Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between the United States and Rio de Janeiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,285 a month against $2,785 in the United States, rent and utilities included – about $18,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

🇺🇸 United States
$2,785
/mo nomad
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,285
/mo nomad
😐 Solo nomad: The United States is 86% more expensive than Rio de Janeiro without rent, and 116.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The United States is 81.9% more expensive than Rio de Janeiro without rent, and 107.9% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
United States
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$20.22 $20.22
$9.98 R$49.83
102.61%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$81.1 $81.1
$40.34 R$201
101.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$8.48 R$42.35
42.92%
Cappuccino
$5.36 $5.36
$2.36 R$11.80
127.12%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.77 $2.77
$1.63 R$8.13
69.94%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.09 $2.09
$1.01 R$5.06
106.93%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$5.84 $5.84
$2.44 R$12.19
139.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.92 $7.92
$3.69 R$18.43
114.63%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
United States
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.04 $1.04
$1.15 R$5.72
-9.57%
White Bread (500g)
$3.56 $3.56
$2.07 R$10.34
71.98%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$4.69 $4.69
$1.29 R$6.42
263.57%
Eggs
$4.43 $4.43
$2.27 R$11.32
95.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$12.91 $12.91
$11.00 R$54.9
17.36%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.20 $12.20
$4.31 R$21.51
183.06%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$17.00 $17.00
$9.74 R$48.63
74.54%
Apples (1kg)
$5.31 $5.31
$2.83 R$14.12
87.63%
Banana (1kg)
$1.67 $1.67
$1.84 R$9.17
-9.24%
Oranges (1kg)
$4.49 $4.49
$1.60 R$7.96
180.63%
Tomato (1kg)
$5.05 $5.05
$1.80 R$9.00
180.56%
Potato (1kg)
$2.83 $2.83
$1.26 R$6.28
124.60%
Onion (1kg)
$3.00 $3.00
$1.07 R$5.34
180.37%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.28 $2.28
$0.75 R$3.75
204.00%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$2.27 $2.27
$0.66 R$3.29
243.94%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$10.33 $10.33
$3.05 R$15.21
238.69%
Wine (Bottle)
$14.72 $14.72
$8.18 R$40.84
79.95%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.05 $2.05
$1.19 R$5.92
72.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.66 $3.66
$2.39 R$11.92
53.14%
🚌 Getting Around
United States
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.33 $2.33
$1.01 R$5.06
130.69%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$65.1 $65.1
$50.2 R$250
29.71%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.60 $3.60
$1.27 R$6.33
183.46%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.90 $1.90
$0.90 R$4.51
111.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$29.81 $29.81
$9.44 R$47.13
215.78%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.03 $1.03
$1.33 R$6.65
-22.56%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$35.1K $35.1K
$23.4K R$117.0K
49.74%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$26.3K $26.3K
$33.6K R$167.6K
-21.74%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$216 $216
$134 R$666
61.87%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$62.3 $62.3
$12.23 R$61.0
409.48%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$74.6 $74.6
$22.65 R$113
229.32%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
United States
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$44.70 $44.70
$31.56 R$158
41.63%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$22.55 $22.55
$30.87 R$154
-26.95%
Cinema Ticket
$15.19 $15.19
$8.23 R$41.07
84.57%
🧸 Childcare & Education
United States
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,440 $1,440
$603 R$3,011
138.78%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$25.2K $25.2K
$13.2K R$66.1K
90.51%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
United States
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$53.7 $53.7
$41.62 R$208
28.98%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.44 $42.44
$49.94 R$249
-15.02%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$93.4 $93.4
$75.0 R$375
24.43%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$115 $115
$68.3 R$341
68.34%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
United States
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,622 $1,622
$905 R$4,519
79.19%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,357 $1,357
$527 R$2,633
157.18%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,681 $2,681
$1,346 R$6,720
99.14%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,170 $2,170
$774 R$3,865
180.24%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,294 $3,294
$3,981 R$19.9K
-17.24%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$2,674 $2,674
$1,562 R$7,798
71.19%
💵 Salaries & Financials
United States
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$4,242 $4,242
$643 R$3,210
559.65%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
6.55
11.93
-45.10%

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

Last update for the United States: October 6, 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
United States
$1.4K
Rio de Janeiro
$527 61.1% $829
Groceries & Markets
United States
$411
Rio de Janeiro
$215 47.8% $196
Monthly Utilities & Internet
United States
$353
Rio de Janeiro
$168 52.3% $185
Eating Out
United States
$327
Rio de Janeiro
$164 49.9% $163
Clothing & Footwear
United States
$137
Rio de Janeiro
$106 22.8% $31
Getting Around
United States
$87
Rio de Janeiro
$60 31.4% $27
Sport & Entertainment
United States
$75
Rio de Janeiro
$48 36% $27
Good to know
🇺🇸 United States
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🕒 Local time
01:55 1:55 AM
02:55 2:55 AM
1 h ahead of the United States
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
340,110,988
6,211,223
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, EUR to USD – United States Dollar Converter

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.892 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.99 BRL (1 BRL = 0.2 USD). 1 EUR = 5.6 BRL (1 BRL = 0.179 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • United States Rio de Janeiro 7,980 km ≈ 10 h nonstop flight
From you
  • United States
  • 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

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