😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $953 in Rio de Janeiro versus $674 in Timbo.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,460 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,110 in Timbo.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,967 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,546 in Timbo.
😐Living in Rio de Janeiro is roughly 41% more expensive than Timbo, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rio de Janeiro29% lower, Timbo50% lower.
Moneda
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
Timbo
Diferencia
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.03R$35.08
$4.62R$23.06
52.16%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$35.78R$179
$32.62R$163
9.69%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.24R$31.16
$3.67R$18.31
70.03%
Cappuccino
$1.99R$9.93
$1.82R$9.09
9.34%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.34R$6.67
$1.03R$5.14
30.10%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.84R$4.19
$0.61R$3.03
37.70%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.78R$8.88
$1.73R$8.64
2.89%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67R$13.31
$2.13R$10.60
25.35%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
Timbo
Diferencia
Milk(1 liter)
$1.11R$5.56
$0.83R$4.12
33.73%
White Bread(500g)
$1.77R$8.84
$1.31R$6.55
35.11%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.49R$7.42
$0.77R$3.85
93.51%
Eggs
$1.93R$9.62
$1.63R$8.16
18.40%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.11R$40.47
$7.22R$36.04
12.33%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$3.55R$17.71
$3.19R$15.93
11.29%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$8.25R$41.17
$6.60R$32.95
25.00%
Apples(1kg)
$2.32R$11.58
$1.66R$8.30
39.76%
Banana(1kg)
$1.63R$8.13
$0.65R$3.22
150.77%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.44R$7.19
$0.69R$3.43
108.70%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.55R$7.73
$1.22R$6.09
27.05%
Potato(1kg)
$1.23R$6.15
$0.88R$4.38
39.77%
Onion(1kg)
$1.15R$5.76
$0.88R$4.39
30.68%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.69R$3.45
$0.57R$2.83
21.05%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58R$2.87
$0.71R$3.54
-18.31%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.99R$9.93
$1.46R$7.27
36.30%
Wine(Bottle)
$8.05R$40.18
$4.95R$24.71
62.63%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25R$6.26
$0.95R$4.76
31.58%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.03R$10.14
$1.85R$9.22
9.73%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
Timbo
Diferencia
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$1.23R$6.13
$0.88R$4.40
39.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$39.49R$197
$38.11R$190
3.62%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.07R$5.33
$1.10R$5.48
-2.73%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.69R$3.46
$0.71R$3.53
-2.82%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$7.53R$37.60
$6.19R$30.89
21.65%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.10R$5.50
$0.93R$4.65
18.28%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.2KR$100.6K
$18.7KR$93.2K
7.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.2KR$135.7K
$24.7KR$123.5K
9.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
Timbo
Diferencia
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$104R$519
$51.1R$255
103.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.99R$59.8
$11.67R$58.2
2.74%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.48R$92.2
$20.57R$103
-10.16%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
Timbo
Diferencia
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$26.17R$131
$22.57R$113
15.95%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.31R$121
$21.96R$110
10.70%
Cinema Ticket
$6.43R$32.07
$5.24R$26.15
22.71%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
Timbo
Diferencia
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$553R$2,761
$215R$1,073
157.35%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$11.5KR$57.3K
$2,608R$13.0K
340.43%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
Timbo
Diferencia
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.53R$222
$28.24R$141
57.68%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.97R$209
$36.17R$180
16.04%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.5R$382
$53.0R$264
44.47%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$61.2R$305
$45.92R$229
33.19%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
Timbo
Diferencia
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$429R$2,143
$314R$1,567
36.73%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$324R$1,618
$216R$1,076
50.31%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$835R$4,165
$580R$2,892
44.00%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$580R$2,894
$434R$2,167
33.54%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,964R$14.8K
$1,683R$8,396
76.19%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,333R$6,650
$1,184R$5,906
12.60%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
Timbo
Diferencia
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$535R$2,671
$693R$3,456
-22.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
11.33
11
3.00%
Los datos de CityCost se basan en IA y aportaciones de usuarios. Puede haber pequeñas variaciones.
Última actualización para Rio de Janeiro: April 27, 2026
Última actualización para Timbo: April 26, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $429 in Rio de Janeiro and $314 in Timbo. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Timbo pays 29% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $36.00 in Rio de Janeiro vs $33.00 in Timbo for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $186 vs $143 per month, with Timbo cheaper across the board.
Comparación de velocidades medias de internet por ciudad (actualizado April 2026)
El gráfico resalta el umbral de precisión para velocidades de internet móvil y fija, actualizado trimestralmente.
Índice del coste de vida para nómadas digitales
Rio de Janeiro vs Timbo: Coste de vida - preguntas frecuentes
What is the total cost difference between living in Rio de Janeiro and Timbo?
Rio de Janeiro and Timbo differ by about 41% in total monthly costs ($953 vs $674 including rent). Timbo is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Timbo earns 29% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Rio de Janeiro and Timbo?
Rent for a central apartment: $429 in Rio de Janeiro versus $314 in Timbo. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Timbo – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $36.00 in Rio de Janeiro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Rio de Janeiro or Timbo?
All in, you'll spend $953 per month in Rio de Janeiro versus $674 in Timbo – a 41% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Rio de Janeiro vs Timbo?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Timbo gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Rio de Janeiro and Timbo?
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 Timbo?
Expats usually find Timbo gentler on the wallet – expenses run 41% 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 otros destinos: coste de vida comparado