About

  • About Tech Cities Index
  • Methodology
  • FAQ

Tools

  • Salary Converter
  • LinkedIn Network

Built with ❤️ by Mohamed Oun

Tech Cities Index LogoTech Cities Index
Salary ConverterLinkedIn NetworkAbout
Rio de Janeiro
#96 of 124
South America

Rio de Janeiro

Brazil

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Rio de Janeiro compare to Dubai?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Rio de Janeiro is 42% worse off vs in Dubai

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Rio de Janeiro compared to Dubai, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$28,570
-$53K (-65%) vs Dubai
Based on 139 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$19,142
-$63K (-77%) vs Dubai
Tax Rate: 33%

Community Insights

New

Rio de Janeiro offers a high-risk, high-reward proposition for software engineers. It is less of a traditional corporate tech hub like São Paulo and more of a lifestyle destination for remote workers and digital nomads. The city is currently trying to pivot its image with the Porto Maravalley initiative, aiming to retain talent and attract startups. However, the safety index remains a critical filter; what you gain in breathtaking views and cultural vibrancy, you pay for in the need for constant situational awareness. Financially, it is a powerhouse for those with foreign remote jobs, ranking well for cost of living, but local salaries trail behind global standards.

Resident Sentiment

The sentiment is polarized but generally passionate. Transplants who stay tend to fall in love with the "Carioca" way of life, citing that the beauty and culture outweigh the grit. However, there is a recurring theme of caution; residents frequently advise newcomers on specific "do's and don'ts" regarding safety (e.g., "don't look like a gringo," "Uber everywhere at night"). Those who leave often cite the mental toll of constant vigilance as the primary reason, despite missing the beaches and weather.

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to Dubai.

Rankings

Cost of Living

Top 10%

#12

of 124 cities

24/100

Current value (lower is better)

Community Events

Middle of the pack

#61

of 124 cities

4 events on luma

Current value

Home Affordability

Middle of the pack

#61

of 124 cities

≈8.3 yrs to buy 80m²

Current value

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Rio de Janeiro compared to Dubai?

Avg. Property Price
$1,977 / m²
65% cheaper than Dubai
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Rio de Janeiro to maintain the same standard of living.

$

Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
59% cheaper than Dubai
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Rio de Janeiro

VTEX logo
VTEX
GLOBO logo
GLOBO
Radix logo
Radix

The Good

  • Unmatched Lifestyle & Scenery: The ability to visit world-famous beaches like Copacabana and Ipanema before or after work is a unique perk that few tech hubs can match.
  • High Purchasing Power for Remote Workers: For those earning foreign currency (USD/EUR), the cost of living is highly favorable, allowing for a luxury lifestyle in the safest neighborhoods.
  • Emerging Tech Ecosystem: The new Porto Maravalley innovation hub represents a major city investment (R$ 90M) to create a "Brazilian Silicon Valley," fostering a growing community of startups and education (IMPA Tech).
  • Active Digital Nomad Scene: A vibrant community exists with accessible coworking spaces (e.g., WeWork, Spaces) and regular meetups like RioTech and Startup Founder 101.
  • Warm Culture & Climate: Residents appreciate the year-round warm weather and the welcoming, social nature of the "Carioca" culture, which contrasts sharply with the "all-work" vibe of some other major cities.

The Bad

  • Safety Concerns: This is the single biggest drawback mentioned. Carrying expensive tech gear requires constant vigilance, and "street smarts" are non-negotiable, even in affluent areas.
  • Secondary Tech Market: Compared to São Paulo, the local job market for software engineers is smaller, with fewer headquarters of major tech corporations.
  • Variable Infrastructure: While fiber internet is available, reliability can fluctuate depending on the neighborhood, and finding a quiet, stable environment for calls can sometimes be a challenge outside of coworking spaces.
  • Cost of Safety: To live in the secure and desirable South Zone (Zona Sul), you will pay a significant premium, which drastically changes the affordability calculus compared to city-wide averages.
  • Traffic & Logistics: Commuting can be chaotic, making remote work almost a necessity to avoid losing hours in traffic.

The Verdict

You'll love it if...

The senior remote engineer or digital nomad earning a strong currency (USD/EUR) who values lifestyle over career laddering. If you are an experienced professional who knows how to navigate Latin American cities, has "street smarts," and wants to trade a cubicle for a view of Christ the Redeemer while working from a coworking space in Leblon, this is for you.

Skip it if...

Junior developers seeking their first big break in a corporate office, or anyone with high anxiety regarding safety. If you prefer a structured, predictable environment with the highest concentration of local job opportunities, São Paulo is the better Brazilian choice. Similarly, if you rely on walking everywhere absentmindedly with headphones on, Rio's environment will be stressful.

Updated 11/29/2025

Weather3.0/10+500% vs Dubai
Safety25-70%
Pollution68+37%
Events4-33%
3.0/10TechCities weather score vs 0.5/10 in Dubai

0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

Weather snapshot

Average High
28°C(vs 34°C in Dubai)
Average Low
22°C(same as Dubai)
Sunshine Hours
2,187h/yr-1321h/yr(-38%)
Hottest Month High
31°C(vs 41°C in Dubai)
Coldest Month Low
19°C(vs 14°C in Dubai)
Rainy Days
133/yr+123/yr(+1193%)

Community & Quality

Rio de Janeiro community pulse

Rio de Janeiro has 4 Luma events listed.

33% fewer events than Dubai.

Tax Rate

Middle of the pack

#78

of 124 cities

33%

Current value (lower is better)

Purchasing Power

Bottom 24%

#96

of 124 cities

Pollution Score

Bottom 23%

#97

of 124 cities

67.7/100

Current value (lower is better)

Comfortable Weather

Bottom 20%

#101

of 124 cities

30/100 weather score

Current value

Net Income

Bottom 12%

#110

of 124 cities

$19,142/yr

Current value

Safety Index

Bottom 1%

#124

of 124 cities

24.8/100

Current value

SWE Affordability
8.3 years
2.7 years longer than Dubai
Muggy Days
262/yr+98/yr(+59%)
Cloud Cover
47%(vs 24% in Dubai)