Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Saskatoon and Rio de Janeiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,285 a month against $2,101 in Saskatoon, rent and utilities included – about $9,800 less a year. Rent and utilities account for about half of the difference.

Saskatoon
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,101
/mo nomad
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,285
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Saskatoon and in Rio de Janeiro

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Saskatoon and in Rio de Janeiro actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,101 in Saskatoon versus $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Saskatoon $2,101
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,285

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,113 in Saskatoon versus $1,888 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Saskatoon $3,113
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,888

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,125 in Saskatoon versus $2,491 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Saskatoon $4,125
  • Rio de Janeiro $2,491

Living in Saskatoon is roughly 64% more expensive than in Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Saskatoon is 57% above, Rio de Janeiro is 4% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Saskatoon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.48 CA$24.92
$9.98 R$49.83
75.15%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$71.5 CA$102
$40.34 R$201
77.24%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.17 CA$13.07
$8.48 R$42.35
8.14%
Cappuccino
$3.66 CA$5.22
$2.36 R$11.80
55.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.98 CA$2.82
$1.63 R$8.13
21.47%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.77 CA$2.52
$1.01 R$5.06
75.25%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.14 CA$5.90
$2.44 R$12.19
69.67%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.28 CA$8.95
$3.69 R$18.43
70.19%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Saskatoon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$3.09 CA$4.41
$1.15 R$5.72
168.70%
White Bread (500g)
$2.21 CA$3.15
$2.07 R$10.34
6.76%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.95 CA$7.06
$1.29 R$6.42
283.72%
Eggs
$3.47 CA$4.95
$2.27 R$11.32
52.86%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.91 CA$14.13
$11.00 R$54.9
-9.91%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$11.45 CA$16.32
$4.31 R$21.51
165.66%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$15.86 CA$22.60
$9.74 R$48.63
62.83%
Apples (1kg)
$4.11 CA$5.86
$2.83 R$14.12
45.23%
Banana (1kg)
$1.43 CA$2.04
$1.84 R$9.17
-22.28%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.21 CA$6.00
$1.60 R$7.96
163.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.16 CA$4.50
$1.80 R$9.00
75.56%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 CA$4.04
$1.26 R$6.28
124.60%
Onion (1kg)
$2.14 CA$3.05
$1.07 R$5.34
100.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.68 CA$3.82
$0.75 R$3.75
257.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.48 CA$2.11
$0.66 R$3.29
124.24%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$14.78 CA$21.07
$3.05 R$15.21
384.59%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.93 CA$19.86
$8.18 R$40.84
70.29%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.84 CA$4.04
$1.19 R$5.92
138.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.44 CA$4.91
$2.39 R$11.92
43.93%
🚌 Getting Around
Saskatoon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.08 CA$2.96
$1.01 R$5.06
105.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$59.0 CA$84.1
$50.2 R$250
17.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$4.45 CA$6.34
$1.27 R$6.33
250.39%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.28 CA$1.83
$0.90 R$4.51
42.22%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$13.96 CA$19.90
$9.44 R$47.13
47.88%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.16 CA$1.65
$1.33 R$6.65
-12.78%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.4K CA$39.1K
$23.4K R$117.0K
16.97%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$20.8K CA$29.7K
$33.6K R$167.6K
-37.91%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saskatoon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$206 CA$294
$134 R$666
54.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$46.58 CA$66.4
$12.23 R$61.0
280.87%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$59.4 CA$84.7
$22.65 R$113
162.25%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Saskatoon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.56 CA$63.5
$31.56 R$158
41.19%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$17.79 CA$25.36
$30.87 R$154
-42.37%
Cinema Ticket
$11.22 CA$16.00
$8.23 R$41.07
36.33%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Saskatoon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$471 CA$671
$603 R$3,011
-21.99%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$14.4K CA$20.6K
$13.2K R$66.1K
9.01%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Saskatoon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$63.3 CA$90.2
$41.62 R$208
52.02%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.47 CA$60.5
$49.94 R$249
-14.96%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$84.9 CA$121
$75.0 R$375
13.18%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$107 CA$153
$68.3 R$341
57.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Saskatoon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$996 CA$1,420
$905 R$4,519
10.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$870 CA$1,240
$527 R$2,633
64.96%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,698 CA$2,421
$1,346 R$6,720
26.15%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,410 CA$2,009
$774 R$3,865
82.04%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,857 CA$4,072
$3,981 R$19.9K
-28.23%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,714 CA$3,868
$1,562 R$7,798
73.71%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Saskatoon
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,684 CA$3,826
$643 R$3,210
317.44%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.8
11.93
-59.77%

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

Last update for Saskatoon: October 4, 2026

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 6, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Saskatoon
$870
Rio de Janeiro
$527 39.4% $343
Groceries & Markets
Saskatoon
$373
Rio de Janeiro
$215 42.5% $159
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Saskatoon
$312
Rio de Janeiro
$168 46% $144
Eating Out
Saskatoon
$260
Rio de Janeiro
$164 36.9% $96
Clothing & Footwear
Saskatoon
$134
Rio de Janeiro
$106 21.2% $28
Getting Around
Saskatoon
$78
Rio de Janeiro
$60 23.3% $18
Sport & Entertainment
Saskatoon
$67
Rio de Janeiro
$48 28.3% $19

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $996 in Saskatoon and $905 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Saskatoon pays 317% 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: $71.0 in Saskatoon vs $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $373 vs $215 per month, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Saskatoon
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🕒 Local time
04:20 4:20 AM
07:20 7:20 AM
3 h ahead of Saskatoon
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
246,376
6,211,223
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 1.43 CAD (1 CAD = 0.702 USD). 1 EUR = 1.6 CAD (1 CAD = 0.626 EUR).

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).

On the map
Between locations
  • Saskatoon Rio de Janeiro 10,360 km ≈ 13 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Saskatoon
  • Rio de Janeiro

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
Saskatoon vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Saskatoon and in Rio de Janeiro?
Saskatoon and Rio de Janeiro differ by about 64% in total monthly costs ($2,101 vs $1,285 including rent). Rio de Janeiro is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Saskatoon or Rio de Janeiro?
Average pay runs 317% higher in Saskatoon, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Saskatoon and in Rio de Janeiro?
Rent for a central apartment: $996 in Saskatoon versus $905 in Rio de Janeiro. 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 Rio de Janeiro – a meal for two runs $40.00 versus $71.0 in Saskatoon. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Saskatoon or Rio de Janeiro?
All in, you'll spend $2,101 per month in Saskatoon versus $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro – a 64% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $1,285 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,101 in Saskatoon, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rio de Janeiro but tight or insufficient in Saskatoon. The gap between the two cities makes Rio de Janeiro the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Saskatoon and Rio de Janeiro?
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: Saskatoon or Rio de Janeiro?
Expats usually find Rio de Janeiro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 64% less than in Saskatoon. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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