Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Varginha Cost of Living Comparison Between Rio de Janeiro and Varginha

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,217 in Rio de Janeiro versus $718 in Varginha.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,809 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,131 in Varginha.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,402 in Rio de Janeiro versus $1,544 in Varginha.

Living in Rio de Janeiro is roughly 70% more expensive than in Varginha, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Rio de Janeiro 12% lower, Varginha 48% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$9.47 R$48.53

$8.76 R$44.89

8.11%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$39.19 R$201

$23.39 R$120

67.55%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$8.53 R$43.74

$6.77 R$34.69

26.00%

Cappuccino

$2.32 R$11.90

$0.94 R$4.84

146.81%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.59 R$8.13

$0.86 R$4.40

84.88%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.05 R$5.36

$0.59 R$3.03

77.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 R$11.65

$1.36 R$6.99

66.91%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.30 R$16.91

$3.49 R$17.90

-5.44%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.11 R$5.69

$0.86 R$4.40

29.07%

White Bread (500g)

$2.03 R$10.42

$1.51 R$7.72

34.44%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 R$6.95

$1.00 R$5.15

36.00%

Eggs

$2.24 R$11.48

$1.36 R$6.97

64.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$10.42 R$53.4

$8.59 R$44.06

21.30%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.25 R$21.81

$3.48 R$17.86

22.13%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.78 R$50.1

$8.87 R$45.48

10.26%

Apples (1kg)

$2.62 R$13.45

$1.37 R$7.01

91.24%

Banana (1kg)

$1.82 R$9.31

$1.33 R$6.81

36.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.59 R$8.15

$0.91 R$4.68

74.73%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.82 R$9.35

$0.91 R$4.68

100.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 R$6.58

$0.95 R$4.85

34.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.02 R$5.22

$0.97 R$4.98

5.15%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.70 R$3.58

$0.47 R$2.41

48.94%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.67 R$3.44

$0.66 R$3.41

1.52%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$2.93 R$15.00

$2.08 R$10.65

40.87%

Wine (Bottle)

$8.54 R$43.79

$4.93 R$25.28

73.23%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 R$5.97

$1.08 R$5.55

8.33%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.47 R$12.64

$1.72 R$8.80

43.60%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.97 R$4.95

$0.87 R$4.44

11.49%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$50.1 R$257

$43.28 R$222

15.71%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.18 R$6.07

$0.92 R$4.69

28.26%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.87 R$4.46

$0.69 R$3.56

26.09%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$8.88 R$45.51

$6.28 R$32.18

41.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 R$6.44

$1.11 R$5.70

13.51%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$23.6K R$121.2K

$22.9K R$117.2K

3.43%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$32.9K R$168.6K

$28.5K R$146.3K

15.25%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$136 R$697

$102 R$522

33.70%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$11.93 R$61.1

$4.94 R$25.33

141.50%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$21.66 R$111

$19.35 R$99.2

11.94%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$30.09 R$154

$25.26 R$130

19.12%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$29.51 R$151

$27.14 R$139

8.73%

Cinema Ticket

$7.72 R$39.59

$7.88 R$40.40

-2.03%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$550 R$2,819

$209 R$1,071

163.30%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K R$68.3K

$4,185 R$21.5K

218.21%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$40.22 R$206

$34.56 R$177

16.38%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$47.82 R$245

$57.6 R$295

-16.96%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$72.9 R$373

$75.6 R$388

-3.66%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$65.1 R$334

$57.4 R$294

13.49%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$821 R$4,207

$140 R$718

486.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$498 R$2,554

$115 R$588

334.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,285 R$6,585

$262 R$1,344

390.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$716 R$3,673

$242 R$1,239

196.49%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,890 R$19.9K

$1,623 R$8,320

139.67%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,482 R$7,595

$1,137 R$5,827

30.34%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$649 R$3,329

$441 R$2,259

47.40%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.93

19.30%

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

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: September 6, 2026

Last update for Varginha: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $821 in Rio de Janeiro and $140 in Varginha. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Rio de Janeiro pays 47% 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: $39.00 in Rio de Janeiro vs $23.00 in Varginha for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $212 vs $159 per month, with Varginha 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 Varginha: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Rio de Janeiro and Varginha differ by about 70% in total monthly costs ($1,217 vs $718 including rent). Varginha is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 47% higher in Rio de Janeiro, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $821 in Rio de Janeiro versus $140 in Varginha. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Varginha – a meal for two runs $23.00 versus $39.00 in Rio de Janeiro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,217 per month in Rio de Janeiro versus $718 in Varginha – a 70% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $718 in Varginha versus $1,217 in Rio de Janeiro, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Varginha but tight or insufficient in Rio de Janeiro. The gap between the two cities makes Varginha the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Expats usually find Varginha gentler on the wallet – expenses run 70% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.