Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and the U.S. Virgin Islands

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,285 a month against $3,836 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, rent and utilities included – about $30,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,285
/mo nomad
🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands
$3,836
/mo nomad
🙂 Solo nomad: Rio de Janeiro is 71.3% cheaper than the U.S. Virgin Islands without rent, and 66.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Rio de Janeiro is 70.4% cheaper than the U.S. Virgin Islands without rent, and 73.6% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$9.98 R$49.83
$24.76 $24.76
-59.69%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$40.34 R$201
$144 $144
-71.97%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.48 R$42.35
$12.12 $12.12
-30.03%
Cappuccino
$2.36 R$11.80
$7.35 $7.35
-67.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.63 R$8.13
$3.29 $3.29
-50.46%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.01 R$5.06
$2.54 $2.54
-60.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.44 R$12.19
$7.11 $7.11
-65.68%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.69 R$18.43
$7.04 $7.04
-47.59%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.15 R$5.72
$2.81 $2.81
-59.07%
White Bread (500g)
$2.07 R$10.34
$6.69 $6.69
-69.06%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.42
$16.52 $16.52
-92.19%
Eggs
$2.27 R$11.32
$8.50 $8.50
-73.29%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.00 R$54.9
$23.79 $23.79
-53.76%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.31 R$21.51
$25.84 $25.84
-83.32%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.74 R$48.63
$31.46 $31.46
-69.04%
Apples (1kg)
$2.83 R$14.12
$13.66 $13.66
-79.28%
Banana (1kg)
$1.84 R$9.17
$7.70 $7.70
-76.10%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.60 R$7.96
$11.33 $11.33
-85.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.80 R$9.00
$13.65 $13.65
-86.81%
Potato (1kg)
$1.26 R$6.28
$4.77 $4.77
-73.58%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 R$5.34
$7.83 $7.83
-86.33%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 R$3.75
$5.80 $5.80
-87.07%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.66 R$3.29
$4.74 $4.74
-86.08%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$3.05 R$15.21
$6.91 $6.91
-55.86%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.18 R$40.84
$23.07 $23.07
-64.54%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.19 R$5.92
$2.98 $2.98
-60.07%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.39 R$11.92
$6.14 $6.14
-61.07%
🚌 Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.01 R$5.06
$6.05 $6.05
-83.31%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$50.2 R$250
$104 $104
-51.69%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.27 R$6.33
$20.10 $20.10
-93.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.90 R$4.51
$3.15 $3.15
-71.43%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.44 R$47.13
$50.5 $50.5
-81.32%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.33 R$6.65
$1.34 $1.34
-0.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.4K R$117.0K
$49.5K $49.5K
-52.65%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$33.6K R$167.6K
$52.6K $52.6K
-36.18%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$134 R$666
$383 $383
-65.13%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.23 R$61.0
$90.7 $90.7
-86.51%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$22.65 R$113
$88.3 $88.3
-74.34%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.56 R$158
$152 $152
-79.30%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$30.87 R$154
-
-
Cinema Ticket
$8.23 R$41.07
$12.12 $12.12
-32.10%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rio de Janeiro
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$603 R$3,011
$1,504 $1,504
-59.90%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K R$66.1K
$16.1K $16.1K
-17.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$41.62 R$208
$82.7 $82.7
-49.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$49.94 R$249
$69.9 $69.9
-28.51%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$75.0 R$375
$126 $126
-40.28%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$68.3 R$341
$127 $127
-46.40%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$905 R$4,519
$1,711 $1,711
-47.09%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$527 R$2,633
$1,528 $1,528
-65.49%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,346 R$6,720
$3,805 $3,805
-64.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$774 R$3,865
$4,072 $4,072
-80.98%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,981 R$19.9K
$10.2K $10.2K
-61.08%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,562 R$7,798
$10.8K $10.8K
-85.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rio de Janeiro
U.S. Virgin Islands
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$643 R$3,210
$3,846 $3,846
-83.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.93
7.72
54.53%

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 the U.S. Virgin Islands: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Rio de Janeiro
$527
U.S. Virgin Islands
$1.5K 190% $1K
Groceries & Markets
Rio de Janeiro
$215
U.S. Virgin Islands
$902 320% $687
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rio de Janeiro
$168
U.S. Virgin Islands
$562 234% $393
Eating Out
Rio de Janeiro
$164
U.S. Virgin Islands
$396 141% $232
Clothing & Footwear
Rio de Janeiro
$106
U.S. Virgin Islands
$183 72.7% $77
Getting Around
Rio de Janeiro
$60
U.S. Virgin Islands
$164 173% $104
Sport & Entertainment
Rio de Janeiro
$48
U.S. Virgin Islands
$177 268% $129
Good to know
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands
🕒 Local time
08:40 8:40 AM
07:40 7:40 AM
1 h behind Rio de Janeiro
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
6,211,223
87,146
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to BRL – Brazilian Real Converter

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.59 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Rio de Janeiro U.S. Virgin Islands 5,160 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Rio de Janeiro
  • U.S. Virgin Islands

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

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