The capital of Ceará, Fortaleza, ranks as the best place to retire in Brazil. The city beats other hot spots, including Florianopolis, Salvador and Sao Paulo, when it comes to a golden years’ way of life. According to the ranking, Fortaleza stands out for its “classy beachfront lifestyle, rich culture and high quality of life”. In addition, the state capital offers an affordable cost of living.
Best place to retire in Brazil
The coastal city of Fortaleza obtains the highest score for retirement, according to a recent survey by Insider Monkey. As reported in Yahoo!finance, Fortaleza ticks more boxes for retirees than any other city in Brazil, including the country’s largest, Sao Paulo and Rio de Janeiro.
Insider Monkey bases their ranking on eight criteria. They include affordability, property prices, exchange rate and popularity among expats. As a result, Fortaleza takes first place with an overall score of seven.
Stand-out city and climate
The report highlights two aspects of Fortaleza that make it the best place to retire in Brazil. The first is its “classy beachfront lifestyle”, enhanced by its many resorts, parks and nightclubs. In addition, Fortaleza offers a pleasant climate year-round.
Culinary delights
Insider Monkey also underlines Fortaleza’s gastronomic attractions. It says the local delicacies and fresh produce make for “an overall diverse culinary scene”.
Affordable living costs
Fortaleza stands out for its affordability, too. According to the report, a single retiree can expect to spend around US$210 on a 1-bedroom rental apartment and US$730 on monthly living costs.
Total living costs are therefore considerably below the minimum required by the Brazil retirement visa. Under the visa’s regulations, expats must show a monthly income of at least US$2,000. However, expats can also obtain residency through the Brazilian investment visa.
Other top places to retire in Brazil
Fortaleza received the highest mark in the country. Curitiba stood in second place, with an overall score of six. The other destinations in the top five were Foz do Iguacu, Salvador and Sao Paulo.
Fortaleza also top in Latin America
As well as being the best place to retire in Brazil, Fortaleza also ranks among the top destinations in Latin America. In May this year, US News placed Fortaleza in second place on the continent, second only to Cuenca in Ecuador.
According to the article’s author, Fortaleza stands out for its “sophisticated beachfront living, chic city neighborhoods and colorful historic center”. The city’s standard of services and amenities is reported as excellent. In addition, the favourable dollar-real exchange rates offer bargain cost of living and property prices.
(Sources: Yahoo!finance, US News)
