Essentials
- City
- São Paulo, SP, Brazil
- Population
- Approximately 12.4 million (City), 22 million (Metropolitan)
- Internet Speed
- Excellent; average 150-300 Mbps on fiber optics (Vivo, Claro)
- Currency & Banking
- Brazilian Real (BRL). 1 USD ≈ 5.00 BRL, 1 EUR ≈ 5.45 BRL
- Tap Water
- Not recommended for drinking; use filtered water or buy bottled
- Power
- 127V/220V, 60Hz, 🔌 Type N sockets (hexagonal three-pin)
- SIM Card
- Vivo or Claro; available at Avenida Paulista stores (approx. 60 BRL for 20GB)
- Banking for Expats
- Nubank, Inter (Digital), or Itaú Personalité; Pix is used for all payments
- Accommodation
- Housi (on-demand), Airbnb, or Uliving (coliving)
- Cashless Friendly
- Yes, extremely. Pix and contactless cards are used even by street vendors
- Short Term Rentals
- Airbnb, Charlie (managed apartments), Tabas (furnished flats)
- Budget Accommodation
- Selina Madalena (Vila Madalena) or O de Casa Hostel (approx. 80-120 BRL/night)
- Best Area to Stay for Tourists
- Jardins or Avenida Paulista; safe, central, and high-end
- Best Area to Stay for Digital Nomads
- Pinheiros or Vila Madalena; walkable, trendy cafes, and coworking hubs
Working and Networking
- Best Coworking Space
- WeWork (Av. Paulista 1374) or State Innovation Center (Vila Leopoldina)
- Best Cafe for Work
- Coffee Lab (Vila Madalena) or Futuro Refeitório (Pinheiros)
- Networking Events
- SP Tech Week or Meetups at Google for Startups Campus (Paraíso)
- Social Events for Expats
- Internations São Paulo Chapter or 'Sampa Diversão' Facebook groups
Transportation
- Best Taxi/Ride App
- Uber (widely used) or 99 (often cheaper)
- Bike/Scooter Rental
- Itaú Bike (orange bikes); stations throughout the city center and parks
- Best Beach Nearby
- Guarujá (Enseada Beach) or Santos; approx. 1.5 to 2 hours drive
- Top Regional Airline
- Azul Brazilian Airlines
- Top International Airline
- LATAM Airlines or GOL
- Highway Access
- Rodovia dos Bandeirantes (Interior) and Rodovia dos Imigrantes (Coast)
- Main Train/Transit Hub
- Luz Station (Metro/CPTM) and Barra Funda Bus Terminal
- Public Transport Passes
- Bilhete Único (Rechargeable card for Bus, Metro, and CPTM trains)
- Regional Travel
- Cometa or Catarinense buses from Rodoviária Tietê
Health and Wellness
- Best Hospital
- Hospital Israelita Albert Einstein (Morumbi) or Hospital Sírio-Libanês (Bela Vista)
- Yoga & Wellness Centers
- My Yoga (Jardins) or Hot Yoga São Paulo (Vila Madalena)
- Gyms & Fitness Centers
- Smart Fit (Everywhere, ~120 BRL/mo) or Bluefit
- Laundry Services
- 5àsec (Dry cleaning) or Omo Lavanderia (Self-service kiosks)
Food and Drink
- Best Food Delivery App
- iFood (Dominates the market)
- Best Local Dish to Try
- Coxinha (at Veloso Bar) or Mortadella Sandwich (at Municipal Market)
- Vegan/Vegetarian Options
- Banana Verde (Vila Madalena) or Pop Vegan Food (Consolação)
- Best Dessert Spots
- Bacio di Latte (Gelato) or Dengo Chocolates (Pinheiros)
- Affordable Shopping Spots
- Rua 25 de Março (General goods) or Feira da Liberdade (Asian/Produce)
- E-commerce/Online Store
- Mercado Livre or Amazon Brasil
- Grocery Delivery
- Rappi or Pão de Açúcar (app)
- Bar/Nightlife Area
- Rua Aspicuelta in Vila Madalena or Rua Augusta for alternative bars
- Local Brewery
- Cervejaria Colorado (Praça Veloso) or Cervejaria Nacional (Pinheiros)
- Wine Bars
- Bardega (Itaim Bibi) or Sede261 (Pinheiros)
- Street Food Stalls
- Pastel de Feira with sugarcane juice (Available at weekly street fairs)
- Popular International Cuisine
- Mani (Brazilian-Fusion) or Shin-Zushi (Japanese in Liberdade)
Culture and Attractions
- Must-See Landmarks
- MASP (Museum of Art of São Paulo) and Edifício Copan
- Museums & Art Venues
- Pinacoteca de São Paulo and MIS (Museum of Image and Sound)
- Historical Sites
- Pátio do Collegio (Founding site) and Sé Cathedral
- Religious Sites
- Mosteiro de São Bento and Templo de Salomão
- Annual Events
- São Paulo Carnival (Sambódromo) and Lollapalooza Brazil (Interlagos)
- Cultural Districts
- Liberdade (Japanese Quarter) and Bixiga (Italian Quarter)
- Theater Venues
- Theatro Municipal de São Paulo and Teatro Renault
- Local Markets
- Mercado Municipal Paulistano (Mercadão) and Benedito Calixto Antiques Fair
- Music Scene
- Casa do Mancha (Indie) or Blue Note São Paulo (Jazz)
- Street Art
- Beco do Batman (Batman’s Alley) in Vila Madalena
- Cooking Classes
- Escola Wilma Kövesi de Cozinha
- Art Galleries
- Galeria Choque Cultural and Nara Roesler
- Historic Buildings
- Farol Santander (Altino Arantes Building)
- Local Heritage
- Paulista Sunday (Avenida Paulista closed to cars, open for culture)
Nature and Outdoor Activities
- Nearby Nature Escapes
- Parque Ibirapuera (City's lung) and Cantareira State Park
- National Parks Nearby
- Itatiaia National Park (approx. 3.5 hours away)
- Cycling/Walking Paths
- Ciclofaixa de Lazer (Sunday bike lanes) and Minhocão (Elevated highway park)
- Scenic Viewpoints
- Pico do Jaraguá or the rooftop of Edifício Itália
- Birdwatching Locations
- Parque Villa-Lobos and Botanical Garden of São Paulo
- Bonfire-Friendly Spots
- Restricted in city limits; available in rural 'Airbnbs' in São Roque area
Other Services and Amenities
- Parcel Delivery Service
- Correios (Post Office) or Loggi (Fast courier)
- Tech Repair Services
- Rua Santa Ifigênia (The tech district of the city)
- Table Tennis Spots
- SP Ping Pong (various social clubs) and SESC centers
- Language Classes
- Aprenda Brasil (Portuguese for foreigners) or CCBA
- Libraries & Study Spots
- Biblioteca Mário de Andrade and Centro Cultural São Paulo (CCSP)
- Community Centers
- SESC Paulista or SESC Pompéia (Essential for arts/sports)
- Gaming Lounges
- X-Sampa E-sports and various board game cafes in Pinheiros
- Casino & Gaming Halls
- Casinos are illegal in Brazil; Bingo/Gaming halls are restricted
Business
- Studio Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 12,000 BRL per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 360,000 BRL)
- Studio Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 7,000 BRL per m² (e.g., 30 m² = 210,000 BRL)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 13,500 BRL per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 675,000 BRL)
- 1-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 8,000 BRL per m² (e.g., 50 m² = 400,000 BRL)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (City Center)
- Approx. 11,500 BRL per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 920,000 BRL)
- 2-Bedroom Purchase Price (Outside City)
- Approx. 6,500 BRL per m² (e.g., 80 m² = 520,000 BRL)
- Corporate Tax
- Standard 15% plus 10% surtax on income exceeding 240k BRL/year
- Dividend Withholding Tax
- Currently 0% (one of the few countries left, though reform is pending)
- Tax System
- Worldwide income basis for residents after 183 days
- Highest Income Tax Bracket
- 27.5%
- VAT
- Complex system (ICMS/IPI/PIS/COFINS) totaling approx. 25-35% on goods
- Controlled Foreign Company (CFC) Rules
- Yes, taxation of profits from foreign subsidiaries on an annual basis
- Property Tax
- IPTU (Annual), varies by location, approx. 1% of market value
- Property Transaction Tax
- ITBI, usually 3% of the transaction value in São Paulo
- Attractive Tax System for Digital Nomads
- Digital Nomad Visa available; 0% tax for the first 183 days if not tax resident