Cost of Living in Rio de Janeiro - Updated Prices & Insights

38.26
Solo nomad: Estimated monthly costs are $530 (excluding rent), and $977 including rent.
Family of 3: Estimated monthly costs are $1,303 (excluding rent), and $2,029 including rent.
Currency
Do you live in Rio de Janeiro? Add cost details
🍽 Eating Out
Cost
Range
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.07 R$39.26
$4.41 R$24.5
$10.6 R$58.9
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$36.66 R$204
$25.66 R$142
$51.3 R$285
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.38 R$35.41
$5.47 R$30.35
$7.3 R$40.53
Cappuccino
$1.88 R$10.46
$0.87 R$4.85
$2.8 R$15.53
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.31 R$7.3
$0.91 R$5.05
$1.82 R$10.11
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 R$4.73
$0.7 R$3.87
$1.05 R$5.81
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.82 R$10.1
$1.09 R$6.06
$2.91 R$16.16
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.67 R$14.82
$1.78 R$9.88
$4.45 R$24.69
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Cost
Range
Milk (1 liter)
$1.17 R$6.48
$0.83 R$4.61
$1.84 R$10.24
White Bread (500g)
$1.71 R$9.51
$0.89 R$4.92
$3.45 R$19.13
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.43 R$7.96
$0.89 R$4.94
$2.67 R$14.82
Eggs
$1.96 R$10.86
$1.07 R$5.93
$2.99 R$16.62
Local Cheese (1kg)
$7.75 R$43
$4.37 R$24.28
$14.01 R$77.8
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.55 R$19.69
$2.5 R$13.86
$4.46 R$24.74
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.21 R$45.55
$4.74 R$26.32
$11.86 R$65.9
Apples (1kg)
$2.42 R$13.46
$0.74 R$4.1
$3.33 R$18.47
Banana (1kg)
$1.6 R$8.91
$1.09 R$6.05
$2.18 R$12.1
Oranges (1kg)
$1.44 R$8.01
$0.51 R$2.82
$3.34 R$18.52
Tomato (1kg)
$1.49 R$8.29
$0.88 R$4.88
$2.11 R$11.71
Potato (1kg)
$1.29 R$7.18
$0.73 R$4.07
$1.83 R$10.17
Onion (1kg)
$1.16 R$6.41
$0.74 R$4.09
$1.84 R$10.22
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.64 R$3.56
$0.44 R$2.43
$1.05 R$5.83
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.58 R$3.2
$0.4 R$2.23
$1.06 R$5.86
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2 R$11.11
$1.46 R$8.08
$3.28 R$18.18
Wine (Bottle)
$7.36 R$40.85
$4.59 R$25.5
$14.71 R$81.6
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.25 R$6.96
$0.73 R$4.04
$1.64 R$9.1
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.05 R$11.39
$0.97 R$5.4
$3.18 R$17.66
🚌 Getting Around
Cost
Range
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.25 R$6.91
$0.85 R$4.72
$1.33 R$7.41
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$39.75 R$221
$36.6 R$203
$59.7 R$331
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.12 R$6.2
$1.01 R$5.58
$1.46 R$8.12
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.67 R$3.7
$0.56 R$3.1
$1.68 R$9.31
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$7.82 R$43.43
$7.47 R$41.48
$8.52 R$47.31
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.11 R$6.15
$1.03 R$5.7
$1.18 R$6.54
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$20.8K R$115.6K
$18.3K R$101.4K
$23.7K R$131.8K
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.8K R$154.3K
$27.1K R$150.3K
$29.1K R$161.4K
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Cost
Range
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$104 R$577
$72.9 R$405
$207 R$1,147
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.21 R$67.8
$6.37 R$35.35
$27.32 R$152
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$18.9 R$105
$17.88 R$99.3
$21.68 R$120
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Cost
Range
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.75 R$143
$17.86 R$99.1
$44.67 R$248
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$24.18 R$134
$10.83 R$60.1
$36.09 R$200
Cinema Ticket
$6.64 R$36.86
$4.6 R$25.56
$9.96 R$55.3
🧸 Childcare & Education
Cost
Range
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$550 R$3,050
$363 R$2,013
$1,052 R$5,839
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$11.8K R$65.6K
$5,501 R$30.5K
$17.6K R$97.7K
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Cost
Range
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$44.85 R$249
$21.49 R$119
$80.6 R$447
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.22 R$229
$21.36 R$119
$62.3 R$346
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$77.1 R$428
$43.95 R$244
$110 R$610
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$62 R$344
$27.44 R$152
$91.5 R$508
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Cost
Range
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$434 R$2,412
$322 R$1,788
$716 R$3,973
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$333 R$1,850
$236 R$1,310
$545 R$3,023
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$833 R$4,624
$495 R$2,745
$1,590 R$8,823
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$570 R$3,161
$390 R$2,165
$1,064 R$5,904
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,015 R$11.2K
$1,467 R$8,141
$3,214 R$17.8K
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,178 R$6,538
$881 R$4,891
$1,836 R$10.2K
💵 Salaries & Financials
Cost
Range
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$436 R$2,418
-
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.33
9
14
Citycost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
City tags:
Cost of Living in Rio de Janeiro - Frequently Asked Questions
Is Rio de Janeiro affordable for travelers, expats, and digital nomads, and who tends to find it good value overall?
Rio de Janeiro offers a mix of value and experiential richness that appeals to travelers, expats, and digital nomads. For short stays you can enjoy iconic sights and vibrant culture without overspending by focusing on local eateries, public beaches, and neighborhood cafés. For longer stays, the real difference is where you live and how you get around: some areas feel premium, while others offer more affordable housing and coworking spaces. Consider how Cost of Living in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil shapes your planning and expectations, and tailor your stay to balance lifestyle with practical costs. Tip: Plan ahead, compare neighborhoods, and sample markets to stretch your budget.
What does daily life look like in Rio de Janeiro, in terms of housing search, food options, transport, and errands?
Daily life blends outdoor life with city amenities. Housing search focuses on neighborhoods with transit links, safety, and access to beaches, parks, and coworking spaces. Food runs from affordable street bites to markets and reliable grocery stores; you can eat well on a flexible budget by cooking at home and choosing local options. Transport is practical via metro, buses, and ride-hailing, with hills shaping routes. For errands and work, many districts offer coworking spaces and cafes with reliable Wi-Fi. The Rio de Janeiro, Brazil living cost varies by area, so test commutes before committing. Tip: Map out a short-term base near transit hubs, then extend as you settle.
What strategies help you balance quality of life, budgeting, and neighborhood fit in Rio de Janeiro?
Quality of life here blends outdoor access, culture, and a lively community. Build a simple budgeting framework by separating essentials (housing, food, transport) from discretionary spending (entertainment, dining out) and setting a monthly buffer for variability. Seasonality affects crowds and availability more than prices, so use flexible plans around holidays or events. Neighborhood fit matters: you may prefer hillside quarters with dramatic views or coastal districts with easy transit and services. Explore safety, walkability, and access to green spaces as you weigh options. Tip: block time to preview neighborhoods at different times to sense rhythm and convenience.
Join the CityCost newsletter – low traffic, no spam, and easy to unsubscribe. Your email stays private.