🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $739 in Três Lagoas versus $946 in Rio de Janeiro.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,305 in Três Lagoas versus $1,488 in Rio de Janeiro.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,872 in Três Lagoas versus $2,030 in Rio de Janeiro.
🌍Living in Três Lagoas costs roughly 22% less than in Rio de Janeiro, driven mainly by Eating Out.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Três Lagoas45% lower, Rio de Janeiro29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Três Lagoas
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$5.54R$28.09
$7.30R$37.04
-24.11%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$27.47R$139
$36.46R$185
-24.66%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$6.44R$32.66
$6.46R$32.76
-0.31%
Cappuccino
$1.79R$9.11
$1.90R$9.64
-5.79%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$1.12R$5.68
$1.29R$6.54
-13.18%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.62R$3.15
$0.87R$4.40
-28.74%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$1.84R$9.33
$1.75R$8.86
5.14%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.73R$13.87
$2.73R$13.88
-
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Três Lagoas
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.32R$6.70
$1.12R$5.70
17.86%
White Bread(500g)
$1.97R$9.99
$1.70R$8.64
15.88%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.96R$9.93
$1.49R$7.55
31.54%
Eggs
$3.39R$17.19
$1.95R$9.88
73.85%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$5.31R$26.94
$7.78R$39.47
-31.75%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$5.00R$25.37
$3.57R$18.11
40.06%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$5.99R$30.41
$7.87R$39.94
-23.89%
Apples(1kg)
$1.57R$7.98
$2.43R$12.32
-35.39%
Banana(1kg)
$1.29R$6.54
$1.63R$8.28
-20.86%
Oranges(1kg)
$1.38R$7.00
$1.47R$7.43
-6.12%
Tomato(1kg)
$2.06R$10.44
$1.55R$7.85
32.90%
Potato(1kg)
$1.65R$8.39
$1.23R$6.26
34.15%
Onion(1kg)
$1.05R$5.35
$1.11R$5.65
-5.41%
Lettuce(1 head)
$0.71R$3.58
$0.69R$3.49
2.90%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55R$2.79
$0.60R$3.06
-8.33%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$1.76R$8.95
$1.97R$9.99
-10.66%
Wine(Bottle)
$7.64R$38.76
$7.74R$39.29
-1.29%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$0.93R$4.70
$1.22R$6.17
-23.77%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$2.00R$10.17
$2.08R$10.55
-3.85%
🚌 Getting Around
Três Lagoas
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.86R$4.37
$1.24R$6.29
-30.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$38.12R$193
$38.87R$197
-1.93%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.11R$5.61
$1.12R$5.70
-0.89%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.74R$3.77
$0.65R$3.30
13.85%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$6.22R$31.55
$7.40R$37.57
-15.95%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$1.08R$5.46
$1.06R$5.37
1.89%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.5KR$104.1K
$20.3KR$102.8K
1.21%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.6KR$140.0K
$28.1KR$142.5K
-1.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Três Lagoas
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$60.2R$305
$101R$513
-40.53%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.52R$68.6
$12.30R$62.4
9.92%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.77R$95.3
$18.55R$94.1
1.19%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Três Lagoas
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$22.94R$116
$25.98R$132
-11.70%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.63R$110
$24.16R$123
-10.47%
Cinema Ticket
$6.49R$32.92
$6.52R$33.08
-0.46%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Três Lagoas
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$272R$1,383
$539R$2,737
-49.48%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$6,452R$32.7K
$11.7KR$59.2K
-44.73%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Três Lagoas
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$48.54R$246
$45.01R$228
7.84%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.23R$209
$41.43R$210
-0.48%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$76.5R$388
$76.3R$387
0.30%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$64.8R$329
$61.6R$313
5.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Três Lagoas
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$354R$1,794
$434R$2,203
-18.53%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$178R$901
$324R$1,646
-45.29%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$793R$4,025
$846R$4,293
-6.26%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$599R$3,038
$567R$2,879
5.52%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,643R$8,338
$3,721R$18.9K
-55.84%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,155R$5,860
$1,481R$7,516
-22.03%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Três Lagoas
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$173R$877
$600R$3,043
-71.18%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
10.92
11.33
-3.62%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Três Lagoas: July 27, 2026
Last update for Rio de Janeiro: July 27, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $354 in Três Lagoas and $434 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Rio de Janeiro pays 247% 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: $27.00 in Três Lagoas vs $36.00 in Rio de Janeiro. Groceries flip the comparison at $185 vs $184, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper for home cooking.
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
Três Lagoas vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Três Lagoas and in Rio de Janeiro?
Três Lagoas and Rio de Janeiro differ by about 28% in total monthly costs ($739 vs $946 including rent). Três Lagoas is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 247% lower in Rio de Janeiro. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Três Lagoas and in Rio de Janeiro?
Rent for a central apartment: $354 in Três Lagoas versus $434 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 Três Lagoas – a meal for two runs $27.00 versus $36.00 in Rio de Janeiro. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Três Lagoas or Rio de Janeiro?
All in, you'll spend $739 per month in Três Lagoas versus $946 in Rio de Janeiro – a 28% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $739 in Três Lagoas versus $946 in Rio de Janeiro, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Três Lagoas but tight or insufficient in Rio de Janeiro. The gap between the two cities makes Três Lagoas the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Três Lagoas 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: Três Lagoas or Rio de Janeiro?
Expats usually find Três Lagoas gentler on the wallet – expenses run 28% less than in Rio de Janeiro. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.
Três Lagoas vs other spots: cost of living compared