Cost Of Living For a Single Person in Rio de Janeiro 2025

Average monthly spending for a single person or individual in Rio de Janeiro

How much money does an individual need in a month to survive in Rio de Janeiro?

A single person in Rio de Janeiro spends around 11,000 BRL per month on average. Depending on the lifestyle, a single individual can survive with a monthly budget as low as 1,600 BRL or as high as 76,000 BRL. Location and income are very important factors and have a huge influence on expenditure and budget.

Single person expenditure to income ratio in Rio de Janeiro

Analysing the how affordable it is for an individual to live in Rio de Janeiro

One of the most definite ways to determine how affordable a place is measuring the ratio of expenses to salary. A high expense-to-income to ratio indicates a high cost-of-living index while a low expenditure-to-salary ratio means the place is affordable to live in. Individuals usually spend a larger chunk of their income than other population groups. A typical and healthy expenditure percentage for a single individual ranges between 70% to 80%.

Individuals in Rio de Janeiro spend around 86% of their monthly income. Some individuals spend as low as 77% of their income while some as high as 96%.

How do individuals spend their money in Rio de Janeiro?

We asked thousands of individuals about their spending habits and expenditure break down.

Housing and accomodation expenditure for individuals

Individuals in Rio de Janeiro typically spend from 20% to 44% of their total monthly expenditure on housing with 32% being the average. The average monthly spend on housing is 4,100 BRL with expenditure ranging from 580 BRL to 27,000 BRL. This cost mainly goes for rent but it also includes other accommodation-related expenses.

Electricity, utilities, energy, water, internet, and mobile expenditure for individuals

Utility expenditure like electricity, water, and gas in Rio de Janeiro ranges from 4% to 13% of total expenses with 8% being the average for most individuals. The average monthly cost of utilities is 690 BRL with 97 BRL and 4,600 BRL being the upper and lower limits for a single person.

Transport, fuel, and commute expenditure for individuals

Fuel consumption and cost of transport depend heavily on whether a single person resides near school and work, but roughly speaking a single person would expect to spend from 130 BRL to 6,100 BRL in a month on commuting with 910 BRL being the norm for most individuals. This means that money spent on transport constitutes about 6% of total spending on average but can go as low as 4% or as high as 12%.

Food, groceries, and basic shopping expenditure for individuals

The average outlay on groceries and basic houshold items for a typical person in a month in Rio de Janeiro is 1,800 BRL. The cost of groceries can range between 260 BRL to 12,000 BRL. Individuals spend on average about 18% on food and groceries with upper and lower bounds of 12% and 23% respectively.

Healthcare and medical services expenditure for individuals

Individuals in Rio de Janeiro allocate 5% to 15% of their total monthly expenditure to healthcare including health insurance and out-of-pocket medical expenses. The average spending on medical services and clinic visits is around 11%. The range of medical expenses range from 150 BRL to 6,900 BRL with 1,000 BRL being the norm for most individuals.

Leisure and shopping expenditure for individuals

This category mostly contains discretionary or non-essential expenses but also some non-discretionary spending like furniture for example. The monthly expenses range from 81 BRL to 3,800 BRL with 570 BRL being the average. Speaking of percentages, that equates to 3% to 6% of total expenses with an average of 3% for most individuals.

Education and schooling expenditure for individuals

Spending on education can vary drastically between different individuals. On average, education constitutes 2% of the monthly expenditure of individuals with 1% and 4% being the lower and upper bounds respectively. The average reported education cost is 230 BRL per month with 32 BRL being the minimum spent amount and 1,500 BRL being the maximum.

What percentage of individuals in Rio de Janeiro are able to save money and how much can they save?

Percentage of individuals that reported their ability to save money

Almost 77% of surveyed individuals in Rio de Janeiro said that they can save some money at the end of each month while 23% reported that they have to utilize their whole income to survive.

How much money do individuals manage to add to their savings?

Saving to Income Ratio

Average Monthly Saved Amount

Savings to income distribution levels for individuals

Interpretation and Analysis

Individuals that are able to save money can put anywhere from 19% to 40% of their monthly income to their savings, with 30% being the average for most individuals. The average monthly amount of money that individuals can put aside is 4,200 BRL with 460 BRL and 28,000 BRL being the minimum and maximum respectively.

Saving Challenges in Rio de Janeiro

Reasons that make it difficult for individuals to save money

We wanted to understand what is stopping people from maximizing their savings in Rio de Janeiro. Listed below are the answers given by the survey participants.

Around 6% of the individuals said that their salary is too low to accommodate a portion for savings while 9% said that the high cost of living leaves little room for savings. 17% of the residents said that they are burdened with debt and find it challenging to save money. 11% reported that they just don't have the knowledge or discipline to create and stick to a budget, leading to overspending and an inability to save. 10% of individuals blamed impulsive spending as the reason for saving inability. Around 6% said that unexpected expenses like medical bills or car repairs are derailing their savings goals. 6% bluntly said that they don't see the purpose of it and prefer to live each day to the fullest. 18% reported that they understand the value of saving but are putting off saving for the future, thinking they have plenty of time to start later. 11% blamed inflation, saying that every time they save some money they end up using it immediately. A surprising 3% said that social pressure and keeping up with peers or social expectations makes them overspend. Lastly, 3% blamed market instability and price fluctuations.

Typical saving choices for individuals in Rio de Janeiro

Where do people choose to put their savings?

A typical and healthy budgeting structure

The 50/30/20 rule

Spending among different people can vary significantly based on factors such as their income, lifestyle, location, and personal preferences. A commonly used guideline for budgeting is the 50/30/20 rule, which suggests allocating your income into three main categories in the following percentages.

• 50% for needs and financial obligations

  This category includes essential expenses like housing, utilities, groceries, transportation, and healthcare.

• 30% for wants and discretionary spending

  This category covers discretionary spending on non-essential items, such as dining out, entertainment, travel, and other lifestyle choices.

• 20% for savings and emergency fund

  This is the percentage that must be allocated to savings, emergency funds, and retirement accounts.

About financial planning, money management, and household budgeting

Affordable living in Rio de Janeiro

Income and cost of living compatibility

We asked individuals one simple question and recorded their answers.

Is it affordable or economical to live in Rio de Janeiro?

Around 80% of surveyed individuals think that living in Rio de Janeiro is affordable with proper budgeting while 20% reported that it is just too expensive and not affordable even with frugality and thriftness.

Low-cost alternatives in Rio de Janeiro

People are always looking for ways to cut down expenses and reduce expenditures. The hallmark of any affordable place is the availability of discount stores, bargain deals, smart or secondhand shopping, refurbished items, and couponing. We asked individuals how easily cost-cutting is and the answers were distributed as follows:

Plenty of low-cost options71%

Few low-cost options30%

Based on the survey, 71% of the individuals living in Rio de Janeiro have no problem finding low-cost alternatives to support a frugal lifestyle while 30% think that thriftness is difficult due to scarcity in discount markets and secondhand outlets.

Emergency Funds For Individuals

An emergency fund is a financial safety net comprised of easily accessible savings set aside to cover unexpected expenses or financial emergencies, typically amounting to three to six months' worth of living expenses. We asked individuals of Rio de Janeiro whether they have an emergency fund and the answers were as follows.

Yes80%

No20%

Based on the survey, 20% of the individuals living in Rio de Janeiro said that they don't have an emergency fund while 80% said that they do.

Financial Literacy in Brazil

Financial literacy is the knowledge of concepts and principles related to personal finance that allow individuals to make informed decisions regarding their money such as budgeting, saving, investing, borrowing, managing debt, financial risk management, and planning.

Financial Leteracy64%

We asked individuals in Rio de Janeiro whether they acquired any adequate personal financial training in their lives. Approximately 36% of the people who participated in the survey said that they are not well informed about the topics of budgeting, saving, etc., and just manage things based on their own experience, while 64% said that they know about the general principles of personal finance from sources other than their own experience.

Difficulty in Budgeting and Financial Planning

We wanted to understand whether single people of Brazil have problems or difficulties in managing their expenditures and savings so we asked people one simple question: do you struggle with your personal finances? 26% of the participants reported that they indeed struggle in creating budgets and in organizing their finances while 74% said that they have everything under control.

Struggles with finance26%

Easily manages finances74%

Financial goals of individuals in Rio de Janeiro

In an attempt to understand the economic situation in Rio de Janeiro, we asked participants about their financial targets. By knowing what the population in general is trying to achieve, we can shed light on the economic outlook, cost of living, and quality of life in general.

Around 7% of individuals said that their main goal is to establish an emergency fund to cover unexpected expenses while 35% said their number one priority is to pay off high-interest debt or loans and improve credit. 8% of surveyed people confirmed that saving for retirement to ensure a comfortable lifestyle in the final years is their main target. Around 8% reported that their priority is saving for the tuition fees and education costs of their children while 17% choose to buy a home or pay off existing mortgage before other things. 8% of the population would like to build wealth through investments such as stocks, bonds, mutual funds, or real estate. For 10% of people, saving for vacations or upgrading their lifestyle is the number one concern. Approximately 10% of the residents said that saving for healthcare expenses including insurance premiums is their main goal.

Debt, loans, and mortgages in Rio de Janeiro

Percentage of individuals who are in debt

According to the survey, 27% of the individuals in Rio de Janeiro have some kind of debt, loan, mortgage, or credit card payments while 73% reported that they don't have financial obligations to banks.

Debt-to-income ratio in Rio de Janeiro

Interpretation

The debt-to-income ratio measures the percentage of income being paid as debt settlement across the population. It is calculated by dividing the monthly debt settlement payment of an individual by their monthly income. Based on collected data, approximately 32% of a single person's monthly income in Rio de Janeiro goes to debt settlement.

Debt levels

Monthly debt settlement payment as percentage of monthly income

According to our data, 3% of the debtors in Rio de Janeiro pay 60%+ of their income as debt settlement while 13% of the people pay 50% to 60% of their income for the same, which is quite an alarming financial situation for those individuals. 12% of people in debt dedicate 40% to 50% of their income to loan and mortgage payments while 14% dedicated 30% to 40% of income for same. Things are looking brighter for 14% of individuals as they only pay 20% to 30% of their income for loan and credit card repayment.

Distribution by type of debt in Rio de Janeiro

12% of debtors in Rio de Janeiro confirm that real estate mortgages constitutes the main part of their outstanding debt while 26% say that credit card payments are the reason they are in debt. Auto loans were the main type of debt for 21% of people and personal loans rose at 38%. Lastly, student loans are the main source of debt for 3% of debtors in Rio de Janeiro.

Good debt vs. Bad debt

Not all debt is bad. Good debt typically refers to borrowing money for investments that can increase in value or generate income over time like purchasing a home or acquiring student loans. On the other hand, bad debt involves borrowing for things that fail to generate lasting value like high-interest credit card debt used for non-essential expenses like luxury items or vacations.

Loan Affordability Index in Rio de Janeiro

Besides measuring the loan-to-income ratio, we asked individuals of Rio de Janeiro how many times in a year they defaulted or were unable to pay their due credit card or loan payments on time. Understanding how often people default on their due payments is one of the indicators of the cost of living and economic situation.

Frequency and percentage of people who failed to pay their monthly credit card or loan payments on time last year.

Housing costs, accommodation, and housing affordability in Rio de Janeiro

Rent Cost in Rio de Janeiro

Monthly Rent Prices

Studio apartment monthly rent cost

1,400 BRL

2,200 BRL

5,800 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$290

$440

$1,200

1-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2,200 BRL

3,500 BRL

8,700 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$440

$700

$1,700

2-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

2,900 BRL

4,300 BRL

12,000 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$580

$870

$2,300

3-bedroom apartment monthly rent cost

3,500 BRL

5,800 BRL

16,000 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$700

$1,200

$3,200

Furnished apartment monthly rent cost

6,900 BRL

17,000 BRL

35,000 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,400

$3,500

$7,000

Townhouse monthly rent cost

5,800 BRL

8,700 BRL

25,000 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,200

$1,700

$5,000

House monthly rent cost

6,900 BRL

17,000 BRL

35,000 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,400

$3,500

$7,000

Villa monthly rent cost

8,700 BRL

22,000 BRL

35,000 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1,700

$4,400

$7,000

The monthly rental cost of a studio apartment in Rio de Janeiro ranges between 1,400 BRL and 5,800 BRL, meanwhile the cost of monthly rental of a one-bedroom apartment can be anywhere from 2,200 BRL to 8,700 BRL. Two-bedroom rentals rate ranges between 2,900 BRL and 12,000 BRL per month. The monthly rental for a three-bedroom apartment ranges from 3,500 BRL to 16,000 BRL. The average rent of a townhouse in Rio de Janeiro is around 8,700 BRL while house rental costs can be as high as 17,000 BRL per month. Finally, if you want to rent a villa, expect to pay anywhere from 8,700 BRL to 35,000 BRL per month.

Apartment and house prices in Rio de Janeiro

Cost of buying a property

Studio apartment price

290,000 BRL

430,000 BRL

870,000 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$58,000

$87,000

$170,000

1-bedroom apartment price

350,000 BRL

580,000 BRL

2.2M BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$70,000

$120,000

$440,000

2-bedroom apartment price

580,000 BRL

1.7M BRL

3.5M BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$120,000

$350,000

$700,000

3-bedroom apartment price

1.9M BRL

2.9M BRL

8.7M BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$390,000

$580,000

$1.7M

Townhouse price

2.5M BRL

5.8M BRL

22M BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$500,000

$1.2M

$4.4M

House price

2.9M BRL

17M BRL

25M BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$580,000

$3.5M

$5M

Villa price

3.5M BRL

19M BRL

29M BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$700,000

$3.9M

$5.8M

The average price of a studio apartment in Rio de Janeiro can range from 290,000 BRL to 870,000 BRL depending on location. One bedroom cost can be anywhere from 350,000 BRL to 2.2M BRL. A villa can cost you 19M BRL on average with prices ranging from 3.5M BRL to 29M BRL.

House / apartment prices to income ratio

Property prices in Rio de Janeiro can be x144 to x248 multiples of the monthly income depending on the property and the income of the person. On average, property prices are approximately x144 multiples of the average monthly salary in Rio de Janeiro.

Rent to income ratio

The average rent-to-income ratio in Rio de Janeiro is around 38%. This means that people pay 38% of their income for rent. Those figures can range from 27% to 50% depending on the salary, location, and type of property.

Housing affordability index

The housing affordability index measures how affordable accommodation is in a particular place. This can measured in multiple ways, the most common being housing expenditure to total expenditure ratio and the rent to income ratio. The housing expenditure ratio is a figure reported by individuals on the percentage they allocate for housing. Rent to income ratio is calculated by dividing the average monthly rent by the average income. Because these values are both percentages, we can find their average and get the best of the two worlds.

Property Taxes

Real estate owners pay property taxes to local tax authorities, which are determined by the assessed value of their property. Typically, these taxes are paid once a year. Property tax funds contribute to community development, financing infrastructure improvements, public services, and local education initiatives.

Home Maintenance Costs

Home maintenance costs encompass various expenses associated with the upkeep and repair of a residence. These expenditures include regular tasks such as lawn care, pest control, and HVAC system servicing, as well as occasional repairs and renovations like fixing leaks, painting, or replacing appliances.

Urban vs. rural living costs

Urban living typically entails higher housing and transportation costs due to demand and limited space, while rural areas generally offer lower housing expenses but may have higher prices for goods and services. The differnce in rental rates between urban areas and rural areas can be as high as 300% in some cases.

Monthly costs and expenses of energy and basic utilities in Rio de Janeiro

Energy, electricity, water, gas, internet, and mobile cost in Rio de Janeiro

Utility Bill Cost / Electricity + Water + Gas / A single person

97 BRL

690 BRL

4,600 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$20

$140

$920

Internet and cable cost

78 BRL

160 BRL

210 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$16

$31

$42

Mobile phone bill and charges

62 BRL

100 BRL

310 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$13

$21

$63

The average monthly energy and water consumption of individuals is around 690 BRL. The cost of internet and WiFi ranges from 78 BRL to 210 BRL with 160 BRL being the average internet bill. Finally, the average monthly mobile charges is around 100 BRL but can range between 62 BRL and 310 BRL depending on consumption. Mobile charges include both calling minutes as well as data packages.

Energy / Utility expense to income ratio

The average utility-to-income ratio in Rio de Janeiro is around 5.8%. This means that people pay 5.8% of their income for energy, water, internet, and mobile charges. Those figures can range from 2.3% to 10% depending on salary and location.

Food Prices, Dining Expenses, and Grocery Costs in Rio de Janeiro

Prices and cost of goods and services in Rio de Janeiro

Dining out, food, and beverages costs. Price variations for common food items.

Fast food combo meal price

16 BRL

31 BRL

52 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.1

$6.3

$10

The average price of a regular combo meal at a fast food outlet or chain like McDonald's, Pizzahut, or KFC in Rio de Janeiro is approximatly 31 BRL with meal cost ranging from 16 BRL to 52 BRL. The typical combo meal consists of a burger, french fries, and a drink.

Restaurant meal for one price

55 BRL

82 BRL

160 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$11

$17

$33

If you are planning to have a nice meal at a mid-range restaurant, expect to pay anywhere between 55 BRL and 160 BRL with 82 BRL being the average price of a plate for one person at a regular restaurant in Rio de Janeiro.

Fine dining meal for one price

110 BRL

160 BRL

660 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$22

$33

$130

The price range of a meal at fine-dining restaurant is 110 BRL to 660 BRL with the average cost being 160 BRL for one person. This is what you would expect to pay a top-tier diner in Rio de Janeiro.

Beverage prices, cappuccino, latte etc..

13 BRL

21 BRL

31 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.6

$4.2

$6.3

The average price of a regular beverage like cappuccino or latte at Starbucks, Costa, or similar coffee shops and cafes in Rio de Janeiro is around 21 BRL. Price ranges between 13 BRL and 31 BRL depending on the type of beverage, the size, and optional add-ons.

Grocery and market costs

Large bottle of milk price

10 BRL

12 BRL

16 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$2.1

$2.5

$3.1

The average price of a large bottle of milk in Rio de Janeiro is 12 BRL. The maximum what you would pay for milk is 16 BRL and the minimum being 10 BRL depending on the brand of milk and other properties.

12 eggs price

7.8 BRL

10 BRL

16 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.6

$2.1

$3.1

A dozen eggs costs around 10 BRL on average with 7.8 BRL and 16 BRL being the lower and upper limits respectively.

Fresh whole chicken price

18 BRL

23 BRL

32 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$3.6

$4.6

$6.5

The price range of a fresh whole chicken in Rio de Janeiro is between 18 BRL and 32 BRL depending on the size of the chicken and whether it is oraganic or not. The average price is approximatly 23 BRL.

Pack of beef price

21 BRL

31 BRL

62 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$4.2

$6.3

$13

The price of a regular pack of beef or meat is around 31 BRL. A pack of beef contains around 1Kg or 1lb depending on packing.

Medium bag of rice price

8.3 BRL

11 BRL

16 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.7

$2.3

$3.3

A bag of rice in Rio de Janeiro costs around 11 BRL on average with prices rangeing between 8.3 BRL and 16 BRL depending on the brand and quality.

Bag of tomatos price

3.1 BRL

4.1 BRL

7.8 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$0.63

$0.84

$1.6

A bag of tomatoes costs anywhere from 3.1 BRL to 7.8 BRL. A bag of tomatoes denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Bag of apples price

5.5 BRL

7.3 BRL

12 BRL

MINIMUM

AVERAGE

MAXIMUM

$1.1

$1.5

$2.4

A bag of apples costs 7.3 BRL on average. A bag of apples denotes 1Kg or 1lb depending on location.

Grocery and food expenditure to income ratio

The average grocery-to-income ratio in Rio de Janeiro is around 29%. This means that individuals spend 29% of their income on grocery and basic household items. The expenditure can range from 20% to 36% depending on salary and location.

Expenditure on food and grocery for individuals