Brazil

Living in Brazil: the short version

Brazil offers warm weather, vibrant cities and a low cost of living for people earning in foreign currency. It was an early adopter of a digital nomad visa, but safety varies by neighbourhood, bureaucracy is heavy and Portuguese is essential.

Best for: Remote workers and retirees with foreign income who speak or will learn Portuguese.

How to move to Brazil: main visa and residency routes

Summaries only — requirements and income thresholds change. Always check the official sources below.

Digital nomad visa

For remote workers employed by or contracting with foreign companies who meet an income requirement.

Retiree visa

For people with a stable pension above a monthly minimum.

Work visa

Requires a Brazilian employer and authorisation from the Ministry of Justice.

Healthcare for newcomers

The public SUS system is free for everyone including foreign residents, but waits can be long; most expats use private health plans.

How Brazil compares

Calculated from our data for all 55 countries. How we calculate this

Cost of living rank

19th cheapest of 55

Single person, core costs

$770/mo

Family of four, core costs

$1,566/mo

Take-home on $60,000

$49,019/yr

• Renting a one-bedroom home takes about 35% of the average local salary in Brazil, less than the median of 36% across the countries we cover.
• Core monthly costs for one person (rent, groceries, transport, utilities, internet and eating out) come to about $770, or 77% of the average local monthly salary.
• On a gross salary of $60,000 taxed locally, our estimate leaves $49,019 a year after income tax and employee social security (an effective rate of 18%), the 6th highest take-home pay of 55 countries. After single-person core costs, that leaves roughly $39,779 a year to save or spend.
• Countries with a similar overall cost of living: Dominican Republic, Thailand, Poland.
• Cheaper options in South America: Peru, Argentina, Colombia.

Estimates for planning, using simplified national tax brackets in US dollars; local taxes, deductions and your own spending will differ. Try your own numbers in the tax calculator or budget planner.

Our guides to Brazil

• Brazilian Food Culture: Traditional Dishes · Food & Cuisine

Sources and methodology

Figures on this page are estimates in US dollars, compiled from the international datasets below and converted at recent exchange rates. The cost of living index uses New York City as 100. Guidance was last reviewed on September 30, 2026. Found something out of date? Tell us.