Moving to Brazil from South Korea

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What to Expect

Considering a move from South Korea to Brazil? Here's how the two countries compare on cost, climate, safety, and more.

If you moved from South Korea to Brazil, you would find that Brazil is 29.8% cheaper than South Korea overall. A ₩113,056,500 salary in South Korea would need to be roughly R$235,608 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 Seoul, making it significantly warmer.

How Far Will Your Money Go?

A breakdown of how everyday costs differ between South Korea and Brazil.

What does your salary buy?

₩113,056,500 R$235,608

To maintain the same standard of living in Brazil

Calculate with your salary →

How key spending categories compare

Restaurants

pay 9.7% less

Groceries

pay 55.2% less

Transportation

pay 7.3% less

Housing

pay 36.9% less

Childcare

pay 40.5% less

Entertainment and Sports

pay 42.4% less

See full cost of living breakdown
Exchange rate: 1 KRW = 0.0034 BRL (June 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.

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Who Else Is Making This Move?

What the data shows about people moving from South Korea to Brazil.

Living there in 2020
10,891 ↑ 9% vs 2015

people born in South Korea 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

The numbers behind daily life in Brazil compared to South Korea.

Is it safe?

Homicide rate United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

per 100,000 people per year

KR
0.5
BR
20.6
Feel safe walking at night United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

of residents who feel safe walking alone at night

KR
64%
BR
48%

South Korea performs better than Brazil across all safety metrics.

How's the healthcare?

Healthcare spending per person World Bank, 2024

annual government + private spending per person

KR
$5,081
BR
$2,070
Doctors per 10,000 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

affects wait times and access to care

KR
25.2
BR
21.4

South Korea generally does better on health & wellbeing, though Brazil leads in healthcare spending per person.

What about the environment?

Air pollution deaths United Nations SDG Indicators, 2019

deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people

KR
19.0
BR
23.0
CO₂ emissions per capita World Bank, 2024

tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year

KR
11.4t
BR
2.3t

South Korea generally does better on environment, though Brazil leads in co₂ emissions per capita.

Will I have good infrastructure?

Broadband per 100 people United Nations SDG Indicators, 2022

fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work

KR
45.4
BR
21.0
Water stress level United Nations SDG Indicators, 2021

higher means greater strain on freshwater supply

KR
85.2%
BR
1.5%

South Korea generally does better on infrastructure, though Brazil leads in water stress level.

What are the job prospects?

Unemployment rate The World Factbook, 2023

percentage of the labour force without work

KR
2.6%
BR
8.0%
GDP per capita The World Factbook, 2023

a broad measure of economic output per person

KR
$50,600
BR
$18,600

South Korea generally does better on employment & economy, though Brazil leads in top income tax rate.

Is it good for families?

Life expectancy The World Factbook, 2022

average years of life at birth

KR
83.0 yrs
BR
75.9 yrs
Infant mortality The World Factbook, 2022

deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better

KR
2.9
BR
13.3

South Korea generally does better on family life, though Brazil leads in education spending.

Data: National Tax Service, South Korea, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank

What's the Climate Like?

Monthly averages — select a city to compare.

Seoul Rain: 55.8 in/yr (1418 mm)
63° / 48°F

Avg. annual high / low

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

Avg. annual high / low

Months Seoul Brasilia
Jan–Mar 43°/28°F (6°/-2°C) 80°/63°F (27°/17°C)
Apr–Jun 73°/56°F (23°/13°C) 78°/59°F (26°/15°C)
Jul–Sep 83°/70°F (28°/21°C) 80°/58°F (27°/14°C)
Oct–Dec 54°/38°F (12°/4°C) 80°/64°F (27°/17°C)
View all months
Month Seoul Brasilia
Jan 36°/22°F (2.1°/-5.5°C) 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.4°C)
Feb 41°/26°F (5.1°/-3.2°C) 80°/63°F (26.7°/17.4°C)
Mar 52°/35°F (11.0°/1.9°C) 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.5°C)
Apr 64°/46°F (17.9°/8.0°C) 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C)
May 74°/56°F (23.6°/13.5°C) 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.0°C)
Jun 82°/66°F (27.6°/18.7°C) 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.3°C)
Jul 84°/72°F (29.0°/22.3°C) 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.9°C)
Aug 86°/73°F (30.0°/22.9°C) 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.6°C)
Sep 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.7°C) 83°/61°F (28.3°/16.0°C)
Oct 68°/51°F (20.2°/10.6°C) 82°/63°F (27.5°/17.4°C)
Nov 53°/38°F (11.9°/3.5°C) 80°/64°F (26.6°/17.5°C)
Dec 40°/26°F (4.2°/-3.4°C) 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.5°C)

Data: Korea Meteorological Administration Korea Meteorological Administration, Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia

Visitor Visa Requirements

Short-stay tourist visa rules between South Korea 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.

South Korea passport

South Korea passport holder visiting Brazil

Visa Free
South Korea passport holders can enter Brazil without a visa.
Brazil passport

Brazil passport holder visiting South Korea

Electronic Travel Authorisation
Brazil passport holders need an electronic travel authorisation (ETA) to enter South Korea.

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 South Korea?

On average Brazil is about 38% less expensive than South Korea, with major cities narrowing the gap.

How much money do I need to move to Brazil?

Budget about R$58,902 for 3 months in Brazil (based on a ₩113,056,500 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?

South Korea performs better than Brazil across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Brazil is 20.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 0.5 in South Korea. About 48% of people in Brazil feel safe walking alone at night.

How is healthcare in Brazil compared to South Korea?

South Korea 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 25.2 in South Korea. Brazil scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (South Korea: 89).

What's the weather like in Brazil compared to South Korea?

The average high temperature in Brasilia is 80°F, compared to 63°F in Seoul. Brasilia receives around 61.1 in of rainfall per year, while Seoul gets 55.8 in.

What language do they speak in Brazil?

The official language in Brazil is Portuguese. In South Korea, the official language is Korean.

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At a Glance

KR BR
Population 51,844,834 217,240,060
Currency South Korean Won (₩) Brazilian Real (R$)
Languages Korean Portuguese
Driving side Right Right
Calling code +82 +55
Time zones 1 4
Emergency number 112 190