Looking for American Expats in Brazil?

Thinking about moving to Brazil as an American? These pros and cons come from the InterNations Expat Insider 2026 survey, in which thousands of expats around the world share what they like and don't like about life abroad each year. The points below reflect what an American expats in Brazil wrote in their own words, backed up by survey percentages from all expats living there.

• People are warm and welcoming. Friendliness is a constant theme — 77% of expats in Brazil rate locals as friendly, 84% feel welcome, and 68% say making local friends is easy (vs. 39% globally).

• The nature and weather are spectacular. Beaches, landscapes, and a warm climate stand out: 95% rate the natural environment positively and 76% rate the climate and weather positively.

• The food and culture are a joy. Cuisine, music, and a lively social scene draw praise, with 90% rating culinary variety and 81% rating culture and nightlife positively.

• Life feels relaxed and social. Americans describe an easygoing, people-first rhythm that's easy to slip into.

• Safety is the biggest concern. Crime and personal security dominate the complaints, and 53% of expats in Brazil rate personal safety positively — well below the global average of 81%.

• Corruption and politics frustrate. These come up more than anything else, and political stability rates just 42% (vs. 58% globally).

• The language is essential. Only 23% of expats in Brazil find it easy to get by without Portuguese, against 48% globally.

• Getting around can be hard. Public transport rates 66% and getting around on foot or by bike just 44%, so a car is often needed.

For Americans, Brazil offers warmth, stunning nature, great food, and a social life that comes easily. The trade-offs are safety, corruption, and the need to learn Portuguese. If the people and the landscape matter more to you than convenience or security, it's a place many come to love.

Every year, we publish one of the biggest global surveys for expats — Expat Insider — where we ask people living around the world about every aspect of expat life. We’ve rounded up key facts about the typical American expat: what motivated them to move to a new country, what they enjoy about life abroad, as well as what they struggle with the most.

Of course, expat living in Brazil is not just about shipping your belongings and filing in some bureaucratic papers. Regular socializing with fellow Americans is an essential part of expat life and helps getting accustomed to the Brazilian way of life and mentality. InterNations helps you connect and meet up with other Americans in Brazil, residing in Brasilia, Rio de Janeiro, São Paulo and many other places throughout the country. Just take a look at our group of Americans in São Paulo or Americans in Rio de Janeiro.

• Look up our top quality network to get to know open-minded expats from the United States of America in Brazil.
• Obtain and share insider tips in our Brazil Expat Forums – e.g. how to hire a babysitter fluent in your native tongue for your children or where to get stuffed turkey in Rio de Janeiro.
• Search the InterNations Places database for Brazil to get information on institutions from your home country, including the American embassy.

From the strongly urbanized south-east to the Federal District, we’ll help you connect with supportive and friendly American expats in Brazil.

Moreover, please feel free to attend our regular expat events and activities in Brazil. Our get-togethers are very diverse and range from a cozy gathering to enjoy the traditional Brazilian feijoada, to big expat celebrations with hundreds of participants in Brasilia’s best locations. You can also participate in one of our expat trips to go and see Sampa's cosmopolitan Centro Histórico as well as other beautiful landmarks in Brazil.

Our meet-ups and activities are a great opportunity to mingle with expats from the United States of America and various other countries in a casual setting. Interested? Just sign up and you’ll soon be receiving a cordial Hello from our Americans living in Brazil!