πMonthly costs for one person with rent: $996 in Rostov-on-Don versus $903 in Porto Alegre.
πEstimated couple costs with rent: $1,555 in Rostov-on-Don versus $1,438 in Porto Alegre.
πMonthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,113 in Rostov-on-Don versus $1,973 in Porto Alegre.
πLiving in Rostov-on-Don is roughly 10% more expensive than Porto Alegre, driven mainly by Getting Around.
πBoth cities sit below the global median: Rostov-on-Don26% lower, Porto Alegre33% lower.
Currency
π½ Eating Out
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$11.24β½829
$6.22R$31.47
80.71%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.44β½2,836
$26.66R$135
44.19%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.99β½369
$6.20R$31.35
-19.52%
Cappuccino
$2.51β½186
$1.94R$9.82
29.38%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.20β½88.8
$1.12R$5.67
7.14%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.70β½51.5
$0.81R$4.12
-13.58%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.24β½91.3
$2.19R$11.09
-43.38%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.28β½168
$3.65R$18.48
-37.53%
π Groceries & Markets
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.02β½75.4
$0.84R$4.28
21.43%
White Bread(500g)
$0.55β½40.41
$1.39R$7.05
-60.43%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.15β½84.9
$1.09R$5.54
5.50%
Eggs
$1.57β½116
$2.08R$10.51
-24.52%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$8.12β½599
$11.02R$55.8
-26.32%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.77β½352
$4.51R$22.82
5.76%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.38β½545
$9.63R$48.73
-23.36%
Apples(1kg)
$1.26β½93.2
$1.99R$10.07
-36.68%
Banana(1kg)
$1.65β½121
$1.32R$6.69
25.00%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.46β½108
$1.32R$6.70
10.61%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.41β½178
$1.44R$7.28
67.36%
Potato(1kg)
$0.72β½53.0
$1.14R$5.76
-36.84%
Onion(1kg)
$0.56β½41.22
$1.06R$5.38
-47.17%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.19β½87.7
$0.73R$3.70
63.01%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.68β½50.0
$0.61R$3.09
11.48%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$3.32β½245
$1.95R$9.87
70.26%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.93β½586
$7.97R$40.32
-0.50%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.91β½67.5
$1.02R$5.14
-10.78%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.11β½156
$1.86R$9.40
13.44%
π Getting Around
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.51β½37.82
$0.89R$4.52
-42.70%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$18.86β½1,392
$65.5R$332
-71.22%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.94β½143
$1.64R$8.32
18.29%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.35β½26.16
$1.01R$5.12
-65.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.36β½469
$5.49R$27.76
15.85%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.78β½57.8
$1.07R$5.40
-27.10%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3Kβ½1.9M
$24.6KR$124.4K
2.90%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$39.9Kβ½2.9M
$28.1KR$142.1K
42.00%
π§Ύ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$96.2β½7,100
$60.6R$307
58.81%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$7.01β½517
$14.41R$72.9
-51.35%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$8.06β½595
$19.81R$100
-59.31%
π Sport & Entertainment
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.50β½2,989
$26.91R$136
50.50%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$25.14β½1,855
$20.59R$104
22.10%
Cinema Ticket
$4.94β½365
$6.12R$30.95
-19.28%
π§Έ Childcare & Education
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$288β½21.2K
$312R$1,580
-7.92%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$8,215β½606.2K
$7,219R$36.5K
13.80%
ππ Clothing & Footwear
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.54β½3,582
$48.27R$244
0.56%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$62.3β½4,599
$56.1R$284
11.11%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$113β½8,322
$80.3R$406
40.54%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$102β½7,504
$63.5R$322
60.04%
π Accommodation & Living
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$490β½36.1K
$301R$1,522
62.90%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$351β½25.9K
$274R$1,386
27.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$937β½69.1K
$633R$3,204
47.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$576β½42.5K
$568R$2,875
1.38%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$2,807β½207.1K
$1,665R$8,422
68.61%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,738β½128.3K
$1,263R$6,392
37.61%
π΅ Salaries & Financials
Rostov-on-Don
Porto Alegre
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$966β½71.3K
$543R$2,747
77.93%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
16.33
10
63.30%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input β minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Rostov-on-Don: June 1, 2026
Last update for Porto Alegre: June 2, 2026
Cost Breakdown
π A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $490 in Rostov-on-Don and $301 in Porto Alegre. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
π°Rostov-on-Don pays 78% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.
πDining out: $38.00 in Rostov-on-Don vs $27.00 in Porto Alegre. Groceries flip the comparison at $172 vs $191, 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 β living expenses run 10% 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 Porto Alegre?
Rostov-on-Don pays 78% more on average, 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 vs Porto Alegre?
Rent for a central apartment: $490 in Rostov-on-Don versus $301 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 vs Porto Alegre?
Dining out is cheaper in Porto Alegre β 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 $996 per month in Rostov-on-Don versus $903 in Porto Alegre β a 10% 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 Porto Alegre?
At $903 in Porto Alegre versus $996 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 β similar infrastructure at $903 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 β expenses run 10% 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