😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $960 in Rio de Janeiro versus $791 in Marilia.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,479 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,253 in Marilia.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,997 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,716 in Marilia.
😐Living in Rio de Janeiro is roughly 21% more expensive than Marilia, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rio de Janeiro28% lower, Marilia41% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Marilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.20R$37.09
$5.42R$27.94
32.84%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.52R$183
$27.37R$141
29.78%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.44R$33.20
$6.11R$31.49
5.40%
Cappuccino
$1.97R$10.17
$1.71R$8.80
15.20%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.27R$6.56
$1.12R$5.77
13.39%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90R$4.62
$0.63R$3.23
42.86%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.76R$9.09
$1.76R$9.07
-
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.68R$13.83
$2.64R$13.62
1.52%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Marilia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.16R$5.99
$1.03R$5.31
12.62%
White Bread(500g)
$1.70R$8.75
$2.07R$10.65
-17.87%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.41R$7.27
$1.00R$5.13
41.00%
Eggs
$2.00R$10.29
$1.80R$9.27
11.11%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.05R$41.45
$8.92R$45.94
-9.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.62R$18.64
$3.84R$19.79
-5.73%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.20R$42.25
$6.22R$32.02
31.83%
Apples(1kg)
$2.40R$12.35
$2.13R$10.99
12.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.58R$8.14
$0.92R$4.75
71.74%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.49R$7.70
$1.15R$5.90
29.57%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.56R$8.04
$1.52R$7.85
2.63%
Potato(1kg)
$1.30R$6.72
$1.14R$5.88
14.04%
Onion(1kg)
$1.10R$5.68
$1.05R$5.40
4.76%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.68R$3.52
$0.70R$3.63
-2.86%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58R$2.98
$0.66R$3.41
-12.12%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.95R$10.04
$2.15R$11.07
-9.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.73R$44.97
$7.91R$40.72
10.37%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.21R$6.26
$1.27R$6.52
-4.72%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.15R$11.09
$2.05R$10.56
4.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Marilia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23R$6.34
$0.89R$4.57
38.20%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.30R$202
$37.95R$195
3.56%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11R$5.73
$1.10R$5.67
0.91%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.71R$3.67
$0.75R$3.86
-5.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.37R$37.98
$6.43R$33.10
14.62%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.07R$5.52
$0.96R$4.97
11.46%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.4KR$104.9K
$20.3KR$104.8K
0.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.1KR$139.6K
$27.1KR$139.5K
0.02%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Marilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104R$535
$59.9R$308
73.36%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.18R$62.8
$13.58R$70.0
-10.31%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.70R$96.3
$19.17R$98.8
-2.45%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Marilia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$25.68R$132
$22.34R$115
14.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.37R$126
$21.73R$112
12.15%
Cinema Ticket
$6.60R$34.02
$6.20R$31.93
6.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Marilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$542R$2,791
$269R$1,385
101.52%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.8KR$60.8K
$6,393R$32.9K
84.70%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Marilia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.23R$228
$48.25R$249
-8.33%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.91R$216
$42.57R$219
-1.55%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.8R$396
$76.2R$392
0.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.0R$319
$63.6R$327
-2.42%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Marilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$438R$2,258
$316R$1,630
38.54%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$331R$1,703
$215R$1,110
53.45%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$838R$4,319
$581R$2,994
44.27%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$569R$2,933
$424R$2,184
34.27%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$3,356R$17.3K
$1,591R$8,195
110.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,389R$7,154
$1,178R$6,068
17.90%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Marilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$548R$2,823
$400R$2,058
37.14%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.33
10.92
3.75%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rio de Janeiro: June 1, 2026
Last update for Marilia: May 31, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $438 in Rio de Janeiro and $316 in Marilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rio de Janeiro pays 37% 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: $36.00 in Rio de Janeiro vs $27.00 in Marilia for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $188 vs $178 per month, with Marilia 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 Marilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Marilia cheaper than Rio de Janeiro?
Marilia is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Eating Out, Getting Around, Sport & Entertainment. The 21% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.
Where can you earn more: Rio de Janeiro or Marilia?
Rio de Janeiro pays 37% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
What is the rent difference between Rio de Janeiro and Marilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $438 in Rio de Janeiro versus $316 in Marilia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper public transport?
A monthly transit pass in Marilia runs roughly 4% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper kindergarten?
Childcare runs $542 in Rio de Janeiro versus $269 in Marilia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Is $1,500 a realistic budget for Rio de Janeiro or Marilia?
At $791 in Marilia versus $960 in Rio de Janeiro, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Marilia but tight or insufficient in Rio de Janeiro. The gap between the two cities makes Marilia the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Is Rio de Janeiro or Marilia more family-friendly?
For families, Marilia 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.
Which city is easier to live in as a foreigner?
Expats usually find Marilia gentler on the wallet – expenses run 21% 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