Things I Wish I Knew Before Moving to Florianópolis

Sounds exactly like Vancouver BC in Canada.

300 days of brutal damp rain and/or gray clouds with 50 +/- days of incredible sunshine and amazing ambiance mixed in. I got transferred there by the bank I worked for, and in the second year I'd had enough. Sent my resignation letter to HR in year 2 and moved back to Calgary, where 300 days of brilliant sunshine was the norm. I actually heard from the area VP that they decided to 100% hire locally, and stop transferring people from other areas, because they were losing over 50% of their relocated staff in 18-24 months. This was before the internet, so, you only found out what it was like when you got there.

10/16/26 @HLOFam.  Thanks for this very insightful, detailed, evenhanded, and honest post.  I think that Southern Brazil often benefits from a "halo effect" when described by North American and European expats, by which the aspects of those states that they really like are allowed, often unconsciously, to obscure the aspects that they find less attractive.  You've made the effort to avoid that, and it shows.

Your practical advice (e.g., rent before you buy, spend a Winter before making a final decision, understand the neighborhoods etc.) is spot on.  Your "meta" advice, though, (e.g. weather affects your quality of life, the people around you matter more than you think, don't let safety concerns drive your decision etc.) is even better, and thoughtful observations like yours are all too rare.

The whole question of "safety" in Brazil is so overheated among both Brazilians and foreigners that it can be hard to talk about rationally.  Some objective facts:  1.  there ARE areas of most Brazilian cities (the natives know them and don't mind telling you -- ask any Uber driver) that are dangerous at least at night, and sometimes day or night; 2. there are some towns in almost every state -- not a lot, but more numerous than they should be -- that are mostly unsafe and should be avoided by anyone who doesn't need to go there; 3. it's possible to be in the wrong place at the wrong time anywhere, even somewhere that's usually pretty safe.  On the other hand, most Brazilian cities, and especially capital cities and those with many tourist attractions, are pretty safe in the areas where tourists and expats are most likely to go.  All of them have low crime neighborhoods as well as high crime neighborhoods.  And being aware of one's surroundings and not looking like an easy mark go a long way toward staying safe, especially in those places.  All of this is in support of your comments on keeping safety in proper perspective.

Thanks again for your insights.  I hope that you and your family won't give up on Brazil just yet, but try somewhere else.

I heard only good things about Joao Pessoa. Would love to hear experiences of people living there. I once lived in Rio but due to the constant watching over your shoulder, wouldn't want to move there again.

@abthree

10/17/26

Thanks for sharing your POV! I've read some of your posts here, and you're always so helpful to the expat community.

I was born in Rio and left in my 20s. After living in Florida for 20 years and then returning to Brazil (to the SOUTH... that is, lol), I'm experiencing reverse culture shock. I feel more American than Brazilian at this point, since I spent most of my adult life living in the US.

But I also think part of my culture shock comes from not really recognizing the South as "my country." Interestingly, a lot of Brazilians who move to the South don't feel at home here either. I was talking to an Uber driver yesterday who was from the Northeast, and I mentioned that I was having a hard time adapting to the reserved culture and the gloomy weather that lasts for so many months. He told me that he picks up a lot of Brazilians from other states who struggle to adapt here, too. I found that interesting!

I guess the point I was trying to make is that, while safety is important, it shouldn't be the MAIN factor when deciding where to live.

Especially for me, as a Carioca, I was hoping to return to Brazil and find those friendly faces and that warmth I remembered. Unfortunately, that hasn't been my experience here.

For example, someone who loves surfing and wants to move somewhere safe probably wouldn't be very happy in Brasília (which has been ranked as the second-safest city in Brazil in some studies). They might find it safe and the people friendly, but their main passion — surfing — would be missing because there's no ocean! 😂

I've learned the hard way how important it is to consider the climate and how approachable and friendly people are when choosing where to live. Even though I'm an introvert, I still miss social interaction, going out for coffee with my girlfriends, and those little everyday connections.

I wanted to share my experience here because Florianópolis is talked about SO much on social media, but I rarely see anyone discussing the reality of living here. I think I've only come across one YouTube video by an American who moved here and eventually left because he couldn't adapt. And he was from Minnesota! LOL.

Thanks for the encouragement, by the way. I won't give up on Brazil! 😊 I've been almost obsessively researching the Northeast and a few other cities. I have my eyes on a few neighborhoods in Natal and Maceió, and Aracaju is definitely on my radar, too. I'm also looking into Vila Velha, in Espírito Santo, because I like the Southeast, although I'm not sure it gets as much sunshine as the Northeast.

We already reenrolled our daughter in school here in Floripa, so we'll be staying for one more year.

The funny thing is that our 11-year-old is thriving here! She does great with cooler temperatures. Meanwhile, my husband and I are the ones struggling with the lack of sunshine. Go figure! 😂

Thanks again for your thoughtful response and encouragement!

@stevewaugh786

We've been to João Pessoa and didn't care much for it. Then we drove to Natal and it was much better. If you ever visit JP, I highly recommend you to see Natal too!

@hagece8690

10/17/26

Your description of Vancouver — “300 days of brutal damp rain and/or gray clouds with 50 +/- days of incredible sunshine” — pretty much sums up how I feel about Floripa!  Thanks for sharing your experience.

We lived in Florida before moving here, and we're learning the hard way that Southern Brazil feels completely different from the rest of the country, both culturally and climate-wise.

I think it's just a matter of time before we move to the Northeast or somewhere sunnier. Until then, taking trips to sunny places during the gray months is what's been helping us! ☀️

Vila Velha gets plenty of sun. Even on the days when it rains, usually brief, and the sun comes back out. Never gloomy!

This is why research is so important when moving to a new place/country or even town.

@HLOFam

People making the obnoxious and sappy travel influencer type content generally do it to market to an audience and profit, not to share realistic experiences.

It's good that you're honest with yourself about what works and doesn't for you. After over a year of traveling total in Brazil, I found that I wasn't comfortable moving anywhere as a new base without having ties to the country. I got really tired of certain things like public littering, slow customer service, constant loud noise among others on my last trip and am actually relieved to be back in Florida now. I think my priorities have changed in the last couple years and I value peace and quiet and cleanliness a lot more. Everyone is different so it's worth exploring whatever areas you're interested in.