Moving to Brazil from New Zealand
What to Expect
Considering a move from New Zealand to Brazil? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.
If you moved from New Zealand to Brazil, you would find that Brazil is 44.8% cheaper than New Zealand overall. A NZ$125,240 salary in New Zealand would need to be roughly R$203,754 in Brazil to maintain the same lifestyle, and you’d need to navigate life in Portuguese. You’ll also switch from driving on the left to the right. Expect a noticeable climate shift — Brasilia averages 80°F vs 62°F in Wellington, making it significantly warmer.
How Far Will Your Money Go?
A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between New Zealand and Brazil.
What does your salary buy?
NZ$125,240 → R$203,754
To maintain the same standard of living in Brazil
Calculate with your salary →How key spending categories compare
Restaurants
pay 50.7% less
Groceries
pay 38.9% less
Transportation
pay 34.7% less
Housing
pay 62.4% less
Childcare
pay 52.5% less
Entertainment and Sports
pay 57.0% 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.
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Who Else Is Making This Move?
What the data shows about people moving from New Zealand to Brazil.
Key Indicator Comparison
The numbers behind daily life in Brazil compared to New Zealand.
Is it safe?
per 100,000 people per year
per 100,000 people per year
New Zealand 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
per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brazil leads in healthcare spending per person.
What about the environment?
deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people
tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year
New Zealand 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
New Zealand 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
New Zealand 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
New Zealand performs better than Brazil across all family life metrics.
Data: New Zealand Inland Revenue Department, 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 | Wellington | Brasilia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan–Mar | 69°/58°F (21°/14°C) | 80°/63°F (27°/17°C) |
| Apr–Jun | 59°/49°F (15°/10°C) | 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) |
| Jul–Sep | 56°/46°F (13°/8°C) | 80°/58°F (27°/14°C) |
| Oct–Dec | 64°/53°F (18°/12°C) | 80°/64°F (27°/17°C) |
View all months
| Month | Wellington | Brasilia |
|---|---|---|
| Jan | 70°/58°F (21.2°/14.7°C) | 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.4°C) |
| Feb | 70°/59°F (21.3°/14.8°C) | 80°/63°F (26.7°/17.4°C) |
| Mar | 68°/56°F (19.8°/13.5°C) | 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.5°C) |
| Apr | 63°/53°F (17.4°/11.5°C) | 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C) |
| May | 59°/49°F (15.2°/9.7°C) | 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.0°C) |
| Jun | 56°/46°F (13.1°/7.9°C) | 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.3°C) |
| Jul | 54°/44°F (12.3°/6.9°C) | 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.9°C) |
| Aug | 55°/45°F (12.9°/7.4°C) | 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.6°C) |
| Sep | 58°/48°F (14.5°/8.8°C) | 83°/61°F (28.3°/16.0°C) |
| Oct | 60°/50°F (15.8°/10.0°C) | 82°/63°F (27.5°/17.4°C) |
| Nov | 64°/53°F (17.5°/11.4°C) | 80°/64°F (26.6°/17.5°C) |
| Dec | 67°/56°F (19.6°/13.5°C) | 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.5°C) |
Data:
New Zealand National Meteorological Service,
Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia
Visitor Visa Requirements
Short-stay tourist visa rules between New Zealand 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.
New Zealand passport holder visiting Brazil
Visa Free
Brazil passport holder visiting New Zealand
Electronic Travel AuthorisationData: 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 Zealand?
On average Brazil is about 46% less expensive than New Zealand, with major cities narrowing the gap.
How much money do I need to move to Brazil?
Budget about R$50,938 for 3 months in Brazil (based on a NZ$125,240 comparable annual salary), then add the one-off costs: flights, shipping, rental deposit, visa fees.
Can I work remotely from Brazil?
Connectivity is usually fine (Brazil: 21.0 fixed broadband per 100). What actually decides it is legal: does Brazil offer a digital nomad visa, will your employer permit overseas work, and where are you tax-resident?
Is Brazil safe for expats?
New Zealand performs better than Brazil across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Brazil is 20.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 1.1 in New Zealand.
How is healthcare in Brazil compared to New Zealand?
New Zealand generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brazil leads in healthcare spending per person. There are 21.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Brazil, compared to 35.7 in New Zealand. Brazil scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (New Zealand: 85).
What's the weather like in Brazil compared to New Zealand?
The average high temperature in Brasilia is 80°F, compared to 62°F in Wellington. Brasilia receives around 61.1 in of rainfall per year, while Wellington gets 37.7 in.
What language do they speak in Brazil?
The official language in Brazil is Portuguese. In New Zealand, the official languages are English, Māori and New Zealand Sign Language.
