Moving to Brazil from United States
What to Expect
Everything you need to know before relocating from United States to Brazil — costs, safety, healthcare, and practical first steps.
If you moved from United States to Brazil, you would find that Brazil is 51.7% cheaper than United States overall. A $75,000 salary in United States would need to be roughly R$152,865 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 66°F in Washington, making it significantly warmer. What to expect for your wallet after moving from United States to Brazil. What does your salary buy? $75,000 → R$152,865 To maintain the same standard of living in Brazil Where you'll feel the difference day-to-day Restaurants pay 58.6% less Groceries pay 51.8% less Transportation pay 24.4% less Housing pay 76.0% less Childcare pay 75.0% less Entertainment and Sports pay 63.8% 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 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 68% less than cities in United States. Compare cities head-to-head We've teamed up with a vetted network of international movers to help MyLifeElsewhere readers plan their move with confidence. Tell us about your move and get up to 5 free, no-obligation quotes in under 2 minutes. How many people actually move from United States to Brazil, based on official data. Key indicators for anyone considering a move from United States to Brazil. per 100,000 people per year of residents who feel safe walking alone at night per 100,000 people per year United States performs better than Brazil across all safety metrics. annual government + private spending per person affects wait times and access to care WHO index from 0–100 measuring essential service access share of adults with obesity per 100,000 people — a proxy for mental health support Brazil generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. deaths attributable to air pollution per 100k people tonnes of CO₂ emitted per person per year United States generally does better on environment, though Brazil leads in co₂ emissions per capita. fixed broadband subscriptions — key for remote work higher means greater strain on freshwater supply annual consumption — reflects grid capacity share of households with internet United States generally does better on infrastructure, though Brazil leads in water stress level. percentage of the labour force without work a broad measure of economic output per person the highest marginal rate on personal income share of people below the poverty line United States generally does better on employment & economy, though Brazil leads in top income tax rate. average years of life at birth deaths per 1,000 live births — lower is better government spending on education as % of GDP United States performs better than Brazil across all family life metrics. Data: Internal Revenue Service, The World Factbook, United Nations SDG Indicators, World Bank Monthly averages — select a city to compare. Avg. annual high / low Avg. annual high / low Data: 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 Brazil passport holder visiting United States Data: Henley Passport Index. Check with the destination country's embassy for the most current requirements. Yes — Brazil is on average about 61% cheaper than United States. City-level variation can be significant. Plan for at least 3 months of living expenses — roughly R$38,216 in Brazil on a $75,000 comparable salary — plus one-off moving costs (flights, shipping, a rental deposit, and visa fees). Internet is rarely the blocker — Brazil has 21.0 fixed broadband subscriptions per 100 people. The real questions are legal: digital nomad visa eligibility, your employer's overseas-work policy, and tax residency in both countries. United States performs better than Brazil across all safety metrics. The homicide rate in Brazil is 20.6 per 100,000 people, compared to 6.4 in United States. About 48% of people in Brazil feel safe walking alone at night. Brazil generally does better on health & wellbeing, though United States leads in doctors per 10,000 people. There are 21.4 doctors per 10,000 people in Brazil, compared to 36.1 in United States. Brazil scores 80 on the WHO universal health coverage index (United States: 86). The average high temperature in Brasilia is 80°F, compared to 66°F in Washington. Brasilia receives around 61.1 in of rainfall per year, while Washington gets 41.5 in. The official language in Brazil is Portuguese. In United States, the official language is English. How Far Will Your Money Go?
Cost of living by city
Get free moving quotes to Brazil
Who Else Is Making This Move?
Key Indicator Comparison
Is it safe?
How's the healthcare?
What about the environment?
Will I have good infrastructure?
What are the job prospects?
Is it good for families?
What's the Climate Like?
Months Washington Brasilia Jan–Mar 48°/28°F (9°/-2°C) 80°/63°F (27°/17°C) Apr–Jun 75°/51°F (24°/11°C) 78°/59°F (26°/15°C) Jul–Sep 85°/62°F (29°/17°C) 80°/58°F (27°/14°C) Oct–Dec 57°/35°F (14°/2°C) 80°/64°F (27°/17°C) View all months
Month Washington Brasilia Jan 42°/24°F (5.8°/-4.5°C) 80°/63°F (26.9°/17.4°C) Feb 46°/26°F (8.0°/-3.3°C) 80°/63°F (26.7°/17.4°C) Mar 56°/33°F (13.1°/0.5°C) 81°/64°F (27.1°/17.5°C) Apr 67°/42°F (19.3°/5.6°C) 80°/62°F (26.6°/16.8°C) May 75°/51°F (23.9°/10.7°C) 78°/59°F (25.7°/15.0°C) Jun 84°/61°F (28.8°/16.1°C) 77°/56°F (25.2°/13.3°C) Jul 88°/65°F (31.1°/18.6°C) 77°/55°F (25.1°/12.9°C) Aug 87°/64°F (30.3°/17.9°C) 81°/58°F (27.3°/14.6°C) Sep 79°/56°F (26.3°/13.5°C) 83°/61°F (28.3°/16.0°C) Oct 68°/44°F (20.1°/6.6°C) 82°/63°F (27.5°/17.4°C) Nov 58°/35°F (14.2°/1.8°C) 80°/64°F (26.6°/17.5°C) Dec 46°/27°F (7.8°/-2.7°C) 79°/64°F (26.2°/17.5°C)
National Weather Service,
Instituto Nacional de Meteorologia Visitor Visa Requirements


Frequently Asked Questions
Is it cheaper to live in Brazil than United States?
How much money do I need to move to Brazil?
Can I work remotely from Brazil?
Is Brazil safe for expats?
How is healthcare in Brazil compared to United States?
What's the weather like in Brazil compared to United States?
What language do they speak in Brazil?

