Cost of Living

Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Live cost-of-living data for Rio de Janeiro — rent, groceries, transport, healthcare and more, sourced and cross-checked by AI and refreshed regularly.

CheapestNew York = 100
26/ 10074% cheaper than New York
+34% rent since Jul 2026
$725/mo
Median Income
30/100
Safety
27.5%
Income Tax
tropical
Climate

Cost Breakdown by Category

Each score runs 0–100, where higher means pricier. Representative prices shown per category.

Housing
55/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$910/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$455/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,820/month
Food & Groceries
45/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.3/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$2.1/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$2.5/kg
Transportation
45/100
Monthly Transit Pass$57/month
One-Way Ticket$1.2/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.2/km
Utilities
50/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$121/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$38/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$25/month
Healthcare
55/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$65/visit
Dentist Visit$80/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$12/course
Education
50/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$400/month
International Primary School (yearly)$9,200/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$320/course
Entertainment
50/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$10/ticket
Theater Ticket$30/ticket
Museum Entry$12/ticket
Clothing
50/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$60/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$35/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$85/pair
Personal Care
45/100
Haircut (Men)$18/cut
Haircut (Women)$35/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$4.5/bottle
Dining Out
50/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$7/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$41/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$7.5/meal
Childcare
55/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$650/month
Babysitter (per hour)$12/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$18/pack
Fitness & Sports
50/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$40/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$18/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$7/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

121 Mbps
Internet Speed
$270
Coworking/Month
good
Café WiFi
low
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
65/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Ipanema, Botafogo, Copacabana

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rio de Janeiro cheap to live in?

Rio de Janeiro has a cost of living index of 26/100, where New York = 100. It is 74% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $920–$1,288 per month.

How much does rent cost in Rio de Janeiro?

A 1-bedroom apartment in the city center of Rio de Janeiro costs approximately $910/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $455/month.

Is Rio de Janeiro good for digital nomads?

Rio de Janeiro has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 121 Mbps, café wifi reliability is good, and coworking spaces run about $270/month. English proficiency is low.

What is the average salary in Rio de Janeiro?

The median net monthly salary in Rio de Janeiro is approximately $725 USD. The income tax rate is around 27.5%.

How does Rio de Janeiro compare to New York for cost of living?

Rio de Janeiro (cost index 26) is 74% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $1,850/month by moving from New York to Rio de Janeiro.

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