Cost of living and opportunities in Brazil for refugees

Due to its size, Brazil presents significant differences between its cities in terms of cost of living and opportunities. Do you know which Brazilian cities have the best salaries and cost of living for refugees in the country?

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Cost of Living in Brazil

According to the collaborative website Expatistan, of the 230 most expensive cities to live in the world, at least 15 are in Brazil. At least, that’s what the website’s cost-of-living ranking shows.

The first city to appear in the survey is São Paulo, in 189th place, well below countries like the United States, Australia, some European cities, and even Central America. Other cities mentioned in this survey are: Rio de Janeiro, Brasília, Florianópolis, Curitiba, Belo Horizonte, Porto Alegre, and Recife.

The survey takes into account apartment rentals in upscale areas of the city, commuting, leisure activities, and the purchase of basic food baskets. An interesting aspect of Brazil is that it has public education and healthcare services — which other countries lack.

But what about salaries?

While these cities have a higher cost of living, some also offer the most opportunities and the best salaries. However, high-paying jobs are increasingly competitive, and it’s harder to find a job without the desired qualifications.

According to IBGE data released through the Central Business Registry, the cities with the best salaries and cost of living are:

• Maceió (AL): the city has demonstrated intense economic and infrastructure growth;
• João Pessoa (PB): has a technology hub and a complex industrial park, with various segments, such as food, metallurgy, and textiles;
• Fortaleza (CE): is the third-richest region in the North and Northeast;
• Teresina (PI): is the third capital with the best quality of life in the North and Northeast;
• Natal (RN): has a diversified industrial production, with a focus on construction;
• São Luís (MA): is a city with a privileged territorial position, which has attracted many companies and large corporations;
• Goiânia (GO): is an important economic hub and strategic center;
• Aracaju (SE): has the lowest inequality rate in the Northeast and is one of the capitals with the lowest cost of living in Brazil;
• Recife (PE): is the richest city in the North and Northeast;
• Manaus (AM): is the most influential city in the Western Amazon and has a huge impact on the region’s commerce;
• Salvador (BA): is one of the most economically important cities in Brazil;
• Boa Vista (RR): despite not standing out economically, the city is recognized for its low cost of living and excellent salaries;
• Campo Grande (MS): is the best city in the country for infrastructure, and investment in the city has grown significantly over the years;
• Cuiabá (MT): the city has one of the largest trade balances in Brazil;
• Belo Horizonte (MG): was once considered the city with the best quality of life in Latin America and one of the best cities for doing business;
• Belém (PA): is a city of great influence in the region;
• Curitiba (PR): is a model city for the rest of Brazil. It has the lowest illiteracy rate and the best basic education among Brazilian capitals;
• Porto Alegre (RS): is one of the best Brazilian cities to live, work, do business, study, and have fun;
• Vitória (ES): was once considered the best city to live in by the United Nations, as well as having one of the best human development indexes among all Brazilian municipalities;
• São Paulo (SP): is the country’s main financial center and is an influential city on the global stage;
• Rio de Janeiro (RJ): is the largest tourist destination in Brazil, Latin America, and the entire Southern Hemisphere. It is also an economic, cultural, and financial hub of the country;
• Florianópolis (SC): has a high quality of life and is a great place to live. It was once considered one of the best cities for entrepreneurship in the country, boasting a high Entrepreneurial Cities Index (ICE);
• Brasília (DF): has the largest gross domestic product in the country and is the third-richest city.

It’s easy to see that Brazilian capitals have the best salaries and cost of living. Since they have more large corporate headquarters, some inland cities still demonstrate greater economic growth than the capitals themselves.

Which states receive the most refugees?

The main refugee influx has been northern states like Roraima and Amazonas, due to their proximity to Venezuela and other Latin American countries. However, many of them enter and seek residence in other capitals where they believe they have found more job opportunities, such as São Paulo, Rio de Janeiro, Paraná, and Rio Grande do Sul.

According to data from the Ministry, of the total number of refugees remaining in Brazil — that is, those with active registrations — more than half are in the state of São Paulo. Precisely because of the city’s significant economic power on the international stage, it attracts more attention from those unfamiliar with Brazil.

However, as can be seen, there is an infinite variety of opportunities in other Brazilian cities with affordable living costs and good salaries, which are not being explored. There are many opportunities in other capitals that could accommodate this influx of refugees entering the country, as well as in cities in the interior.

Opportunities for Refugee Relocation

Brazil created a voluntary refugee relocation project in 2018. It aims to reduce the impact of the arrival of Venezuelan refugees and migrants in the north of the country and create new integration opportunities for those who have chosen Brazil as their new home.

The strategy has already reached more than 5,000 people who entered Brazil through the north and is supported by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR), civil society organizations, and other UN agencies. Thus, through relocation, the Brazilian government has been organizing the transfer of refugees from the north of the state to other Brazilian cities, primarily in the interior.

This project has reduced the impact of the intense influx of people welcomed in the city of Roraima, as they are relocated to 50 other cities in Brazil. It also provides better living conditions and integration for these people into Brazilian society.

It is a project that has worked very well and has benefited, primarily, Venezuelans. Although recently implemented, it has created several opportunities for those who wish to create a connection with Brazil and, perhaps, will expand to reach other refugees as well.