Moving to Brazil from Iowa
What to Expect
A comprehensive look at what changes when you move from Iowa to Brazil — from daily expenses to quality of life.
If you moved from Iowa to Brazil, you would find that Brazil is 45.2% cheaper than Iowa. A $75,000 salary in Iowa would need to be roughly R$219,435 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 60°F in Des Moines, 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?
How your spending power changes when you relocate from Iowa to Brazil.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → R$219,435
To maintain the same standard of living in Brazil
Calculate with your salary →The biggest cost differences at a glance
Restaurants
pay 55.0% less
Groceries
pay 42.5% less
Transportation
pay 4.4% less
Housing
pay 69.5% less
Childcare
pay 69.7% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 63.4% 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 Iowa.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
Real numbers on people moving from Iowa to Brazil, and how the trend has changed.
Key Indicator Comparison
How Iowa and Brazil stack up on safety, healthcare, jobs, and infrastructure.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Brazil performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
Iowa performs better than Brazil across all infrastructure metrics.
What are the job prospects?
percentage of the labour force without work
a broad measure of economic output per person
share of people below the poverty line
Iowa generally does better on employment & economy, though Brazil leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
Iowa 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.
Avg. annual high / low
Avg. annual high / low
| Months | Des Moines | Brasilia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 39°/21°F (4°/-6°C) | 80°/63°F (27°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 72°/52°F (22°/11°C) | 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 82°/62°F (28°/17°C) | 80°/58°F (27°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 48°/31°F (9°/-1°C) | 80°/64°F (27°/17°C) |
View all months
| Month | Des Moines | Brasilia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/14°F (-0.6°/-9.8°C) | 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.4°C) |
| Feb | 36°/19°F (2.3°/-7.3°C) | 80°/63°F (26.7°/17.4°C) |
| Mar | 49°/30°F (9.4°/-1.3°C) | 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.5°C) |
| Apr | 62°/41°F (16.8°/5.1°C) | 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C) |
| May | 72°/52°F (22.4°/11.2°C) | 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.0°C) |
| Jun | 82°/62°F (27.6°/16.7°C) | 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.3°C) |
| Jul | 86°/67°F (29.8°/19.3°C) | 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.9°C) |
| Aug | 84°/65°F (28.8°/18.2°C) | 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.6°C) |
| Sep | 76°/55°F (24.5°/12.9°C) | 83°/61°F (28.3°/16.0°C) |
| Oct | 63°/43°F (17.3°/6.1°C) | 82°/63°F (27.5°/17.4°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.8°C) | 80°/64°F (26.6°/17.5°C) |
| Dec | 34°/18°F (1.1°/-7.8°C) | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.5°C) |
Data:
National Weather Service,
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 holder visiting Brazil
Visa Online (e-Visa)
Brazil passport holder visiting United States
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 Iowa?
Generally yes: Brazil runs about 44% cheaper than Iowa on average, though it depends heavily on the city.
How much money do I need to move to Brazil?
A safe rule of thumb is 3 months of local expenses plus relocation costs. On a $75,000 comparable salary, that's around R$54,859 in Brazil for everyday spending, before flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Brazil?
Working remotely from Brazil's major cities is generally feasible. The legal layer matters more — visa category, employer policy on overseas employees, and tax residency in Iowa and Brazil.
How is healthcare in Brazil compared to Iowa?
Brazil performs significantly better than Iowa across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Brazil compared to Iowa?
The average high temperature in Brasilia is 80°F, compared to 60°F in Des Moines. Brasilia receives around 61.1 in of rainfall per year, while Des Moines gets 36.0 in.
What language do they speak in Brazil?
The official language in Brazil is Portuguese. In Iowa, the official language is English.
