Essentials
- Population
- Approx. 615,000
- City
- Joinville, Santa Catarina, Brazil
- Internet Speed
- Average 150-300 Mbps (Fiber widely available via Vivo or Claro)
- Currency & Banking
- 1 BRL ≈ 0.20 USD, 1 USD ≈ 5.00 BRL (Note: Prices fluctuate)
- Tap Water
- Safe for showering; filtered water recommended for drinking (common in houses)
- Power
- 220V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type N (three-pin Brazilian standard)
- SIM Card
- Vivo, Claro, Tim (Available at Shopping Mueller; ~R$40 for 20GB)
- Banking for Expats
- Nubank, Inter (Digital banks), Wise (Accepted everywhere via Apple/Google Pay)
- Accommodation
- Airbnb, Booking.com, QuintoAndar (for longer stays with CPF)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, Pix and Credit Cards accepted even by street vendors
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Blue Hill Home (Apart-hotels near Atiradores)
- Budget Accommodation
- Hostel Joinville (R$80-120/night), Hotel Avenida (R$150/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Centro (Near Rua das Palmeiras) and Atiradores (Upscale dining/nightlife)
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Atiradores (Safe, walkable, near cafes) or Santo Antônio (Residential, quiet, modern)
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- Guma Coworking (R$60/day) at R. Otto Boehm, 48; Inovaparq (Univali campus)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Ame Café (R. Otto Boehm) or Terroir Gastronomia; both have great Wi-Fi and power outlets
- Networking Events
- Joinville Startup Weekend; Events at Ágora Tech Park (Distrito Industrial)
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations Joinville Group; 'Expats in Joinville' Facebook group; Language exchanges at local pubs
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (Widely used), 99 (Alternative, often cheaper)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Ciclo Joinville (Bike shops often rent for R$50/day); limited public sharing apps
- Best Beach Nearby
- Barra do Sul (45 min drive) or Balneário Camboriú (1 hour 15 min drive)
- Top Regional Airline
- Azul Brazilian Airlines flies frequently to Campinas (VCP)
- Top International Airline
- LATAM, GOL (Connectivity via São Paulo/Guarulhos)
- Highway Access
- BR-101 (Main North-South artery connecting to Curitiba and Florianópolis)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Joinville Bus Station (Rodoviária Harold Nielson) for intercity travel
- Public Transport Passes
- Cartão Ideal (R$5.50 per ride; recharge at terminals or via app)
- Regional Travel
- Viação Catarinense buses to Curitiba (2h) or Florianópolis (2.5h)
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital Dona Helena (Private, high quality) in Centro
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- Arte de Viver Joinville; Yoga Shala (R$200/month for 2x weekly)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Smart Fit (Shopping Mueller or Americanas); BlueFit (R$119-149/month)
- Laundry Services
- Lavanderia Self-Service (R$15-20 per load) - various locations in Centro
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- iFood (Dominates the market)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Hackepeter (German-influenced raw beef dish) at Biergarten
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Ganesh Vegetarian Food; Dose de Ervas (Healthy/Vegan options)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Doce Beijo Chocolates; Ah! Cozinha (European-style pastries)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Mercado Municipal de Joinville (Fresh produce and seafood)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Mercado Livre (Next-day delivery), Amazon.com.br
- Grocery Delivery
- Clube Angeloni; Giassi Supermercados online
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Via Gastronômica (Rua Visconde de Taunay) - many bars and clubs
- Local Brewery
- Opa Bier (Iconic local brand with several taprooms); Gutbrau
- Wine Bars
- Wood Wine Bar (Atiradores area)
- Street Food Stalls
- Pastelaria Rio da Prata; Hot dog carts near the Cathedral (R$15)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Terroir Gastronomia (French); Sushi Art (Japanese)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- Rua das Palmeiras; Bolshoi Theater School (Only branch outside Russia)
- Museums & Art Venues
- Museu de Arte de Joinville (MAJ); Museu Nacional de Imigração e Colonização
- Historical Sites
- Station of Memory (Antiga Estação Ferroviária); Casa da Memória
- Religious Sites
- Catedral de Joinville (San Francisco Xavier) - unique brutalist architecture
- Annual Events
- Joinville Dance Festival (July - world's largest); Festival das Flores (November)
- Cultural Districts
- The German-influenced Estrada Bonita (Rural/Culture)
- Theater Venues
- Teatro Juarez Machado; Centreventos Cau Hansen
- Local Markets
- Feira do Príncipe (Monthly street market in Centro)
- Music Scene
- Live rock at Porão da Liga; Jazz nights at some Via Gastronômica venues
- Street Art
- Murals near the Mercado Municipal and underpasses of BR-101
- Cooking Classes
- Gastronomic workshops at Univille or regional cooking schools
- Art Galleries
- Elke Hering Gallery
- Historic Buildings
- Palacete Schlemm (Centro)
- Local Heritage
- Strong German, Swiss, and Norwegian heritage reflected in architecture
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Expoville Park (Lake, walking paths); Morro da Boa Vista (Stairclimb to lookout)
- National Parks Nearby
- Serra do Tabuleiro (2 hours south)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Beira Rio (Jogging path); Estrada Bonita for rural cycling
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Joinville Lookout (Mirante de Joinville) - panoramic city views
- Birdwatching Locations
- Vigia area or local rural roads in Pirabeiraba
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Mostly restricted to private rural airbnbs in Estrada Dona Francisca
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correios (Post Office); Loggi (Private courier)
- Tech Repair Services
- Assistec (Centro for laptops/smartphones)
- Table Tennis Spots
- SESC Joinville (Leisure facilities)
- Language Classes
- Aliança Francesa; Cultura Inglesa; Wizard Joinville
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Pública Municipal Rolf Colin
- Community Centers
- AABB (Associação Atlética Banco do Brasil)
- Gaming Lounges
- Lan Houses in the city center; MK+Academy Joinville
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Restricted (Gambling is illegal in Brazil; only Poker clubs like Joinville Poker)
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R$10,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = R$300,000)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R$7,000 per m² (e.g., 30 m² = R$210,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R$9,500 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = R$475,000)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R$6,500 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = R$325,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. R$8,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R$680,000)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. R$5,500 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R$440,000)
- Corporate Tax
- Standard rate 15% + 10% surtax on income over specific limits
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Currently 0% (unique to Brazil, though reforms are often discussed)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents (holding RNE/RNM card)
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 27.5%
- VAT
- Complex system (ICMS, IPI, PIS, COFINS) totaling approx. 25-35%
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, strict rules for Brazilian tax residents
- Property Tax
- IPTU (Annual, varies by neighborhood and size, roughly 0.5-1% of value)
- Property Transaction Tax
- ITBI (Typically 2% of the sales price, plus notary fees)
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Specific Digital Nomad Visa available (1 year+); 0% on dividends is the main perk