Moving to Brazil from Illinois

moving to

What to Expect

Everything you need to know before relocating from Illinois to Brazil — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.

If you moved from Illinois to Brazil, you would find that Brazil is 51.3% cheaper than Illinois. A $75,000 salary in Illinois would need to be roughly R$195,419 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 63°F in Springfield, making it significantly warmer.

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How Far Will Your Money Go?

What to expect for your wallet after moving from Illinois to Brazil.

What does your salary buy?

$75,000 R$195,419

To maintain the same standard of living in Brazil

Calculate with your salary →

Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day

Restaurants

pay 55.9% less

Groceries

pay 46.8% less

Transportation

pay 24.1% less

Housing

pay 74.2% less

Childcare

pay 76.9% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 63.6% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 USD = 5.22 BRL (August 2026)

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 53% less than cities in Illinois.

Illinois

Chicago 76%
Champaign 53%

Compare cities head-to-head

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

How many people actually move from Illinois to Brazil, based on official data.

Living there in 2020
22,410 ↑ 9% vs 2015

people born in United States live in Brazil · UN DESA

Who's moving to Brazil?

Top countries of origin for Brazil's foreign-born residents.

Foreign-born population · UN DESA (2020)

Key Indicator Comparison

Key indicators for anyone considering a move from Illinois to Brazil.

How's the healthcare?

Adult obesity rate Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), 2022

share of adults with obesity

IL
34.6%
BR
22.1%

Brazil performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Internet access US Census Bureau (American Community Survey), 2023

share of households with internet

IL
89.6%
BR
81.0%

Illinois performs better than Brazil across all infrastructure metrics.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate Bureau of Labor Statistics, 2025

percentage of the labour force without work

IL
4.8%
BR
8.0%
GDP per capita Bureau of Economic Analysis, 2024

a broad measure of economic output per person

IL
$70,691
BR
$18,600

Illinois generally does better on employment & economy, though Brazil leads in poverty rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy OECD Regional Demography, 2022

average years of life at birth

IL
76.8 yrs
BR
75.9 yrs

Illinois performs better than Brazil across all family life metrics.

Data: Bureau of Economic Analysis, Bureau of Labor Statistics, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (PLACES), OECD Regional Demography, US Census Bureau (American Community Survey)

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Springfield Rain: 37.4 in/yr (951 mm)
63° / 43°F

Avg. annual high / low

Brasilia Rain: 61.1 in/yr (1552 mm)
80° / 61°F

Avg. annual high / low

Months Springfield Brasilia
Jan–Mar 42°/25°F (6°/-4°C) 80°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 74°/52°F (23°/11°C) 78°/59°F (26°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/61°F (29°/16°C) 80°/58°F (27°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 52°/33°F (11°/1°C) 80°/64°F (27°/17°C)
View all months
Month Springfield Brasilia
Jan 35°/19°F (1.6°/-7.4°C) 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.4°C)
Feb 40°/23°F (4.4°/-5.2°C) 80°/63°F (26.7°/17.4°C)
Mar 52°/32°F (11.2°/0.1°C) 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.5°C)
Apr 65°/42°F (18.1°/5.8°C) 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C)
May 75°/53°F (23.8°/11.4°C) 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.0°C)
Jun 83°/62°F (28.4°/16.6°C) 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.3°C)
Jul 86°/65°F (30.1°/18.6°C) 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.9°C)
Aug 85°/64°F (29.4°/17.6°C) 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.6°C)
Sep 79°/55°F (26.1°/12.6°C) 83°/61°F (28.3°/16.0°C)
Oct 66°/44°F (19.1°/6.6°C) 82°/63°F (27.5°/17.4°C)
Nov 52°/34°F (11.3°/1.1°C) 80°/64°F (26.6°/17.5°C)
Dec 38°/22°F (3.5°/-5.3°C) 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.5°C)

Data: National Weather Service National Weather Service, Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between United States 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.

United States passport

United States passport holder visiting Brazil

Visa Online (e-Visa)
United States passport holders need to apply for an e-Visa before travelling to Brazil.
Brazil passport

Brazil passport holder visiting United States

Visa Required
Brazil passport holders need a visa to enter United States.

Data: 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 Illinois?

Yes — Brazil is on average about 50% cheaper than Illinois. 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$48,855 in Brazil on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees).

Can I work remotely from Brazil?

Usually fine from major cities in Brazil. The harder questions are legal — digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries.

How is healthcare in Brazil compared to Illinois?

Brazil performs significantly better than Illinois across all health & wellbeing metrics.

What's the weather like in Brazil compared to Illinois?

The average high temperature in Brasilia is 80°F, compared to 63°F in Springfield. Brasilia receives around 61.1 in of rainfall per year, while Springfield gets 37.4 in.

What language do they speak in Brazil?

The official language in Brazil is Portuguese. In Illinois, the official language is English.

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At a Glance

BR
Population 12,830,632 217,240,060
Currency United States Dollar ($) Brazilian Real (R$)
Languages English Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +1 +55
Time zones 11 4
Emergency number 911 190