Florianópolis Ranks Among the World’s Top Nomad Hubs

FLORIANÓPOLIS · EXPATS

Florianópolis has landed among the world’s fastest-growing hubs for remote work, a new ranking shows, cementing the southern Brazil island as a magnet for digital nomads.

Where Florianópolis Landed

A new study from the Nomads platform, which tracks remote workers worldwide, ranks Florianópolis seventh among the fastest-growing destinations of 2026. The city is the only one from southern Brazil on the list.

São Paulo and Rio de Janeiro also feature.

The placement puts the island ahead of some well-known names. It ranked above Cancun in Mexico, Lima in Peru, Medellin in Colombia, Bangkok in Thailand and Lisbon in Portugal.

That is striking company for a city of its size.

The ranking measures growth, not absolute size. By total community, the platform places Florianópolis lower, around 57th worldwide.

The study draws on usage data rather than opinion surveys.

The Numbers Behind the Climb

The headline figure is a 96% rise in digital-nomad check-ins. That number covers the first five months of 2026 and may shift by year-end.

Even so, it marks a clear acceleration.

The recent trend has been bumpy before this jump. The platform recorded a 12% rise in 2025 and a small dip in 2024.

Over the five years to 2026, the city is up about 79%.

Local projections point higher still. A Florianópolis observatory that studies the trend expects the city to draw well over 10,000 remote workers a year by 2030.

It estimates a local economic impact in the range of R$1.5 billion, or roughly US$260 million, a year.

Why Foreigners Pick the Digital Nomad Island

Locals call it Floripa, and the draw is easy to see. The island offers dozens of beaches, a strong outdoor culture and a growing technology scene.

Newcomers find coworking spaces, cafes and a settled community of fellow remote workers.

It also reads as calmer than Brazil’s biggest cities. For foreigners who want Brazil without the full intensity of São Paulo or Rio, the island is a popular middle path.

Safety perceptions rank among its selling points.

The trade-off is scale. Florianópolis is not a major business center, and it has fewer international flights than the big hubs.

During the summer high season, traffic and prices can surprise new arrivals.

The Housing Squeeze

Fast growth has a cost. The clearest one is housing.

The local market has struggled to keep up with demand, and rents have climbed in the neighborhoods nomads favor most.

Areas such as Lagoa da Conceição, Campeche and Jurerê feel the pressure most. Some developers are now planning projects aimed specifically at this audience.

The wider question is whether housing and transport can keep pace with the inflow.

Frequently Asked Questions

How did Florianópolis rank?

A Nomads.com study placed it seventh among the fastest-growing remote-work hubs of 2026, the only southern Brazil city on the list. It ranked ahead of Cancun, Lima, Medellin, Bangkok and Lisbon.

What was the growth figure?

The study cited a 96% rise in digital-nomad check-ins over the first five months of 2026, a figure that may adjust by year-end. Over five years the city is up about 79%.

Why do remote workers choose it?

The island offers beaches, an outdoor culture, a growing tech scene and a settled nomad community, with a calmer feel than São Paulo or Rio. The trade-offs are limited scale and fewer international flights.

Is it getting expensive?

Rents have risen in the most popular beach neighborhoods, such as Lagoa da Conceição, Campeche and Jurerê, as demand outpaces supply. Some developers are now building with remote workers in mind.

How big could it get?

A local observatory expects the city to draw well over 10,000 remote workers a year by 2030, with an estimated economic impact of around R$1.5 billion, or roughly US$260 million, a year.

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For more on living in Brazil, see our reports on Brazil’s new online visa rules and the best places to live in Brazil for expats.