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
17/ 10083% cheaper than New York
$762/mo
Median Income
45/100
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
25/100
1-Bed Apartment (City Center)$680/month
1-Bed Apartment (Outside Center)$480/month
3-Bed Apartment (City Center)$1,100/month
Food & Groceries
20/100
Milk (1 liter)$1.13/liter
Bread (500g loaf)$1.4/loaf
Rice (1 kg)$1.51/kg
Transportation
20/100
Monthly Transit Pass$39/month
One-Way Ticket$1.26/trip
Taxi (1 km)$1.1/km
Utilities
25/100
Basic (Elec, Heat, Water, Garbage) 85m2$72/month
Internet (60+ Mbps)$35/month
Mobile Plan (10GB+)$22/month
Healthcare
45/100
Doctor Visit (15 min)$60/visit
Dentist Visit$75/visit
Prescription Medicine (avg)$10/course
Education
30/100
Preschool/Kindergarten (monthly)$410/month
International Primary School (yearly)$9,350/year
Language Course (12 weeks)$320/course
Entertainment
25/100
Cinema Ticket (1 seat)$6.48/ticket
Theater Ticket$30/ticket
Museum Entry$10/ticket
Clothing
22/100
Jeans (Levi's or similar)$45/pair
Summer Dress (Zara/H&M)$30/piece
Running Shoes (Nike/Adidas)$70/pair
Personal Care
20/100
Haircut (Men)$15/cut
Haircut (Women)$30/cut
Shampoo (400ml)$3.8/bottle
Dining Out
25/100
Meal at Inexpensive Restaurant$7.2/meal
Meal for 2 (Mid-Range)$36/meal
McMeal at McDonald's$6.6/meal
Childcare
30/100
Full-Day Daycare (monthly)$600/month
Babysitter (per hour)$11/hour
Pack of Diapers (60 ct)$15/pack
Fitness & Sports
22/100
Gym Membership (monthly)$35/month
Tennis Court Rent (1 hr)$15/hour
Swimming Pool (adult entry)$6/entry

Digital Nomad Profile

65 Mbps
Internet Speed
$350
Coworking/Month
fair
Café WiFi
low
English Level
growing
Nomad Community
70/100
Walkability

Best neighborhoods: Ipanema, Copacabana, Lapa

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Rio de Janeiro cheap to live in?

Rio de Janeiro has a cost of living index of 17/100, where New York = 100. It is 83% cheaper than New York. A single person can live comfortably for approximately $620–$868 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 $680/month. Outside the center, expect to pay around $480/month.

Is Rio de Janeiro good for digital nomads?

Rio de Janeiro has a growing digital nomad community. Average internet speed is 65 Mbps, café wifi reliability is fair, and coworking spaces run about $350/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 $762 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 17) is 83% cheaper than New York (cost index 100). You could save roughly $2,075/month by moving from New York to Rio de Janeiro.

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