Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Parkersburg, WV

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,273 a month against $1,903 in Parkersburg, WV, rent and utilities included – about $7,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,273
/mo nomad
Parkersburg, WV
🇺🇸 United States
$1,903
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Rio de Janeiro and in Parkersburg, WV

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 Parkersburg, WV actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

A single person spends $1,273 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $1,903 in Parkersburg, WV, rent included.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,273
  • Parkersburg, WV $1,903

A couple spends around $1,841 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $2,743 in Parkersburg, WV, rent included.

  • Rio de Janeiro $1,841
  • Parkersburg, WV $2,743

A family of three spends $2,409 per month in Rio de Janeiro vs $3,583 in Parkersburg, WV, rent included.

  • Rio de Janeiro $2,409
  • Parkersburg, WV $3,583

Rio de Janeiro is about 33% cheaper than Parkersburg, WV, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Rio de Janeiro sits 6% below the global median, while Parkersburg, WV is 40% above – they fall on opposite sides of the world average.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Parkersburg, WV
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.38 R$47.54
$14.37 $14.37
-34.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.00 R$203
$57.5 $57.5
-30.40%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.34 R$42.28
$9.17 $9.17
-9.05%
Cappuccino
$2.29 R$11.62
$4.08 $4.08
-43.87%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.59 R$8.05
$2.52 $2.52
-36.90%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 R$5.10
$1.89 $1.89
-46.56%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.14 R$10.85
$2.78 $2.78
-23.02%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 R$18.55
$4.42 $4.42
-17.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Parkersburg, WV
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.13 R$5.72
$0.75 $0.75
50.67%
White Bread (500g)
$2.09 R$10.60
$2.79 $2.79
-25.09%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.25 R$6.36
$3.78 $3.78
-66.93%
Eggs
$2.25 R$11.39
$1.93 $1.93
16.58%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$10.92 R$55.3
$11.09 $11.09
-1.53%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.36 R$22.10
$24.66 $24.66
-82.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.60 R$48.66
$16.77 $16.77
-42.75%
Apples (1kg)
$2.85 R$14.46
$5.98 $5.98
-52.34%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 R$9.16
$1.93 $1.93
-6.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.58 R$8.02
$2.83 $2.83
-44.17%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.83 R$9.28
$5.44 $5.44
-66.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.20 R$6.10
$1.69 $1.69
-28.99%
Onion (1kg)
$1.06 R$5.35
$2.89 $2.89
-63.32%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 R$3.81
$1.70 $1.70
-55.88%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68 R$3.45
$1.72 $1.72
-60.47%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94 R$14.90
$7.03 $7.03
-58.18%
Wine (Bottle)
$7.98 R$40.43
$19.57 $19.57
-59.22%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.18 R$5.98
$1.70 $1.70
-30.59%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.42 R$12.26
$1.82 $1.82
32.97%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Parkersburg, WV
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.94 R$4.78
$0.98 $0.98
-4.08%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.3 R$255
$49.50 $49.50
1.66%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.20 R$6.10
$5.14 $5.14
-76.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.83 R$4.20
$1.25 $1.25
-33.60%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$8.97 R$45.48
$14.83 $14.83
-39.51%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.29 R$6.53
$0.90 $0.90
43.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$22.8K R$115.5K
$27.6K $27.6K
-17.42%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.0K R$172.1K
$26.6K $26.6K
27.48%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Parkersburg, WV
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 R$681
$198 $198
-32.02%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$10.73 R$54.4
$50.3 $50.3
-78.66%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.84 R$116
$58.0 $58.0
-60.61%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Parkersburg, WV
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$30.16 R$153
$11.27 $11.27
167.61%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$31.49 R$160
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$7.73 R$39.17
$14.51 $14.51
-46.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Parkersburg, WV
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$584 R$2,960
$523 $523
11.67%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$12.8K R$64.9K
$6,574 $6,574
94.81%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Parkersburg, WV
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.12 R$208
$39.73 $39.73
3.50%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.26 R$250
$48.66 $48.66
1.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$73.7 R$373
$70.2 $70.2
4.91%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.9 R$334
$119 $119
-44.61%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Parkersburg, WV
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$900 R$4,561
$890 $890
1.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$527 R$2,673
$701 $701
-24.74%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,332 R$6,754
$1,336 $1,336
-0.24%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$748 R$3,790
$984 $984
-23.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,990 R$20.2K
$1,180 $1,180
238.18%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,560 R$7,908
$1,173 $1,173
33.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Parkersburg, WV
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$640 R$3,246
$1,642 $1,642
-61.00%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.93
6.74
77.00%

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 Parkersburg, WV: October 17, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
$527
Parkersburg, WV
$701 32.9% $173
Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
$214
Parkersburg, WV
$435 103% $221
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
$168
Parkersburg, WV
$306 82.2% $138
Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
$156
Parkersburg, WV
$232 48.6% $76
Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
$103
Parkersburg, WV
$125 20.7% $21
Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
$59
Parkersburg, WV
$65 9% $5.4
Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
$46
Parkersburg, WV
$40 11.7% $5.3

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $900 in Rio de Janeiro versus $890 in Parkersburg, WV. 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 156% higher in Parkersburg, WV, 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 $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro versus $57.0 in Parkersburg, WV. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $214 vs $435 – making Rio de Janeiro the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🇺🇸 Parkersburg, WV
🕒 Local time
12:28 12:28 PM
11:28 11:28 AM
1 h behind Rio de Janeiro
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,211,223
29,000
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 20, 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 20, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rio de Janeiro Parkersburg, WV 7,980 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • Parkersburg, WV

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 Parkersburg, WV: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Parkersburg, WV cheaper than Rio de Janeiro?
Yes – Parkersburg, WV is pricier by about 49%, and outside of rent the gap shows up most in groceries.
What income do you need for each city?
For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,910 per month in Rio de Janeiro and $2,854 in Parkersburg, WV. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.
Which city has lower housing costs?
Rent is clearly cheaper in Rio de Janeiro, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.
Is eating out cheaper in Rio de Janeiro or in Parkersburg, WV?
A mid-range dinner for two costs $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro and $57.0 in Parkersburg, WV. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.
What are total monthly expenses in Rio de Janeiro and in Parkersburg, WV?
Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,273 in Rio de Janeiro and $1,903 in Parkersburg, WV. That's a gap of about 49%.
Is $2,000 a realistic budget for living in Rio de Janeiro or in Parkersburg, WV?
A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Rio de Janeiro, where all-in costs run around $1,273, than in Parkersburg, WV at $1,903. In Rio de Janeiro it covers expenses comfortably, while in Parkersburg, WV it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.
Is Rio de Janeiro or Parkersburg, WV more family-friendly?
Families tend to lean toward Rio de Janeiro – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.
Which city is the better choice to relocate to?
If budget matters most, go with Rio de Janeiro. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Parkersburg, WV makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.

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