Food and Drink
- 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
- 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
Culture and Attractions
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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
Essentials
- 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
- 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
- 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
- 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