Cost of Living: Perth vs Rio de Janeiro (2026)

Australia vs Brazil — relocation comparison

TL;DRRio de Janeiro is 64% cheaper on rent ($661/mo vs $1821/mo). Perth is safer — homicide rate 0.8 vs 20.6 per 100k. Both are solid options for settling down — the spreadsheet won't save you from this one.
66
Livability Score
🇦🇺 Perth
Australia
Full profile
59
Livability Score
🇧🇷 Rio de Janeiro
Brazil
Full profile
Perth edges ahead 66 to 59. Rio de Janeiro isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you.
💰
Cost of Living
Rio de Janeiro
$1160/mo cheaper on rent alone
🔒
Safety
Perth
0.8 homicides per 100k
🗳️
Democracy
Perth
8.7/10 EIU index
☀️
Weather
29°C vs 31°C summers
🗣️
English
Perth
higher proficiency score
Perth
Metric
Rio de Janeiro
$1821/mo
🏠
Rent (1BR centre)
$661/mo
$428/mo
🛒
Living costs (no rent)
$395/mo
$11,432
🧳
Cost to land
0.8 / 100k
🔒
Homicides
20.6 / 100k
29°C
☀️
Summer high
31°C
9°C
❄️
Winter low
19°C
Internet speed
143 Mbps
8.7 / 10
🗳️
Democracy
6.7 / 10
Very High (95/100)
🗣️
English ease
Moderate (46/100)
$72k
💼
GDP per capita
$22k
3.2%
📈
Inflation
4.4%
66 / 100
🏅
Livability Score
59 / 100

For the Kids

Schools, pediatric care, and whether your children can actually enroll

497
PISA
country avg
397
1
Intl schools
2
$2347/mo
Childcare
full-day
$613/mo

Sources: OECD PISA 2022 · Wikipedia · Numbeo · official health systems

Settler Essentials

stable
Democracy trend
declining

Sources: EIU · Freedom House · Startup Genome · IEA · official immigration portals

The Short Version

  • Rent is 64% cheaper in Rio de Janeiro ($661/mo vs $1821/mo for a 1BR city centre).
  • Summers are slightly warmer in Rio de Janeiro (31°C vs 29°C).
  • Perth is safer by homicide rate (0.8 vs 20.6 per 100k).
  • Perth scores higher on democracy (8.7 vs 6.7 / 10 EIU).
  • English is easier to get by in Perth (95/100 vs 46/100 English proficiency).

Perth vs Rio de Janeiro — Common Questions

Is Perth cheaper than Rio de Janeiro?

Rio de Janeiro is cheaper. A 1-bedroom apartment in city centre costs around $661/month in Rio de Janeiro vs $1821/month in the other city (Numbeo data).

Which is safer, Perth or Rio de Janeiro?

Perth is statistically safer based on UNODC homicide data. Perth has a rate of 0.83 per 100,000 and Rio de Janeiro has 20.61 per 100,000.

Should I move to Perth or Rio de Janeiro?

Perth edges ahead 66 to 59. Rio de Janeiro isn't far behind — it depends what matters to you. See the full comparison above for rent, safety, internet speed, climate, and democracy scores to decide which city fits your priorities.

Which has better weather, Perth or Rio de Janeiro?

Rio de Janeiro is warmer in summer (31°C vs 29°C). Perth has milder summers, which suits those who prefer cooler weather. Climate preference is personal — use the weather section above to compare seasons.

Can I live in Perth or Rio de Janeiro without speaking the local language?

English is easier to get by in Perth (EF EPI score: 95/100) than in Rio de Janeiro (46/100). In Perth, daily life and professional settings often work in English. In Rio de Janeiro, learning some of the local language will make long-term settlement significantly smoother.

Don't agree? Take the quiz and see what fits you.

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