Food and Drink
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Mercado Central de Belo Horizonte for local cheese, coffee, and spices
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Mercado Livre (fastest delivery) and Amazon.com.br
- Grocery Delivery
- Super Nosso em Casa or Rappi
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rua Alberto Cintra in Cidade Nova or the pubs of Savassi
- Local Brewery
- Ateliê Wäls (Olhos d'Água) or Cervejaria Backer (Pátio Cervejeiro)
- Wine Bars
- Cabernet Butiquim in Savassi; great selection of Brazilian wines
- Street Food Stalls
- Feira Hippie on Sundays (Afonso Pena Ave); try the Acarajé
- Popular International Cuisine
- Taste-Vin (French/Soufflés) and Pecorino (Italian) in DiamondMall
- Best Food Delivery App
- iFood (covers 95% of restaurants)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Pão de Queijo with coffee and 'Feijão Tropeiro' at Mineirão Stadium
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Camaraderia (Lourdes) and Las Chicas Vegan (Santa Efigênia)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Doces de Minas at Mercado Central and Sorveteria Alento
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Pampulha Modern Ensemble (UNESCO site) including São Francisco de Assis Church
- Museums & Art Venues
- CCBB (Centro Cultural Banco do Brasil) and Memorial Minas Gerais Vale
- Historical Sites
- Praça da Liberdade circuit and its palace buildings
- Religious Sites
- Santuário Nossa Senhora da Piedade (outside city on a mountain top)
- Annual Events
- Carnaval de Belo Horizonte (Block parties) and Comida di Buteco (Food festival)
- Cultural Districts
- Santa Tereza (Bohemian neighborhood with live music)
- Theater Venues
- Palácio das Artes (General Carneiro Ave)
- Local Markets
- Mercado Distrital do Cruzeiro and the Sunday Feira de Artesanato
- Music Scene
- Clube da Esquina Museum and live jazz at Savassi Festival
- Street Art
- CURA (Circuito Urbano de Arte) - giant murals visible from Rua Sapucaí
- Cooking Classes
- Sabor de Saber cooking school in Funcionários
- Art Galleries
- Quartoamado gallery in Funcionários
- Historic Buildings
- Edifício Niemeyer at Praça da Liberdade
- Local Heritage
- 'Mineiridade' - the quiet, welcoming, and hospitable culture of Minas Gerais
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Inhotim (Jardim Brumadinho) - World's largest open-air contemporary art museum
- National Parks Nearby
- Serra do Cipó National Park (100km away) for waterfalls and hiking
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Lagoa da Pampulha (18km loop) and Parque Municipal Renné Giannetti
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Mirante do Mangabeiras for the best sunset view over the city
- Birdwatching Locations
- Serra do Curral ecological park
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Restricted within city; available at campsites in Lapinha da Serra
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correios (Post Office) and Loggi for local express courier
- Tech Repair Services
- AssisTec in Savassi or boutiques in Boulevard Shopping
- Table Tennis Spots
- Clube Recreativo Mineiro and some public parks in Pampulha
- Language Classes
- Cultura Inglesa or private tutors from the UFMG University network
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Pública Estadual de Minas Gerais at Praça da Liberdade
- Community Centers
- SESC Palladium for films and workshops
- Gaming Lounges
- X-Slayer Gaming Lounge (Savassi)
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casinos are illegal; Bingo halls are restricted. Local 'Poker Rooms' like Win Garden
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R$ 12,000 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = R$ 420,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R$ 7,500 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = R$ 262,500)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R$ 11,500 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = R$ 575,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R$ 6,800 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = R$ 340,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R$ 10,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R$ 800,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R$ 6,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R$ 480,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Varies by regime: Lucro Presumido (approx 15-25%) or Simples Nacional (6%+) for small businesses
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Currently 0% (Tax-free distribution to individuals in Brazil)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for tax residents (holding a RNE/CRNM)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 27.5%
- VAT
- Consolidated into ICMS, IPI, PIS/COFINS (reforms pending, currently around 25-30% total)
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, taxation on profits of foreign subsidiaries for individuals is strictly regulated
- Property Tax
- IPTU (Annual), usually between 0.6% and 1.5% of the property's market value
- Property Transaction Tax
- ITBI (Municipal tax), usually 3% of the transaction value
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Brazil offers a Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV) for 1 year, renewable. 0% tax for non-tax residents (first 183 days)
Essentials
- City
- Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais, Brazil
- Population
- 2.5 million (Metropolitan area: 6 million)
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-300 Mbps; fiber optic is standard in Savassi and Lourdes
- Currency & Banking
- Brazilian Real (BRL). 1 USD ≈ 5.00 BRL. Pix is the ubiquitous instant payment system
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; use filtered water or buy mineral water (Galão 20L for R$ 15-20)
- Power
- 127V/220V, 60Hz. 🔌 Type N (three-pin Brazilian standard)
- SIM Card
- Vivo or Claro are best. Prepaid plan with 10GB ≈ R$ 50/month. eSIM available at BH Airport kiosks
- Banking for Expats
- Wise, Revolut (limited), or digital banks like Nubank and Inter (requires CPF)
- Accommodation
- Modern apartments in Savassi (R$ 3,500 - 5,500/month) or loft studios in Santa Tereza
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, exceptionally high card and Pix acceptance even at street markets
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, QuintoAndar (longer stays), and Uliving (coliving)
- Budget Accommodation
- Adrena Hostel in Savassi (R$ 80-120/night) or Woods Hostel in Santa Tereza
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Lourdes (High-end dining) or Savassi (Nightlife and shopping)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Savassi (Walking distance to amenities) or Buritis (Modern, younger crowd)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Órbi Conecta in Lagoinha or WeWork Savassi (Daily pass ≈ R$ 90)
- Best Cafe for Work
- OOP Coffee in Savassi or No topo do mundo (Quiet morning hours)
- Networking Events
- San Pedro Valley meetups at Raja Valley and tech founders drinks in Lourdes
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Belo Horizonte events and 'Câmbio de Línguas' at various pubs
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (most popular) and 99 (often cheaper)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Bike BH (Shared blue bikes by Tembici/Itaú). R$ 20/month
- Best Beach Nearby
- No ocean access; Guarapari (ES) is the closest popular beach, 7-8 hours by car/bus
- Top Regional Airline
- Azul Brazilian Airlines (hub at Confins Airport)
- Top International Airline
- LATAM, TAP Air Portugal (direct to Lisbon), and Copa Airlines (via Panama)
- Highway Access
- BR-040 (to Rio) and BR-381 (to São Paulo)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Rodoviária de Belo Horizonte (Bus) and Estação Central (Metro)
- Public Transport Passes
- Cartão BHBus. Single bus fare is R$ 5.25
- Regional Travel
- Viação Cometa or Gontijo for bus travel; Trem da Vale/EFVM to Vitória (ES)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital Mater Dei (Santo Agostinho) or Hospital Felício Rocho
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Aruna Yoga in Savassi or Studio Prana
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- SmartFit (Multiple locations, monthly R$ 110-140) or Bodytech in Savassi
- Laundry Services
- Lavanderia Self-Service (Omo Lavanderia) in Lourdes; approx R$ 35 per load