Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between the U.S. Virgin Islands and Rio de Janeiro
For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,285 a month against $3,836 in the U.S. Virgin Islands, rent and utilities included – about $30,600 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.
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U.S. Virgin Islands Living Index190Cost of Living Index in the U.S. Virgin IslandsLearn more -
Rio de Janeiro Living Index63Cost of Living Index in Rio de JaneiroLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: The U.S. Virgin Islands is 248% more expensive than Rio de Janeiro without rent, and 198.6% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: The U.S. Virgin Islands is 238.1% more expensive than Rio de Janeiro without rent, and 279% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
U.S. Virgin Islands
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$24.76 $24.76
$9.98 R$49.83
148.10%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$144 $144
$40.34 R$201
256.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$12.12 $12.12
$8.48 R$42.35
42.92%
Cappuccino
$7.35 $7.35
$2.36 R$11.80
211.44%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.29 $3.29
$1.63 R$8.13
101.84%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.54 $2.54
$1.01 R$5.06
151.49%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.11 $7.11
$2.44 R$12.19
191.39%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$7.04 $7.04
$3.69 R$18.43
90.79%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
U.S. Virgin Islands
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.81 $2.81
$1.15 R$5.72
144.35%
White Bread (500g)
$6.69 $6.69
$2.07 R$10.34
223.19%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$16.52 $16.52
$1.29 R$6.42
1180.62%
Eggs
$8.50 $8.50
$2.27 R$11.32
274.45%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$23.79 $23.79
$11.00 R$54.9
116.27%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$25.84 $25.84
$4.31 R$21.51
499.54%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$31.46 $31.46
$9.74 R$48.63
223.00%
Apples (1kg)
$13.66 $13.66
$2.83 R$14.12
382.69%
Banana (1kg)
$7.70 $7.70
$1.84 R$9.17
318.48%
Oranges (1kg)
$11.33 $11.33
$1.60 R$7.96
608.13%
Tomato (1kg)
$13.65 $13.65
$1.80 R$9.00
658.33%
Potato (1kg)
$4.77 $4.77
$1.26 R$6.28
278.57%
Onion (1kg)
$7.83 $7.83
$1.07 R$5.34
631.78%
Lettuce (1 head)
$5.80 $5.80
$0.75 R$3.75
673.33%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$4.74 $4.74
$0.66 R$3.29
618.18%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$6.91 $6.91
$3.05 R$15.21
126.56%
Wine (Bottle)
$23.07 $23.07
$8.18 R$40.84
182.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.98 $2.98
$1.19 R$5.92
150.42%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.14 $6.14
$2.39 R$11.92
156.90%
🚌 Getting Around
U.S. Virgin Islands
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$6.05 $6.05
$1.01 R$5.06
499.01%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$104 $104
$50.2 R$250
106.98%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$20.10 $20.10
$1.27 R$6.33
1482.68%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$3.15 $3.15
$0.90 R$4.51
250.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$50.5 $50.5
$9.44 R$47.13
435.28%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.34 $1.34
$1.33 R$6.65
0.75%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$49.5K $49.5K
$23.4K R$117.0K
111.22%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$52.6K $52.6K
$33.6K R$167.6K
56.70%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
U.S. Virgin Islands
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$383 $383
$134 R$666
186.74%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$90.7 $90.7
$12.23 R$61.0
641.46%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$88.3 $88.3
$22.65 R$113
289.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
U.S. Virgin Islands
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$152 $152
$31.56 R$158
383.11%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
-
$30.87 R$154
-
Cinema Ticket
$12.12 $12.12
$8.23 R$41.07
47.27%
🧸 Childcare & Education
U.S. Virgin Islands
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$1,504 $1,504
$603 R$3,011
149.36%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.1K $16.1K
$13.2K R$66.1K
21.57%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
U.S. Virgin Islands
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$82.7 $82.7
$41.62 R$208
98.68%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$69.9 $69.9
$49.94 R$249
39.89%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$126 $126
$75.0 R$375
67.46%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$127 $127
$68.3 R$341
86.58%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
U.S. Virgin Islands
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,711 $1,711
$905 R$4,519
88.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,528 $1,528
$527 R$2,633
189.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$3,805 $3,805
$1,346 R$6,720
182.67%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$4,072 $4,072
$774 R$3,865
425.88%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$10.2K $10.2K
$3,981 R$19.9K
156.93%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$10.8K $10.8K
$1,562 R$7,798
593.79%
💵 Salaries & Financials
U.S. Virgin Islands
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,846 $3,846
$643 R$3,210
498.16%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
7.72
11.93
-35.29%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for the U.S. Virgin Islands: October 5, 2026
Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 6, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
U.S. Virgin Islands $1.5K 39.1%
Rio de Janeiro $527 41% 65.5% $1K
Groceries & Markets
U.S. Virgin Islands $902 23.1%
Rio de Janeiro $215 16.7% 76.2% $687
Monthly Utilities & Internet
U.S. Virgin Islands $562 14.4%
Rio de Janeiro $168 13.1% 70% $393
Eating Out
U.S. Virgin Islands $396 10.1%
Rio de Janeiro $164 12.7% 58.6% $232
Clothing & Footwear
U.S. Virgin Islands $183 4.7%
Rio de Janeiro $106 8.2% 42.1% $77
Sport & Entertainment
U.S. Virgin Islands $177 4.5%
Rio de Janeiro $48 3.7% 72.8% $129
Getting Around
U.S. Virgin Islands $164 4.2%
Rio de Janeiro $60 4.7% 63.4% $104
Accommodation & Living
U.S. Virgin Islands $4.1K 43.2%
Rio de Janeiro $774 31.4% 81% $3.3K
Groceries & Markets
U.S. Virgin Islands $2.1K 22.1%
Rio de Janeiro $498 20.2% 76.1% $1.6K
Monthly Utilities & Internet
U.S. Virgin Islands $652 6.9%
Rio de Janeiro $181 7.3% 72.3% $472
Eating Out
U.S. Virgin Islands $1.5K 16.1%
Rio de Janeiro $531 21.5% 65.1% $992
Clothing & Footwear
U.S. Virgin Islands $406 4.3%
Rio de Janeiro $235 9.5% 42.1% $171
Sport & Entertainment
U.S. Virgin Islands $353 * 3.8%
Rio de Janeiro $127 5.1% 64.1% $227
Getting Around
U.S. Virgin Islands $340 3.6%
Rio de Janeiro $122 4.9% 64.1% $218
Categories marked with * are only partly priced – their share counts the items that do have prices.
Good to know
🇻🇮 U.S. Virgin Islands
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
Weather
Population
87,146
6,211,223
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- U.S. Virgin Islands Rio de Janeiro 5,160 km ≈ 7 h nonstop flight
From you
- U.S. Virgin Islands
- 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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