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Florianopolis
#94 of 124
South America

Florianopolis

Brazil

Salary & Cost of Living

View purchasing power ranking

How do salaries and expenses in Florianopolis compare to San Francisco?

Purchasing Power Comparison

An engineer in Florianopolis is 57% worse off vs in San Francisco

This shows how far a software engineer's salary goes in Florianopolis compared to San Francisco, taking into account both salary differences and cost of living.

Median Salary
$30,798
-$242K (-89%) vs San Francisco
Based on 2168 data points from levels.fyi
Net Salary
$20,635
-$152K (-88%) vs San Francisco
Tax Rate: 33%

Community Insights

New

Florianópolis, often dubbed "Silicon Island," presents a compelling mix of tech ecosystem and beach lifestyle, particularly for remote software engineers earning foreign currency. With a Cost of Living Rank of #13, your money goes very far here compared to US or European tech hubs. However, the trade-off comes in the form of infrastructure struggles, specifically grueling traffic and a housing market distorted by tourism. While it is safer than most Brazilian cities, it requires a willingness to adapt to a slower pace of life and learn Portuguese.

Resident Sentiment

Transplants generally love the quality of life, citing the unique combination of safety, nature, and tech community as a major draw. However, a common theme in discussions is the love-hate relationship with the island's logistics—residents adore the weekends on the beach but dread the weekday commute. Many suggest living close to where you work (or working from home) to mitigate the traffic "hell."

The Good

Living Environment

Weather•Safety•Pollution•Events

A quick look at climate, safety, pollution, and tech community compared to San Francisco.

Rankings

Cost of Living

Top 10%

#13

of 124 cities

25/100

Current value (lower is better)

Comfortable Weather

Middle of the pack

#43

of 124 cities

52/100 weather score

Current value

Pollution Score

Middle of the pack

#49

of 124 cities

40.6/100

Current value (lower is better)

Housing Affordability

View affordability ranking

How affordable is housing for a software engineer in Florianopolis compared to San Francisco?

Avg. Property Price
$2,131 / m²
79% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed property prices on Numbeo

Salary Converter

Enter your annual gross salary (before taxes) to see what you would need to earn in Florianopolis to maintain the same standard of living.

$

Do you have kids?

Cost of Living
72% cheaper than San Francisco
View detailed cost breakdown on Numbeo

Top Paying Companies in Florianopolis

Uber logo
Uber
Google logo
Google
Amazon logo
Amazon
Affordable Cost of Living: Ranked #13 globally for affordability, allowing a high quality of life for those earning foreign currency.
  • Silicon Island Tech Hub: Home to ACATE and a growing startup ecosystem, offering a strong community for tech workers.
  • Digital Nomad Friendly: High-speed internet (avg ~266 Mbps) and numerous coworking spaces cater specifically to remote workers.
  • Nature & Lifestyle: Unmatched access to 42 beaches, surfing, hiking trails, and a relaxed island vibe.
  • Safety: consistently ranked as one of the safest Brazilian capitals (Safety Index 53.7), though standard precautions still apply.
  • Climate: Pleasant subtropical weather with an average temperature of ~21°C, avoiding the extreme heat found further north.

    • The Bad

    • Nightmarish Traffic: The island's geography leads to severe bottlenecks; getting around can take hours, especially during the summer tourist season.
    • Low Local Salaries: Local compensation is significantly lower than São Paulo or international standards (Rank #107 globally for net income).
    • Language Barrier: English proficiency is estimated at only 10-15%; knowing Portuguese is essential for daily life outside the tech bubble.
    • Housing Market Seasonality: Finding annual rentals is difficult as landlords often prefer short-term vacation rentals at inflated summer prices.
    • Public Transport: often described as chaotic and unreliable, forcing dependence on cars or ride-sharing apps.
    • Summer Crowds: The population swells massively during holidays, straining infrastructure and services.

    The Verdict

    You'll love it if...

    Remote workers earning USD/EUR who value nature over big-city amenities will thrive here. It is ideal for surfers, outdoor enthusiasts, and senior engineers looking for a safer, relaxed environment to raise a family or decompress while maintaining a high savings rate.

    Skip it if...

    Junior engineers relying on the local job market will struggle with low purchasing power. People who get stressed by traffic jams or those who expect a fully English-speaking environment like Berlin or Amsterdam should avoid it. If you need the fast-paced efficiency of a major metropolis, the "island time" mentality might be frustrating.

    Updated 11/29/2025

    Weather5.2/10-40% vs San Francisco
    Safety54+36%
    Pollution41-18%
    Events0-100%
    5.2/10TechCities weather score vs 8.7/10 in San Francisco

    0–10 composite (higher is better) combining temperature comfort, sunshine hours, rainy-day count, and humid days. See methodology for weighting and data sources.

    Weather snapshot

    Average High
    25°C(vs 19°C in San Francisco)
    Average Low
    18°C(vs 12°C in San Francisco)
    Sunshine Hours
    2,020h/yr-1042h/yr(-34%)
    Hottest Month High
    29°C(vs 22°C in San Francisco)
    Coldest Month Low
    14°C(vs 8°C in San Francisco)
    Rainy Days
    143/yr+95/yr(+195%)

    Community & Quality

    Florianopolis community pulse

    Florianopolis has 0 Luma events listed.

    100% fewer events than San Francisco.

    Home Affordability

    Middle of the pack

    #63

    of 124 cities

    ≈8.3 yrs to buy 80m²

    Current value

    Safety Index

    Middle of the pack

    #66

    of 124 cities

    53.6/100

    Current value

    Tax Rate

    Middle of the pack

    #77

    of 124 cities

    33%

    Current value (lower is better)

    Community Events

    Bottom 29%

    #89

    of 124 cities

    0 events on luma

    Current value

    Purchasing Power

    Bottom 25%

    #94

    of 124 cities

    Net Income

    Bottom 14%

    #108

    of 124 cities

    $20,635/yr

    Current value

    SWE Affordability
    8.3 years
    3.6 years longer than San Francisco
    Muggy Days
    172/yr+172/yr(+86050%)
    Cloud Cover
    44%(vs 34% in San Francisco)