Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Marathon, FL

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,285 a month against $2,696 in Marathon, FL, rent and utilities included – about $16,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,285
/mo nomad
Marathon, FL
🇺🇸 United States
$2,696
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rio de Janeiro and in Marathon, FL

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 Marathon, FL actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,696 in Marathon, FL.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,285
  • Marathon, FL $2,696

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,888 in Rio de Janeiro versus $4,031 in Marathon, FL.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,888
  • Marathon, FL $4,031

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,491 in Rio de Janeiro versus $5,366 in Marathon, FL.

  • Rio de Janeiro $2,491
  • Marathon, FL $5,366

Living in Rio de Janeiro costs roughly 52% less than in Marathon, FL, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Rio de Janeiro is 4% below, Marathon, FL is 101% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Marathon, FL
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.98 R$49.69
$29.55 $29.55
-66.23%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.34 R$201
$95.6 $95.6
-57.81%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.48 R$42.23
$11.88 $11.88
-28.62%
Cappuccino
$2.36 R$11.77
$5.36 $5.36
-55.97%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 R$8.11
$2.54 $2.54
-35.83%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 R$5.05
$1.80 $1.80
-43.89%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 R$12.15
$7.39 $7.39
-66.98%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 R$18.38
$10.02 $10.02
-63.17%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Marathon, FL
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 R$5.70
$1.06 $1.06
8.49%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 R$10.31
$3.13 $3.13
-33.87%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.40
$3.32 $3.32
-61.14%
Eggs
$2.27 R$11.29
$4.49 $4.49
-49.44%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.00 R$54.7
$13.30 $13.30
-17.29%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 R$21.44
$12.21 $12.21
-64.70%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.74 R$48.49
$19.29 $19.29
-49.51%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 R$14.07
$4.95 $4.95
-42.83%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 R$9.14
$1.78 $1.78
3.37%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 R$7.94
$3.08 $3.08
-48.05%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 R$8.97
$5.58 $5.58
-67.74%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 R$6.26
$3.15 $3.15
-60.00%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 R$5.32
$4.26 $4.26
-74.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 R$3.74
$2.73 $2.73
-72.53%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 R$3.28
$2.48 $2.48
-73.39%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05 R$15.16
$8.98 $8.98
-66.04%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.18 R$40.72
$13.12 $13.12
-37.65%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 R$5.90
$1.71 $1.71
-30.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 R$11.88
$3.68 $3.68
-35.05%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Marathon, FL
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 R$5.04
$1.93 $1.93
-47.67%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.2 R$250
-
-
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 R$6.31
$3.36 $3.36
-62.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 R$4.50
$1.89 $1.89
-52.38%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.44 R$46.99
$29.81 $29.81
-68.33%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 R$6.63
$1.00 $1.00
33.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K R$116.6K
$37.1K $37.1K
-36.88%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K R$167.1K
$24.9K $24.9K
34.76%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Marathon, FL
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 R$664
$226 $226
-40.86%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.23 R$60.9
$70.3 $70.3
-82.61%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.65 R$113
$76.9 $76.9
-70.53%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Marathon, FL
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.56 R$157
$36.27 $36.27
-12.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.87 R$154
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.23 R$40.95
$10.11 $10.11
-18.60%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Marathon, FL
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$603 R$3,002
$1,480 $1,480
-59.25%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K R$65.9K
$23.2K $23.2K
-42.85%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Marathon, FL
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.62 R$207
$67.0 $67.0
-37.87%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.94 R$249
$41.48 $41.48
20.40%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 R$373
$104 $104
-28.11%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.3 R$340
$111 $111
-38.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Marathon, FL
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$905 R$4,506
$1,560 $1,560
-41.97%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$527 R$2,625
$1,463 $1,463
-63.95%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 R$6,700
$2,431 $2,431
-44.64%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 R$3,854
$1,828 $1,828
-57.64%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,981 R$19.8K
$2,569 $2,569
54.92%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,562 R$7,775
$2,341 $2,341
-33.26%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Marathon, FL
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$643 R$3,200
-
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.93
6.56
81.86%

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 Marathon, FL: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
$527
Marathon, FL
$1.5K 177% $936
Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
$215
Marathon, FL
$408 90.3% $194
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
$168
Marathon, FL
$373 122% $205
Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
$164
Marathon, FL
$411 151% $247
Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
$106
Marathon, FL
$146 38% $40
Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
$60
Marathon, FL
$21 * 65.8% $39
Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
$48
Marathon, FL
$56 17.6% $8.5

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 $905 in Rio de Janeiro and $1,560 in Marathon, FL. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Dining out: $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro vs $96.0 in Marathon, FL for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $215 vs $408 per month, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🇺🇸 Marathon, FL
🕒 Local time
12:36 12:36 PM
11:36 11:36 AM
1 h behind Rio de Janeiro
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,211,223
8,500
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 USD = 4.98 BRL (1 BRL = 0.201 USD). 1 EUR = 5.58 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 11, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rio de Janeiro Marathon, FL 6,690 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Marathon, FL

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 Marathon, FL: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Rio de Janeiro and in Marathon, FL?
Rio de Janeiro and Marathon, FL differ by about 110% in total monthly costs ($1,285 vs $2,696 including rent). Rio de Janeiro is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
What salary covers living expenses in Rio de Janeiro compared to Marathon, FL?
You'd need roughly $1,927 in Rio de Janeiro and $4,044 in Marathon, FL to live well. The gap comes down to housing and overall price levels. Both cities are liveable on less, but these numbers represent actual comfort.
How do apartment prices compare in Rio de Janeiro and in Marathon, FL?
Rent for a central apartment: $905 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,560 in Marathon, FL. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Supermarket bills run roughly 90% higher in Marathon, FL. For households that cook at home regularly, that difference adds up over a month.
Which city is more expensive overall: Rio de Janeiro or Marathon, FL?
All in, you'll spend $1,285 per month in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,696 in Marathon, FL – a 110% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,696 in Marathon, FL, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rio de Janeiro but tight or insufficient in Marathon, FL. The gap between the two cities makes Rio de Janeiro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Rio de Janeiro and Marathon, FL?
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.
Where should expats move: Rio de Janeiro or Marathon, FL?
Expats usually find Rio de Janeiro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 110% less than in Marathon, FL. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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