Moving to Brazil from Canada
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from Canada to Brazil — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from Canada to Brazil, you would find that Brazil is 44.7% cheaper than Canada overall. A CA$106,294 salary in Canada would need to be roughly R$187,373 in Brazil to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Brasilia averages 80°F vs 52°F in Ottawa, making it significantly warmer.
Planning this move? Get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes from vetted international movers. Get free quotes ↓How Far Will Your Money Go?
What to expect for your wallet after moving from Canada to Brazil.
What does your salary buy?
CA$106,294 → R$187,373
To maintain the same standard of living in Brazil
Calculate with your salary →Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day
Restaurants
pay 51.5% less
Groceries
pay 47.1% less
Transportation
pay 24.1% less
Housing
pay 69.4% less
Childcare
pay 52.1% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 57.6% less
Data: MyLifeElsewhere's crowdsourced cost of living database, with prices submitted and updated by users worldwide. Exchange rates are refreshed regularly from public sources.
Cost of living by city
Cost of living varies a lot by city. Each figure is a city's overall cost of living as a percentage of New York City (the priciest, = 100%).
On average, cities in Brazil cost about 48% less than cities in Canada.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
How many people actually move from Canada to Brazil, based on official data.
Key Indicator Comparison
Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Canada to Brazil.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
of residents who feel safe walking alone at night
per 100,000 people per year
Canada performs better than Brazil across all safety metrics.
How's the healthcare?
annual government + private spending per person
affects wait times and access to care
WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access
share of adults with obesity
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
Brazil generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
Canada generally does better on environment, though Brazil leads in co₂ emissions per capita.
Will I have good infrastructure?
fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work
higher means greater strain on freshwater supply
annual consumption — reflects grid capacity
share of households with internet
Canada generally does better on infrastructure, though Brazil leads in water stress level.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
the highest marginal rate on personal income
share of people below the poverty line
Canada generally does better on employment & economy, though Brazil leads in top income tax rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better
government spending on education as % of GDP
Canada generally does better on family life, though Brazil leads in education spending.
Data: Canada Revenue Agency, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank
What's the Climate Like?
Monthly averages — select a city to compare.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Ottawa | Brasilia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 27°/10°F (-3°/-12°C) | 80°/63°F (27°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 64°/45°F (18°/7°C) | 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 75°/55°F (24°/13°C) | 80°/58°F (27°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 41°/25°F (5°/-4°C) | 80°/64°F (27°/17°C) |
View all months
| Month | Ottawa | Brasilia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 21°/4°F (-6.1°/-15.3°C) | 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.4°C) |
| Feb | 25°/8°F (-4.1°/-13.3°C) | 80°/63°F (26.7°/17.4°C) |
| Mar | 36°/19°F (2.2°/-7.1°C) | 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.5°C) |
| Apr | 51°/33°F (10.8°/0.6°C) | 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C) |
| May | 66°/46°F (19.1°/7.7°C) | 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.0°C) |
| Jun | 75°/55°F (23.8°/12.7°C) | 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.3°C) |
| Jul | 80°/60°F (26.5°/15.4°C) | 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.9°C) |
| Aug | 77°/57°F (24.9°/14.1°C) | 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.6°C) |
| Sep | 67°/48°F (19.5°/9.1°C) | 83°/61°F (28.3°/16.0°C) |
| Oct | 54°/37°F (12.5°/3.0°C) | 82°/63°F (27.5°/17.4°C) |
| Nov | 41°/27°F (4.8°/-2.8°C) | 80°/64°F (26.6°/17.5°C) |
| Dec | 27°/12°F (-3.0°/-11.1°C) | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.5°C) |
Data:
Meteorological Service of Canada,
Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between Canada and Brazil. To live, work, or study long-term in Brazil, you'll need a separate residence or work visa — check Brazil's immigration authority.
Canada passport holder visiting Brazil
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Brazil passport holder visiting Canada
Visa RequiredData: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Brazil than Canada?
Yes — Brazil is on average about 51% cheaper than Canada. City-level variation can be significant.
How much money do I need to move to Brazil?
Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly R$46,843 in Brazil on a CA$106,294 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).
Can I work remotely from Brazil?
Internet is rarely the blocker — Brazil has 21.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.
Is Brazil safe for expats?
Canada performs better than Brazil across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Brazil is 20.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 2.3 in Canada. About 48% of people in Brazil feel safe walking alone at night.
How is healthcare in Brazil compared to Canada?
Brazil generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Canada leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 21.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Brazil, compared to 25.0 in Canada. Brazil scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (Canada: 91).
What's the weather like in Brazil compared to Canada?
The average high temperature in Brasilia is 80°F, compared to 52°F in Ottawa. Brasilia receives around 61.1 in of rainfall per year, while Ottawa gets 37.1 in.
What language do they speak in Brazil?
The official language in Brazil is Portuguese. In Canada, the official languages are English and French.
