Moving to Brazil from New York
What to Expect
Considering a move from New York to Brazil? Here's how the two compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New York to Brazil, you would find that Brazil is 54.3% cheaper than New York. A $75,000 salary in New York would need to be roughly R$167,331 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 58°F in Albany, 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?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New York and Brazil.
What does your salary buy?
$75,000 → R$167,331
To maintain the same standard of living in Brazil
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 58.7% less
Groceries
pay 55.9% less
Transportation
pay 30.7% less
Housing
pay 75.9% less
Childcare
pay 78.3% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 68.2% 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 60% less than cities in New York.
Compare cities head-to-head
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from New York to Brazil.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Brazil compared to New York.
How's the healthcare?
share of adults with obesity
Brazil performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
Will I have good infrastructure?
share of households with internet
New York 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
New York generally does better on employment & economy, though Brazil leads in poverty rate.
Is it good for families?
average years of life at birth
New York 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 | Albany | Brasilia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 37°/19°F (2°/-7°C) | 80°/63°F (27°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 68°/47°F (20°/8°C) | 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 78°/58°F (26°/14°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 | Albany | Brasilia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 31°/15°F (-0.8°/-9.7°C) | 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.4°C) |
| Feb | 35°/17°F (1.4°/-8.2°C) | 80°/63°F (26.7°/17.4°C) |
| Mar | 44°/26°F (6.9°/-3.5°C) | 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.5°C) |
| Apr | 58°/37°F (14.6°/2.9°C) | 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C) |
| May | 69°/47°F (20.8°/8.4°C) | 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.0°C) |
| Jun | 78°/56°F (25.5°/13.6°C) | 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.3°C) |
| Jul | 82°/61°F (27.9°/16.3°C) | 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.9°C) |
| Aug | 80°/60°F (26.9°/15.5°C) | 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.6°C) |
| Sep | 72°/52°F (22.3°/10.9°C) | 83°/61°F (28.3°/16.0°C) |
| Oct | 60°/40°F (15.4°/4.2°C) | 82°/63°F (27.5°/17.4°C) |
| Nov | 48°/31°F (8.8°/-0.3°C) | 80°/64°F (26.6°/17.5°C) |
| Dec | 36°/21°F (2.1°/-6.0°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 New York?
On average Brazil is about 57% less expensive than New York, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Brazil?
Budget about R$41,833 for 3 months in Brazil (based on a $75,000 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Brazil?
From major Brazil cities the network usually holds up. Visa rules, your employer's stance on overseas employees, and tax residency in New York and Brazil are what actually decide it long-term.
How is healthcare in Brazil compared to New York?
Brazil performs significantly better than New York across all health & wellbeing metrics.
What's the weather like in Brazil compared to New York?
The average high temperature in Brasilia is 80°F, compared to 58°F in Albany. Brasilia receives around 61.1 in of rainfall per year, while Albany gets 39.4 in.
What language do they speak in Brazil?
The official language in Brazil is Portuguese. In New York, the official language is English.
