🌍 Nomad Watch The Nomad Research Database
guest Login
📋 visas 🛂 passports 🏛 embassies 💰 taxes
🔥 hubs 💼 jobs 📅 events 👥 groups 💬 forum
🔧 tools 🌤 best time 📈 studio
🔍 SEARCH
🇧🇷 BRAZIL
📊 SITE STATS
Cities:0
Countries:0
Avg Score:0.0
Avg Cost:$0/mo
ESSENTIALS
Topic Details
🏙️ City Santos, São Paulo, Brazil
👥 Population 433,000
💻 Internet Speed Average 100 Mbps; Fiber extensively available through Vivo or Claro
💸 Currency & Banking 1 BRL ≈ 0.20 USD; Pix is the universal instant payment system used everywhere
🚰 Tap Water Safe for showering/washing; filtered water or bottled water (R$ 5.00 for 1.5L) recommended for drinking
🔌 Power 110V/127V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type N sockets (three-pin Brazilian standard)
📶 SIM Card Vivo (best coverage) or Claro. Pre-paid plans approx. R$ 50 for 20GB at Praiamar Shopping
💳 Banking for Expats Nubank or Wise for low fees; Itaú for traditional accounts. Most nomads use Wise via Apple Pay
🛌 Accommodation Modern beachfront high-rises in Gonzaga and Boqueirão starting at R$ 3,500/month
💳 Cashless Friendly Highly friendly; even beach vendors accept Pix and Credit Cards
🏠 Short Term Rentals Airbnb and Booking.com; expect R$ 250-400 per night for high-end sea view studios
🛏️ Budget Accommodation Santos Hostel (R$ 80/night) or budget hotels in the José Menino area
🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Tourists Gonzaga (Shopping and nightlife) and Boqueirão (Beachfront and dining)
🏙️ Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads Ponta da Praia (Modern residential, quieter) or Boqueirão (Central, very walkable)
WORKING AND NETWORKING
Topic Details
🏢 Best Coworking Space Hub Santos (R$ 70 day pass) and Juicy Co. (R$ 60 day pass) in the Vila Mathias area
☕ Best Cafe for Work Revo Manufactory (Ponta da Praia) - Excellent coffee and laptop-friendly vibes; Starbucks at Praiamar Shopping
💼 Networking Events InovAtiva Brasil meetups or local tech talks hosted at Juicy Co.
🥂 Social Events for Expats Internations Santos group and Facebook group 'Expats in Santos/Baixada Santista'
TRANSPORTATION
Topic Details
🚕 Best Taxi/Ride App Uber (very active) and 99 (often cheaper). Santos to São Paulo approx. R$ 150-200
🚲 Bike/Scooter Rental Bike Santos (Yellow shared bikes) - R$ 10/day or R$ 30/month via the app
🏖️ Best Beach Nearby Guarujá (accessed by 10-min ferry) is more pristine; Enseada Beach is top-tier
✈️ Top Regional Airline Azul Brazilian Airlines (Operating from nearby Congonhas - CGH)
✈️ Top International Airline LATAM and United (Flying out of GRU International Airport, 1.5 hours away)
🛣️ Highway Access Rodovia dos Imigrantes (SP-160) and Anchieta (SP-150) connecting to São Paulo
🚉 Main Train/Transit Hub Rodoviária de Santos (Estação Rodoviária de Santos) for intercity buses
🚍 Public Transport Passes Cartão Transporte (CT) - R$ 5.25 per bus ride; rechargeable at kiosks
✈️ Regional Travel Cometa or Expresso Luxo buses to São Paulo every 15 mins (R$ 45.00)
HEALTH AND WELLNESS
Topic Details
🏥 Best Hospital Hospital Ana Costa (Private, high quality) and Santa Casa de Santos
🧘 Yoga & Wellness Centers Shala Yoga Santos in Boqueirão. Drop-in classes approx. R$ 60
🏋️ Gyms & Fitness Centers Bluefit (R$ 139/month) or Smart Fit (R$ 119/month) located in major malls
🧺 Laundry Services Lavanderia 60 Minutos (Self-service, R$ 20 per load) located in Gonzaga
FOOD AND DRINK
Topic Details
📱 Best Food Delivery App iFood (Dominates the market; very efficient)
🍽️ Best Local Dish to Try Meca Santista (Rice, fish, and shrimp stew) at Restaurant Almeida
🍱 Vegan/Vegetarian Options Open Garden (Gonzaga) and Vegetariano Santista (Downtown)
🍫 Best Dessert Spots Sorveteria Itanhaém (Traditional ice cream) and Amor aos Pedaços at the mall
🛒 Affordable Shopping Spots Mercado Municipal de Santos for fresh produce and seafood
🛒 E-commerce/Online Store Mercado Livre (Same day delivery often available) and Amazon.com.br
🛒 Grocery Delivery Pão de Açúcar app and Rappi Turbo (10-minute delivery)
🍸 Bar/Nightlife Area Rua Tolentino Filgueiras (The 'Gastronomic Street') in Gonzaga/Boqueirão
🍻 Local Brewery Cervejaria Everbrew (Av. Siqueira Campos); award-winning IPAs
🍷 Wine Bars Adega Santista in Vila Belmiro
🍲 Street Food Stalls The 'Carrinhos de Lanche' on the beachfront (Hot dogs and Açaí)
🍕 Popular International Cuisine Cantina di Lucca (Italian) and Hiroki (Japanese) in Gonzaga
CULTURE AND ATTRACTIONS
Topic Details
🎟️ Must-See Landmarks Coffee Museum (Museu do Café) and the Monte Serrat Funicular
🏛️ Museums & Art Venues Pinacoteca Benedicto Calixto (Arguably the most beautiful mansion in Santos)
🏰 Historical Sites Bolsa Oficial de Café (Old Stock Exchange) downtown
🕍 Religious Sites Catedral de Santos and Santuário de Santo Antônio do Valongo
🎉 Annual Events Santos Jazz Festival and the National Coffee Day celebrations in May
🎨 Cultural Districts Centro Histórico (Historic Center) - Revitalized with bars and museums
🎭 Theater Venues Teatro Coliseu and Teatro Guarany
🛍️ Local Markets FeirArt (Artisan market) on the Beach Garden on weekends
🎼 Music Scene Arena Club for live music and Torto Bar for rock/blues
🎨 Street Art Mural by Eduardo Kobra at the entrance of the city (Port of Santos)
🧑‍🍳 Cooking Classes Estação Gourmet at Unisantos
👩‍🎨 Art Galleries Galeria de Arte Patrícia Galvão
🕰️ Historic Buildings Palácio José Bonifácio (City Hall)
🏴 Local Heritage Santos FC (Pelé's team) and Vila Belmiro Stadium
NATURE AND OUTDOOR ACTIVITIES
Topic Details
🌅 Nearby Nature Escapes Orquidário Municipal (Botanical Garden) and the beachfront gardens (longest in the world)
🏞️ National Parks Nearby Parque Estadual da Serra do Mar (Short drive for hiking)
🚲 Cycling/Walking Paths 7km continuous beachfront bike lane from José Menino to Ponta da Praia
🌄 Scenic Viewpoints Mirante do Morro da Campina (Maluf) for sunset views
🦉 Birdwatching Locations Jardim Botânico Chico Mendes
🔥 Bonfire-Friendly Spots Prohibited on urban beaches; permitted in private camping areas in nearby Bertioga
OTHER SERVICES AND AMENITIES
Topic Details
📦 Parcel Delivery Service Correios (Post Office) and Loggi for local courier services
🛠️ Tech Repair Services Shopping Iporanga Tech Floor (Numerous independent repair shops)
🏓 Table Tennis Spots Clube Internacional de Regatas
🧑‍🏫 Language Classes Aliança Francesa or private tutors via Superprof (R$ 70/hr for Portuguese)
📚 Libraries & Study Spots SESC Santos (Amazing infrastructure and library)
🏘️ Community Centers SESC Santos (Av. Conselheiro Ribas) - Hub for swimming, culture, and study
🕹️ Gaming Lounges Cyber Cafes in Shopping Pátio Iporanga
🎰 Casino & Gaming Halls Casinos are illegal; local Bingo/Gamin halls exist but operate in grey areas
BUSINESS
Topic Details
🏢 Studio Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. R$ 8,000 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = R$ 280,000 in Downtown)
🏢 Studio Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. R$ 6,500 per m² (e.g., 35 m² = R$ 227,500 in São Vicente)
🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. R$ 10,000 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = R$ 500,000 in Gonzaga)
🏠 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. R$ 7,500 per m² (e.g., 50 m² = R$ 375,000 in outlying areas)
🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center) Approx. R$ 11,000 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R$ 880,000 for high-end beachfront)
🏡 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City) Approx. R$ 8,200 per m² (e.g., 80 m² = R$ 656,000)
💼 Corporate Tax Usually 15% with additional surcharges (up to 34% effective for large entities)
💵 Dividend Withholding Tax 0% (Currently dividends are tax-free in Brazil)
🏦 Tax System Worldwide income basis for residents (Digital Nomad Visa holders after 183 days)
📈 Highest Income Tax Bracket 27.5%
🧾 VAT Consolidated tax (ICMS/ISS/PIS/COFINS) ranges from 17% to 25% depending on service
🌐 Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules Yes, complex regulations for residents with offshore entities
🏠 Property Tax IPTU (Annual tax based on property value, approx. 1%)
🏠 Property Transaction Tax ITBI (Municipal tax, approx. 2-3% of market value)
💻 Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads Brazil offers a Digital Nomad Visa (VITEM XIV) providing residency; taxes only apply after 183 days of physical presence