The pandemic provided the missing impetus for a trend that has become a lifestyle: digital nomadism.
The model, which involves living and working without a permanent residence while traveling the world, is not new.
Still, it has attracted more travelers to Brazil since the country began offering the possibility of a visa for digital nomads.
When foreigners search for a place in Brazil to stay “for a few weeks or months,” one city stands out among the adepts of nomadism and doesn’t seem to deter candidates, despite being one of the most expensive in the South American country.
According to a report on the BBC Travel website, Rio de Janeiro is one of the most attractive places to settle down because it is still affordable compared to other European and American world metropolises, especially with the current exchange rates.
Rio was described as “cheap” by foreigners interviewed by the BBC, especially those arriving with dollars or euros – stronger currencies than the real – suffering less from the devaluation reflexes of inflation.
“In Brazil, you get a lot with your money, especially if you have euros and dollars,” said Jack Krier, a YouTuber and content creator from Luxembourg who spent two months working in Brazil.
“I could never live on the beach in Australia like I do here. And [Ipanema] is one of the best beaches in the world,” affirmed Dan Hobbs, an Australian café owner in Ipanema.
To enter Brazil as a digital nomad, one must prove employment and earn at least US$1,500 per month (the federal wage floor in the United States, where that figure has been US$7.25 per hour or $US1,160 per month since 2009) or have US$18,000 in savings.
The amounts required here represent some of the lowest proof of income compared to the 43 other countries that offer this type of entry.
The Digital Nomad permit, introduced in Brazil in January 2022, allows foreigners to keep their current job in another country while in Brazil for up to a year, with the option to extend for another 12 months.
Although the city under the Sugar Loaf is expensive in price levels, visitors can handle prices better than Brazilians, explains economist André Braz.
“Foreigners come here knowing that the price level is higher because it is a tourist destination, especially in the areas most frequented by visitors, such as the beaches in the South Zone,” he explains.
“The products sold in these areas are considered services that add several layers of logistics and labor to their final offer.”
“But it’s something they can afford.”
“Finally, the natural and environmental attractions make up for it compared to other equally expensive cities in the world,” adds the coordinator of the Consumer Price Index (IPC) of the Brazilian Economic Institute of the Getulio Vargas Foundation (FGV Ibre).
Another point in favor of attracting foreigners to the wonderful city, according to Braz, is the easy access to other coastal cities in the state, with lower price ranges.