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Countries / Brazil
Brazil
Warmest welcome in the survey and the biggest riser this year; safety is the trade-off to plan around.
RegionSouth America
CapitalBrasília
CurrencyBrazilian real
LanguagePortuguese
Expat saturationLow (1% foreign born)
Living cost · Mid-rangefrom $1,600/mo
Drone reel · 4K · muted loop
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🇧🇷 Brazil from aboveBrazil in 60 secondsAerials of São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Florianópolis. Replace this slot with the video element; the text stays overlaid.
Ad
BBluewater Insurance
Health, home and travel in one policy.
Built for expats in Brazil. Cancel any time. Claims paid in 5 days on average.
Get covered →From $62/month
Sample creative · fictional advertiserAd
HHarbor & Vale Health
Cover that follows you to Brazil.
International health insurance from $89/month. Pre-existing conditions considered.
See plans →Rated 4.8 · 12,000 reviews
Sample creative · fictional advertiserAd
AAtlas Language School
Speak Portuguese before you land.
Live online classes with native teachers. 30-minute placement, then a plan built for your move.
Free trial lesson →Classes from $14
Sample creative · fictional advertiserYour moveSets your plan and the listings on flights, hotels, rentals, furnishings, moving and retirement.
Your plan for Brazil checklist · timeline · cost breakdown
Affordable move$8,300estimated first-year setup · about 33 weeksMid-range move$16,350estimated first-year setup · about 28 weeksLuxury move$46,950estimated first-year setup · about 20 weeksRetirement move$23,800estimated setup incl. visa, insurance and advice · about 48 weeks
Estimates for one adult before ongoing rent and living costs; couples and families scale up. Tap a plan for the full breakdown.
Brazil by the numbers editorial estimates in US dollars
Worth of the dollar$1 ≈ R$5.101 Brazilian real ≈ $0.196 · snapshot, changes daily · Current rate ↗
Utilities · 85 m² flat$95/moElectric, water, sewer & garbage
Home internet$25/moBroadband, typical plan
Wi-Fi & connectivity score72/100Median fixed broadband ≈ 180 Mbps
Internet reliability68/100Usually fine; keep a mobile-data backup
English day-to-dayBasicHow far English gets you
Remote-work time zoneGood US overlapGood US overlap, partial EU
Phone & eSIM$12/moLocal plan · travel eSIM ≈ $20/10 GB
Walkability of cities56/100Mixed; a car or rides for most trips
Air quality60/100São Paulo moderate; coastal cities and the south clean; Amazon burning season smoke
Healthy food & food safety66/100ANVISA follows Codex with front-of-pack labels; heavy pesticide use is a known issue
Severe weather & hazards45/100 riskFlooding and landslides in the rainy season, drought in the northeast; no hurricanes or earthquakes
Drive on theRightLeft-hand-drive cars · Licence & vehicles →
Time zoneBRT (UTC−3)BRT (UTC−3), no DST; 2 hours ahead of New York in winter
Literacy94%Adult literacy rate
Cost to give birth(SUS) freePublic (SUS) free / private $3,000–8,000
Rural land$500–3,000per acre · $500–3,000 rural interior; $5k+ near cities
Beauty of cities84/100Architecture, setting, upkeep and green space
Petrol / fuel$1.10/L≈ $4.16 per US gallon
Doctor visit$35Basic clinic visit, paid privately
Emergency room$180Uninsured visit, before treatment
Dentist$30 / $45Check-up & cleaning / one filling
Life expectancy76 yrsAt birth
Unemployment7%National rate
Remote work & digital nomadsWelcomedDigital Nomad visa (VITEM XIV) 1 year renewable on $1,500/mo income
🌤️ Climate
Tropical in the north and northeast, subtropical in the south with mild winters. Rio is hot and humid, Florianópolis temperate.
Winter · Jan26°C79°F
Spring · Apr25°C77°F
Summer · Jul21°C70°F
Autumn · Oct23°C73°F
Mean temperatures for São Paulo; seasons are reversed from the northern hemisphere.
🌧️ Rain & snow
Rainfall about 1,400 mm (55 in) a year.
Snow Rare, southern highlands only.
⚖️ The law
Official legislationPortal da Legislação (Planalto) ↗
OverviewLaw of Brazil on Wikipedia ↗
Driving On the right. Licence rules →
🏛️ Taxes
Property tax IPTU 0.3–1.5% of assessed value.
Local & regional income tax None; national 0–27.5%.
🎓 University
Public federal universities free (competitive entry); private $3–10k/yr.
📱 Phone & eSIM
Carriers Vivo, Claro, TIM.
Average cost Local SIM or eSIM with generous data about $12/month; a 30-day travel eSIM (Airalo, Holafly, Saily and similar) around $20 for 10 GB.
🎁 Schemes to attract expats
- Digital Nomad visa
- Retiree visa on ~$2,000/mo pension
- Investor visa from ~R$500k
Figures are national averages for planning, not quotes; big cities run higher. Tax schemes change often and carry conditions. Verify before you rely on them.
Official sources for Brazil embassies, warnings, law and reference
US Embassy in Brazil↗All embassies and consulates in Brazil↗US State Department travel advisory↗UK FCDO travel advice↗Portal da Legislação (Planalto)↗Law of Brazil (Wikipedia)↗Brazil on Wikipedia↗Visit Brasil (Embratur) (official tourism board)↗World Health Organization country profile↗Numbeo cost-of-living data↗
Government, intergovernmental and reference sites only; no reviews or opinion. Links open in a new tab.
Ratings & warnings independent
Visa informationTypes, step-by-step application, where to applyPassport renewalOfficial renewal links and timingLiveability scoreThe rating and what drives itSafety ratingCrime, stability and what the number meansTravel warningsState Department and UN advisories, liveRegional information & cuisineWhere to live and what you'll eatCommunity & meetupsFinding your people
Follows your Mid-range tier partner listings match your budget
FlightsGateways, routes and fares for your research tripHotels & accommodationWhere to stay while you scout, with videoRental propertiesNeighbourhoods, prices and how renting worksFurnishings & home setupFurniture, appliances, utilities and internetMoving & shippingGetting your life across the oceanRetirementVisas, costs and where retirees settle
Services & daily life one labelled partner per page
Airport taxis & transfersOfficial cabs, apps, rail links and faresTransportationGetting around, driving and licencesTrains, buses & ticketsIntercity travel and where to bookSchoolsInternational, bilingual and local optionsChild care & nanniesNurseries, nannies, au pairs and costsUniversitiesDegrees, fees and student visasPets: vets, boarding & relocationBringing animals, finding a vet and careLanguage classesLearning before and after you landBest restaurantsWhere locals and expats actually eatHospitals & healthcare accessHow to see a doctor, hospitals, insuranceBanking & money transferAccounts, transfers and currencyTax & legal helpResidency, treaties and who to hireJobs boardRoles open to foreigners, updated weeklyCoworking & remote workWork rights, spaces and freelancing
Rated & officialPartners in three tiersOne labelled partner
Life in Brazil faith, wellbeing, shopping and play
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Interested in where astrology says you should live?Click here for more info on astrocartography and Brazil.
Click here →🕊️ Religious servicesChurches, mosques, synagogues, temples and more🧘 Wellness & spiritualityYoga, retreats, meditation, spas and practitioners🛍️ Retail recommendationsWhere to shop for clothes, tech, homeware and gifts🧺 Groceries & marketsSupermarkets, local markets and what things cost🥾 Recreation & tour guidesOutdoors, sport, day trips and licensed guides📱 Phone & eSIMCarriers, eSIMs, plans and what they cost⛴️ Boats & ferriesFerry routes, marinas, boat rental and ownership🏖️ Beaches, lakes & riversSwimming, water quality and the best spots🚗 Vehicles & driving licenceRent or buy a car, and how to get a local licence🖼️ Art galleries, museums & librariesWhat's free, what costs, and where to start Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning around
Holidays & festivalsNational holidays, closures and the festivals worth planning aroundJobs board · Brazil
Search for jobs for free, or post a job for $100 USD.
Roles open to foreigners in Brazil: remote work you can do from São Paulo, and in-person jobs with employers who hire from abroad. Free for job seekers, always. Employers pay a flat $100 per listing, live for 60 days.
Latest listings. Example listings shown until the first real posts go live.
Example · Senior Software Engineer (React / Node)Northwind Labs · Remote, US or EU hours
$95,000–130,000USD
Example · English Teacher (adults & business)International Language Centre · São Paulo · in person
R$11,000–R$16,000/moBRL