Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Libertyville, IL

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,273 a month against $2,530 in Libertyville, IL, rent and utilities included – about $15,100 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,273
/mo nomad
Libertyville, IL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,530
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rio de Janeiro and in Libertyville, IL

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

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,273 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,530 in Libertyville, IL.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,273
  • Libertyville, IL $2,530

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,841 in Rio de Janeiro versus $3,759 in Libertyville, IL.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,841
  • Libertyville, IL $3,759

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,409 in Rio de Janeiro versus $4,987 in Libertyville, IL.

  • Rio de Janeiro $2,409
  • Libertyville, IL $4,987

Living in Rio de Janeiro costs roughly 50% less than in Libertyville, IL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Rio de Janeiro is 6% below, Libertyville, IL is 87% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.38 R$47.54
$15.12 $15.12
-37.96%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.00 R$203
$55.2 $55.2
-27.50%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.34 R$42.28
$10.12 $10.12
-17.59%
Cappuccino
$2.29 R$11.62
$4.45 $4.45
-48.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 R$8.05
$2.27 $2.27
-29.96%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 R$5.10
$2.31 $2.31
-56.28%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 R$10.85
$4.39 $4.39
-51.25%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 R$18.55
$6.09 $6.09
-39.90%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 R$5.72
$0.77 $0.77
46.75%
White Bread (500g)
$2.09 R$10.60
$3.08 $3.08
-32.14%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 R$6.36
$4.50 $4.50
-72.22%
Eggs
$2.25 R$11.39
$4.82 $4.82
-53.32%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.92 R$55.3
$11.30 $11.30
-3.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.36 R$22.10
$9.58 $9.58
-54.49%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.60 R$48.66
$21.81 $21.81
-55.98%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 R$14.46
$6.03 $6.03
-52.74%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 R$9.16
$1.13 $1.13
60.18%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.58 R$8.02
$4.55 $4.55
-65.27%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.83 R$9.28
$5.76 $5.76
-68.23%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 R$6.10
$3.62 $3.62
-66.85%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 R$5.35
$4.26 $4.26
-75.12%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 R$3.81
$2.34 $2.34
-67.95%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 R$3.45
$1.28 $1.28
-46.88%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94 R$14.90
$11.33 $11.33
-74.05%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.98 R$40.43
$12.13 $12.13
-34.21%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 R$5.98
$2.05 $2.05
-42.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 R$12.26
$3.48 $3.48
-30.46%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Libertyville, IL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 R$4.78
$1.74 $1.74
-45.98%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.3 R$255
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.20 R$6.10
$5.05 $5.05
-76.24%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 R$4.20
$1.84 $1.84
-54.89%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.97 R$45.48
$49.63 $49.63
-81.93%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 R$6.53
$0.96 $0.96
34.38%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K R$115.5K
$27.0K $27.0K
-15.60%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K R$172.1K
$26.4K $26.4K
28.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 R$681
$234 $234
-42.71%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.73 R$54.4
$51.7 $51.7
-79.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.84 R$116
$59.2 $59.2
-61.42%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.16 R$153
$37.44 $37.44
-19.44%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.49 R$160
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.73 R$39.17
$15.10 $15.10
-48.81%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$584 R$2,960
$1,323 $1,323
-55.88%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K R$64.9K
$19.9K $19.9K
-35.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.12 R$208
$52.3 $52.3
-21.38%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.26 R$250
$40.16 $40.16
22.66%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.7 R$373
$110 $110
-33.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.9 R$334
$95.3 $95.3
-30.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Libertyville, IL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$900 R$4,561
$1,412 $1,412
-36.27%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$527 R$2,673
$1,312 $1,312
-59.83%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,332 R$6,754
$2,278 $2,278
-41.52%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$748 R$3,790
$2,401 $2,401
-68.85%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,990 R$20.2K
$2,754 $2,754
44.89%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,560 R$7,908
$2,395 $2,395
-34.85%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Libertyville, IL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$640 R$3,246
$4,437 $4,437
-85.57%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.93
6.53
82.70%

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

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 18, 2026

Last update for Libertyville, IL: October 19, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
$527
Libertyville, IL
$1.3K 149% $785
Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
$214
Libertyville, IL
$392 83.6% $179
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
$168
Libertyville, IL
$345 106% $177
Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
$156
Libertyville, IL
$257 64.9% $101
Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
$103
Libertyville, IL
$134 29.5% $31
Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
$59
Libertyville, IL
$21 * 64.3% $38
Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
$46
Libertyville, IL
$68 48.3% $22

Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $900 in Rio de Janeiro and $1,412 in Libertyville, IL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Libertyville, IL pays 593% 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 $55.0 in Libertyville, IL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $214 vs $392 per month, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🇺🇸 Libertyville, IL
🕒 Local time
05:10 5:10 AM
03:10 3:10 AM
2 h behind Rio de Janeiro
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,211,223
20,500
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 22, 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 22, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rio de Janeiro Libertyville, IL 8,580 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Libertyville, IL

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 Libertyville, IL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rio de Janeiro or Libertyville, IL?
Rio de Janeiro wins on cost – living expenses run 99% lower than in Libertyville, IL. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Rio de Janeiro the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rio de Janeiro or in Libertyville, IL?
On paper, salaries run 593% lower in Libertyville, IL. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rio de Janeiro compared to Libertyville, IL?
Rent for a central apartment: $900 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,412 in Libertyville, IL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Are groceries more expensive in Rio de Janeiro or in Libertyville, IL?
Supermarket bills run roughly 84% higher in Libertyville, IL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
How much does it cost to live in Rio de Janeiro compared to Libertyville, IL?
All in, you'll spend $1,273 per month in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,530 in Libertyville, IL – a 99% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Rio de Janeiro or in Libertyville, IL?
At $1,273 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,530 in Libertyville, IL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rio de Janeiro but tight or insufficient in Libertyville, IL. The gap between the two cities makes Rio de Janeiro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rio de Janeiro or Libertyville, IL?
Both work as nomad bases, but Rio de Janeiro delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $1,273 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Rio de Janeiro hard to pass up.
How safe is Rio de Janeiro compared to Libertyville, IL?
Safety-wise, Rio de Janeiro and Libertyville, IL are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Rio de Janeiro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 99% less than in Libertyville, IL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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