😐Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,005 in Rostov-on-Don versus $884 in Porto Alegre.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,542 in Rostov-on-Don versus $1,434 in Porto Alegre.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,079 in Rostov-on-Don versus $1,985 in Porto Alegre.
🌍Living in Rostov-on-Don is roughly 14% more expensive than in Porto Alegre, driven mainly by Getting Around.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Rostov-on-Don25% lower, Porto Alegre34% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.16₽876
$6.31R$32.26
76.86%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$37.79₽2,966
$26.55R$136
42.34%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.97₽390
$6.40R$32.68
-22.34%
Cappuccino
$2.53₽199
$1.96R$10.01
29.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.19₽93.1
$1.18R$6.04
0.85%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.72₽56.8
$0.77R$3.92
-6.49%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.25₽97.8
$2.17R$11.10
-42.40%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.16₽170
$3.62R$18.53
-40.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02₽80.1
$0.91R$4.63
12.09%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55₽43.48
$1.40R$7.14
-60.71%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15₽90.5
$1.09R$5.58
5.50%
Eggs
$1.57₽123
$2.06R$10.51
-23.79%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.24₽646
$11.00R$56.2
-25.09%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.86₽381
$4.51R$23.03
7.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.61₽598
$9.17R$46.85
-17.01%
Apples(1kg)
$1.27₽99.4
$2.04R$10.42
-37.75%
Banana(1kg)
$1.62₽127
$1.26R$6.42
28.57%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.52₽119
$1.32R$6.77
15.15%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.42₽190
$1.50R$7.68
61.33%
Potato(1kg)
$0.71₽55.7
$1.09R$5.59
-34.86%
Onion(1kg)
$0.55₽43.30
$1.03R$5.26
-46.60%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19₽93.8
$0.74R$3.77
60.81%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63₽49.37
$0.59R$3.01
6.78%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.20₽251
$1.96R$10.01
63.27%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.61₽597
$7.89R$40.34
-3.55%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.89₽69.5
$0.99R$5.04
-10.10%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11₽165
$1.79R$9.14
17.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51₽40.27
$0.86R$4.41
-40.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$19.36₽1,519
$64.4R$329
-69.95%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.96₽154
$1.59R$8.15
23.27%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.33₽25.80
$1.01R$5.17
-67.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.65₽522
$5.33R$27.24
24.77%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.77₽60.6
$1.05R$5.37
-26.67%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.7K₽2.0M
$24.5KR$125.1K
4.84%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.7K₽3.1M
$28.0KR$142.9K
41.79%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$99.1₽7,780
$61.1R$312
62.21%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.17₽562
$14.41R$73.7
-50.24%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.05₽632
$20.18R$103
-60.11%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$41.54₽3,261
$26.40R$135
57.35%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.69₽2,017
$20.23R$103
26.99%
Cinema Ticket
$5.06₽397
$6.27R$32.07
-19.30%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$286₽22.4K
$310R$1,585
-7.85%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,396₽659.0K
$7,291R$37.3K
15.15%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.48₽3,805
$49.28R$252
-1.62%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$60.4₽4,739
$57.6R$294
4.88%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$114₽8,984
$79.2R$405
44.52%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102₽7,993
$63.9R$327
59.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490₽38.5K
$307R$1,569
59.75%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$353₽27.7K
$268R$1,368
31.80%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$928₽72.8K
$614R$3,136
51.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$580₽45.5K
$574R$2,933
1.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,635₽206.8K
$1,662R$8,494
58.51%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,630₽127.9K
$1,253R$6,406
30.02%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$904₽71.0K
$523R$2,674
72.81%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.33
10
63.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rostov-on-Don: July 12, 2026
Last update for Porto Alegre: July 12, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Rostov-on-Don and $307 in Porto Alegre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rostov-on-Don pays 73% 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: $38.00 in Rostov-on-Don vs $27.00 in Porto Alegre. Groceries flip the comparison at $172 vs $189, with Rostov-on-Don cheaper for home cooking.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated March 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
Rostov-on-Don vs Porto Alegre: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Rostov-on-Don or Porto Alegre?
Porto Alegre wins on cost – living expenses run 14% lower than in Rostov-on-Don. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Porto Alegre the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Rostov-on-Don or in Porto Alegre?
Average pay runs 73% higher in Rostov-on-Don, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Rostov-on-Don compared to Porto Alegre?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Rostov-on-Don versus $307 in Porto Alegre. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do dining costs compare in Rostov-on-Don and in Porto Alegre?
Dining out is cheaper in Porto Alegre – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $38.00 in Rostov-on-Don. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How much does it cost to live in Rostov-on-Don compared to Porto Alegre?
All in, you'll spend $1,005 per month in Rostov-on-Don versus $884 in Porto Alegre – a 14% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Can you live on $1,000/month in Rostov-on-Don or in Porto Alegre?
At $884 in Porto Alegre versus $1,005 in Rostov-on-Don, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Porto Alegre but tight or insufficient in Rostov-on-Don. The gap between the two cities makes Porto Alegre the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Rostov-on-Don or Porto Alegre?
Both work as nomad bases, but Porto Alegre delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $884 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Porto Alegre hard to pass up.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Porto Alegre gentler on the wallet – expenses run 14% less than in Rostov-on-Don. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Rostov-on-Don vs other spots: cost of living compared