😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $948 in Rio de Janeiro versus $577 in Juiz de Fora.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,487 in Rio de Janeiro versus $932 in Juiz de Fora.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,026 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,288 in Juiz de Fora.
😐Living in Rio de Janeiro is roughly 64% more expensive than Juiz de Fora, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rio de Janeiro29% lower, Juiz de Fora57% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.03R$34.89
$3.63R$18.03
93.66%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.46R$176
$17.94R$89.0
97.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.19R$30.72
$4.55R$22.56
36.04%
Cappuccino
$2.00R$9.90
$1.63R$8.09
22.70%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29R$6.39
$0.92R$4.58
40.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90R$4.45
$0.62R$3.05
45.16%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76R$8.74
$0.86R$4.27
104.65%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.63R$13.06
$1.78R$8.81
47.75%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.13R$5.60
$0.77R$3.84
46.75%
White Bread(500g)
$1.69R$8.38
$1.38R$6.84
22.46%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.42R$7.02
$1.56R$7.71
-8.97%
Eggs
$1.92R$9.54
$1.69R$8.38
13.61%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$7.79R$38.65
$7.10R$35.23
9.72%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.63R$18.02
$3.13R$15.52
15.97%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.99R$39.64
$7.41R$36.73
7.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.33R$11.58
$1.82R$9.02
28.02%
Banana(1kg)
$1.60R$7.95
$1.18R$5.85
35.59%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46R$7.23
$1.09R$5.43
33.94%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.57R$7.78
$1.33R$6.59
18.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.25R$6.18
$1.03R$5.10
21.36%
Onion(1kg)
$1.16R$5.75
$0.65R$3.20
78.46%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69R$3.43
$0.49R$2.45
40.82%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62R$3.07
$0.66R$3.27
-6.06%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.97R$9.75
$1.07R$5.29
84.11%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.90R$39.20
$6.06R$30.08
30.36%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.27R$6.32
$0.78R$3.86
62.82%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.12R$10.50
$1.00R$4.94
112.00%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Juiz de Fora
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.28R$6.37
$0.65R$3.23
96.92%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.38R$190
$30.30R$150
26.67%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11R$5.53
$0.99R$4.89
12.12%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71R$3.53
$0.67R$3.32
5.97%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.79R$38.63
$5.68R$28.18
37.15%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.06R$5.28
$1.05R$5.23
0.95%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.9KR$103.8K
$18.1KR$89.7K
15.71%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.9KR$138.3K
$26.8KR$133.0K
3.96%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$103R$512
$58.6R$291
76.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.22R$60.6
$6.73R$33.39
81.58%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.82R$93.4
$15.97R$79.2
17.85%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.63R$127
$17.26R$85.6
48.49%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.19R$120
$25.54R$127
-5.29%
Cinema Ticket
$6.38R$31.66
$4.60R$22.82
38.70%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$551R$2,733
$69.0R$342
699.10%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.7KR$58.0K
$2,385R$11.8K
390.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.89R$228
$34.75R$172
32.06%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.16R$204
$36.80R$183
11.85%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.5R$379
$54.0R$268
41.56%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.8R$301
$30.10R$149
101.83%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Juiz de Fora
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$433R$2,150
$196R$972
121.23%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$336R$1,665
$133R$657
153.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$853R$4,229
$454R$2,251
87.84%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$589R$2,920
$322R$1,599
82.62%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,926R$14.5K
$984R$4,882
197.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,342R$6,655
$614R$3,044
118.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Juiz de Fora
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$545R$2,702
$468R$2,321
16.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.33
10.83
4.62%
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 Juiz de Fora: April 21, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $433 in Rio de Janeiro and $196 in Juiz de Fora. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rio de Janeiro pays 16% 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 $18 in Juiz de Fora for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $185 vs $153 per month, with Juiz de Fora 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 Juiz de Fora: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rio de Janeiro or Juiz de Fora?
Juiz de Fora wins on cost – living expenses run 64% lower than in Rio de Janeiro. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Juiz de Fora the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rio de Janeiro or Juiz de Fora?
Rio de Janeiro pays 16% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rio de Janeiro vs Juiz de Fora?
Rent for a central apartment: $433 in Rio de Janeiro versus $196 in Juiz de Fora. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Rio de Janeiro vs Juiz de Fora?
Dining out is cheaper in Juiz de Fora – a meal for two runs $18.00 versus $35.00 in Rio de Janeiro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Rio de Janeiro compared to Juiz de Fora?
All in, you'll spend $948 per month in Rio de Janeiro versus $577 in Juiz de Fora – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $800/month in Rio de Janeiro or Juiz de Fora?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Juiz de Fora gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rio de Janeiro or Juiz de Fora?
Both work as nomad bases, but Juiz de Fora delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $577 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Juiz de Fora hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Juiz de Fora gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% 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