
-54.39%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$756 R$3,831
$2,912 $2,912
-74.05%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,010 R$20.3K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,560 R$7,910
$2,315 $2,315
-32.61%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Hampton, VA
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$640 R$3,242
$3,665 $3,665
-82.55%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.93
6.1
95.57%

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 Hampton, VA: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
$529
Hampton, VA
$1.6K 198% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
$215
Hampton, VA
$663 209% $449
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
$167
Hampton, VA
$349 109% $182
Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
$165
Hampton, VA
$325 97.1% $160
Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
$106
Hampton, VA
$164 55.4% $59
Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
$60
Hampton, VA
$86 42.9% $26
Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
$47
Hampton, VA
$147 214% $100

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $903 in Rio de Janeiro and $1,626 in Hampton, VA. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Hampton, VA pays 473% 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 $75.0 in Hampton, VA for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $663 per month, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🇺🇸 Hampton, VA
🕒 Local time
16:50 4:50 PM
15:50 3:50 PM
1 h behind Rio de Janeiro
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,211,223
137,436
💱 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 Hampton, VA 7,520 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Hampton, VA

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 Hampton, VA: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Hampton, VA cheaper than Rio de Janeiro?
Rio de Janeiro is cheaper overall, especially in groceries, eating out, and clothing. The 157% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Rio de Janeiro or Hampton, VA?
On paper, salaries run 473% lower in Hampton, VA. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
What is the rent difference between Rio de Janeiro and Hampton, VA?
Rent for a central apartment: $903 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,626 in Hampton, VA. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What are total monthly expenses in Rio de Janeiro and in Hampton, VA?
All in, you'll spend $1,289 per month in Rio de Janeiro versus $3,311 in Hampton, VA – a 157% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Rio de Janeiro runs roughly 11% less than in Hampton, VA. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Rio de Janeiro or in Hampton, VA?
At $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro versus $3,311 in Hampton, VA, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rio de Janeiro but tight or insufficient in Hampton, VA. The gap between the two cities makes Rio de Janeiro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Rio de Janeiro or Hampton, VA more family-friendly?
For families, Rio de Janeiro is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Hampton, VA, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Rio de Janeiro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 157% less than in Hampton, VA. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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