Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Mogi das Cruzes Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Mogi das Cruzes

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $945 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $842 in Mogi das Cruzes, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,472 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $1,250 in Mogi das Cruzes, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,000 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $1,659 in Mogi das Cruzes, rent included.

Rio de Janeiro costs about 12% more than Mogi das Cruzes, driven mainly by Getting Around.

Both Rio de Janeiro and Mogi das Cruzes are more affordable than the global median – Rio de Janeiro 29% lower, Mogi das Cruzes 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.35 R$37.42
$7.11 R$36.17
3.38%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.43 R$180
$22.58 R$115
56.91%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.28 R$32.00
$5.54 R$28.18
13.36%
Cappuccino
$1.90 R$9.68
$1.48 R$7.51
28.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.29 R$6.55
$0.84 R$4.27
53.57%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91 R$4.64
$0.81 R$4.13
12.35%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.75 R$8.91
$1.85 R$9.41
-5.41%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73 R$13.92
$2.18 R$11.10
25.23%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 R$5.75
$0.95 R$4.83
18.95%
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 R$8.70
$1.58 R$8.06
8.23%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 R$7.26
$1.18 R$6.00
21.19%
Eggs
$2.04 R$10.38
$2.40 R$12.21
-15.00%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.74 R$39.43
$7.61 R$38.74
1.71%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.49 R$17.75
$3.15 R$16.04
10.79%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.01 R$40.77
$8.26 R$42.06
-3.03%
Apples (1kg)
$2.30 R$11.72
$1.90 R$9.65
21.05%
Banana (1kg)
$1.57 R$8.01
$1.61 R$8.18
-2.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.51 R$7.70
$1.44 R$7.33
4.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 R$7.87
$1.66 R$8.43
-6.63%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.34
$1.46 R$7.45
-15.07%
Onion (1kg)
$1.12 R$5.68
$1.19 R$6.04
-5.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 R$3.26
$0.90 R$4.57
-28.89%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.57 R$2.89
$0.58 R$2.98
-1.72%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.00 R$10.18
$1.83 R$9.34
9.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.92 R$40.33
$8.03 R$40.90
-1.37%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.26 R$6.41
$1.37 R$6.97
-8.03%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 R$10.43
$2.05 R$10.43
-
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.29 R$6.56
$0.98 R$4.99
31.63%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.50 R$201
$89.6 R$456
-55.92%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.07 R$5.43
$0.94 R$4.78
13.83%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.66 R$3.38
$0.58 R$2.96
13.79%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.39 R$37.64
$4.61 R$23.49
60.30%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 R$5.64
$1.02 R$5.19
8.82%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.7K R$105.3K
$12.6K R$64.4K
63.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.5K R$140.1K
$14.5K R$74.0K
89.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$103 R$524
$51.4 R$262
100.47%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.99 R$61.0
$9.73 R$49.56
23.23%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.51 R$94.2
$22.38 R$114
-17.29%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$26.11 R$133
$28.97 R$147
-9.87%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.43 R$124
$10.87 R$55.4
124.75%
Cinema Ticket
$6.34 R$32.27
$7.31 R$37.24
-13.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$554 R$2,820
$183 R$930
203.22%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K R$60.0K
$8,872 R$45.2K
32.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$45.24 R$230
$31.45 R$160
43.85%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.69 R$212
$31.75 R$162
31.31%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.5 R$389
$53.8 R$274
42.03%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62.0 R$315
$40.03 R$204
54.78%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$444 R$2,260
$343 R$1,744
29.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$326 R$1,657
$243 R$1,237
33.98%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$847 R$4,311
$660 R$3,359
28.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$578 R$2,941
$349 R$1,776
65.58%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,657 R$18.6K
$1,528 R$7,781
139.29%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,475 R$7,509
$1,262 R$6,425
16.88%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Mogi das Cruzes
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$594 R$3,023
$331 R$1,685
79.48%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.33
11.17
1.43%

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

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: July 13, 2026

Last update for Mogi das Cruzes: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $444 in Rio de Janeiro versus $343 in Mogi das Cruzes. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 79% higher in Rio de Janeiro, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $35.00 in Rio de Janeiro versus $23.00 in Mogi das Cruzes. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $183 vs $181 – making Mogi das Cruzes the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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 Mogi das Cruzes: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rio de Janeiro or Mogi das Cruzes?
Rio de Janeiro costs about 12% more than Mogi das Cruzes, with the gap driven mainly by Getting Around. That's enough to noticeably affect everyday spending and lifestyle for anyone choosing between the two.
How much do you need to earn to live comfortably in Rio de Janeiro and in Mogi das Cruzes?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,417 per month in Rio de Janeiro and $1,263 in Mogi das Cruzes. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Where is rent cheaper, Rio de Janeiro or Mogi das Cruzes?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Mogi das Cruzes, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
How expensive is transport in Rio de Janeiro compared to Mogi das Cruzes?
Public transport costs about 127% less in Mogi das Cruzes. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.
How do childcare costs compare in Rio de Janeiro and in Mogi das Cruzes?
Kindergarten costs $554 per month in Rio de Janeiro and $183 in Mogi das Cruzes. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.
Can you live on $800/month in Rio de Janeiro or in Mogi das Cruzes?
$800 covers both cities comfortably – all-in costs are $945 in Rio de Janeiro and $842 in Mogi das Cruzes, leaving budget for savings and extras in both cases.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rio de Janeiro or Mogi das Cruzes?
For digital nomads, it depends on budget. Mogi das Cruzes costs $842 versus $945 in Rio de Janeiro. Both have workable remote work infrastructure, but the cost gap matters when income varies month to month.
Should I move to Rio de Janeiro or to Mogi das Cruzes?
If budget matters most, go with Mogi das Cruzes. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Rio de Janeiro makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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