Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Vaughan and Rio de Janeiro

For one person, living is cheaper in Rio de Janeiro: $1,289 a month against $2,554 in Vaughan, rent and utilities included – about $15,200 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Vaughan
🇨🇦 Canada
$2,554
/mo nomad
Rio de Janeiro
🇧🇷 Brazil
$1,289
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Vaughan 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 Vaughan and in Rio de Janeiro actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $2,554 in Vaughan versus $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Vaughan $2,554
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,289

Estimated couple costs with rent: $3,726 in Vaughan versus $1,868 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Vaughan $3,726
  • Rio de Janeiro $1,868

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $4,898 in Vaughan versus $2,448 in Rio de Janeiro.

  • Vaughan $4,898
  • Rio de Janeiro $2,448

Living in Vaughan is roughly 98% more expensive than in Rio de Janeiro, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

The two cities straddle the global median: Vaughan is 89% above, Rio de Janeiro is 5% below.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Vaughan
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$16.73 CA$23.66
$10.06 R$51.0
66.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$67.5 CA$95.4
$40.44 R$205
66.82%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$9.99 CA$14.13
$8.55 R$43.35
16.84%
Cappuccino
$3.64 CA$5.15
$2.38 R$12.04
52.94%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.97 CA$2.78
$1.61 R$8.18
22.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.56 CA$2.21
$1.03 R$5.22
51.46%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$6.29 CA$8.89
$2.47 R$12.54
154.66%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.07 CA$8.58
$3.70 R$18.77
64.05%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Vaughan
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.94 CA$2.74
$1.19 R$6.05
63.03%
White Bread (500g)
$2.26 CA$3.19
$2.05 R$10.38
10.24%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.69 CA$3.80
$1.28 R$6.49
110.16%
Eggs
$2.99 CA$4.22
$2.29 R$11.60
30.57%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.22 CA$13.03
$10.76 R$54.5
-14.31%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$12.10 CA$17.10
$4.41 R$22.36
174.38%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$13.60 CA$19.22
$9.84 R$49.86
38.21%
Apples (1kg)
$3.41 CA$4.82
$2.81 R$14.25
21.35%
Banana (1kg)
$1.26 CA$1.78
$1.78 R$9.03
-29.21%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.50 CA$4.95
$1.60 R$8.13
118.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$3.21 CA$4.54
$1.80 R$9.11
78.33%
Potato (1kg)
$1.59 CA$2.24
$1.22 R$6.17
30.33%
Onion (1kg)
$1.59 CA$2.25
$1.04 R$5.26
52.88%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.21 CA$3.12
$0.77 R$3.92
187.01%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.17 CA$1.66
$0.67 R$3.38
74.63%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$12.50 CA$17.68
$3.01 R$15.27
315.28%
Wine (Bottle)
$11.92 CA$16.85
$8.08 R$40.94
47.52%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.96 CA$2.78
$1.19 R$6.03
64.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.43 CA$2.02
$2.51 R$12.73
-43.03%
🚌 Getting Around
Vaughan
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.74 CA$3.87
$0.99 R$5.00
176.77%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$104 CA$147
$50.1 R$254
107.96%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.06 CA$4.32
$1.22 R$6.20
150.82%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.19 CA$1.69
$0.92 R$4.66
29.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$21.75 CA$30.74
$8.97 R$45.45
142.47%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 CA$1.54
$1.30 R$6.57
-16.15%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$24.1K CA$34.0K
$23.9K R$121.0K
0.82%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$18.8K CA$26.6K
$32.9K R$166.6K
-42.71%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vaughan
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$110 CA$156
$133 R$676
-17.29%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$29.17 CA$41.24
$10.82 R$54.8
169.59%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$49.57 CA$70.1
$22.90 R$116
116.46%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Vaughan
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.67 CA$44.77
$30.79 R$156
2.86%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$20.84 CA$29.46
$31.85 R$161
-34.57%
Cinema Ticket
$9.76 CA$13.80
$8.05 R$40.83
21.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Vaughan
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$910 CA$1,286
$598 R$3,029
52.28%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.9K CA$24.0K
$13.4K R$68.0K
26.26%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Vaughan
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$42.04 CA$59.4
$42.04 R$213
-
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.75 CA$52.0
$49.68 R$252
-26.03%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$106 CA$150
$74.5 R$378
42.20%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$105 CA$148
$68.7 R$348
52.29%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Vaughan
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,669 CA$2,359
$903 R$4,578
84.80%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,478 CA$2,090
$529 R$2,684
179.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,629 CA$3,716
$1,326 R$6,724
98.19%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$2,416 CA$3,415
$756 R$3,831
219.69%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$8,700 CA$12.3K
$4,010 R$20.3K
116.95%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$6,171 CA$8,724
$1,560 R$7,910
295.50%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Vaughan
Rio de Janeiro
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$2,905 CA$4,107
$640 R$3,242
354.28%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.39
11.93
-54.82%

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

Last update for Vaughan: October 10, 2026

Last update for Rio de Janeiro: October 10, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Vaughan
$1.5K
Rio de Janeiro
$529 64.2% $949
Groceries & Markets
Vaughan
$316
Rio de Janeiro
$215 32% $101
Eating Out
Vaughan
$265
Rio de Janeiro
$165 37.8% $100
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Vaughan
$189
Rio de Janeiro
$167 11.6% $22
Clothing & Footwear
Vaughan
$130
Rio de Janeiro
$106 18.8% $25
Getting Around
Vaughan
$124
Rio de Janeiro
$60 51.8% $64
Sport & Entertainment
Vaughan
$51
Rio de Janeiro
$47 8.4% $4.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $1,669 in Vaughan and $903 in Rio de Janeiro. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Vaughan pays 354% 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: $67.0 in Vaughan vs $40.00 in Rio de Janeiro for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $316 vs $215 per month, with Rio de Janeiro cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇨🇦 Vaughan
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
🕒 Local time
16:56 4:56 PM
17:56 5:56 PM
1 h ahead of Vaughan
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
323,103
6,211,223
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

BRL, USD, EUR to CAD – Canadian Dollar Converter

Canadian Dollar exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 1.41 CAD (1 CAD = 0.707 USD). 1 EUR = 1.59 CAD (1 CAD = 0.629 EUR).

Brazilian Real exchange rates as of October 19, 2026: 1 USD = 5.07 BRL (1 BRL = 0.197 USD). 1 EUR = 5.7 BRL (1 BRL = 0.175 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Vaughan Rio de Janeiro 8,290 km ≈ 11 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Vaughan
  • 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
Vaughan vs Rio de Janeiro: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Vaughan and in Rio de Janeiro?
Vaughan and Rio de Janeiro differ by about 98% in total monthly costs ($2,554 vs $1,289 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: Vaughan or Rio de Janeiro?
Average pay runs 354% higher in Vaughan, 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 Vaughan and in Rio de Janeiro?
Rent for a central apartment: $1,669 in Vaughan versus $903 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 $67.0 in Vaughan. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Vaughan or Rio de Janeiro?
All in, you'll spend $2,554 per month in Vaughan versus $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro – a 98% 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 $1,289 in Rio de Janeiro versus $2,554 in Vaughan, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Rio de Janeiro but tight or insufficient in Vaughan. 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 Vaughan 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: Vaughan or Rio de Janeiro?
Expats usually find Rio de Janeiro gentler on the wallet – expenses run 98% less than in Vaughan. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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