Living in Florianópolis

Doing the math on wages

The average formal-sector wage in Florianópolis is US$ 1,242 (R$ 6,312), the highest among the 14 cities. Even so, rent on a 70 m² apartment takes about 60% of that wage. Put another way: the average wage pays for 116 m² of rent in Florianópolis, versus 141 m² in Jaraguá do Sul and 56 m² in Balneário Camboriú.

Compared with Jaraguá do Sul, rent per m² is 68% higher and the purchase price per m² is 96% higher.

Water and sewage (CASAN)

CASAN charges a fixed fee of US$ 9.12 (R$ 46.34) a month plus US$ 0.61 (R$ 3.08) per m³ up to 10 m³. With 10 m³ in a month, water alone comes to about US$ 15.18 (R$ 77.14). Where there is a sewer network, the sewage charge is 100% of the water charge, and the bill goes above US$ 30.35 (R$ 154) (estimate). In Jaraguá do Sul, the same 10 m³ of water costs US$ 9.27 (R$ 47.11).

The rent extremes

The highest average listed rent was in Morro das Pedras: US$ 17.63 (R$ 89.60) per m², or about US$ 1,234 (R$ 6,272) for a 70 m² apartment. The lowest was in Canto: US$ 7.99 (R$ 40.60) per m², about US$ 559 (R$ 2,842) for the same 70 m². The gap between the two is 121%.

Most expensive to rent: Morro das Pedras (US$ 17.63 (R$ 89.60)), Cacupé (US$ 16.35 (R$ 83.10)), Jurerê (US$ 14.52 (R$ 73.80)), Campeche (US$ 13.48 (R$ 68.50)), Agronômica (US$ 13.14 (R$ 66.80)). Most affordable: Canto (US$ 7.99 (R$ 40.60)), Ingleses (US$ 8.09 (R$ 41.10)), Capoeiras (US$ 8.13 (R$ 41.30)), Balneário (US$ 8.26 (R$ 42.00)), Abraão (US$ 8.40 (R$ 42.70)).

Where there is the most supply

The neighborhoods with the most apartment rental listings were: Centro (527 listings, US$ 11.80 (R$ 60.00) per m²), Ingleses (266 listings, US$ 8.09 (R$ 41.10) per m²), Itacorubi (196 listings, US$ 10.41 (R$ 52.90) per m²), Trindade (192 listings, US$ 10.72 (R$ 54.50) per m²), Campeche (184 listings, US$ 13.48 (R$ 68.50) per m²). More listings usually mean more options to choose from and a more reliable average.

For buying, the most expensive listed price per square meter was in Jurerê (US$ 4,131 (R$ 20,994)) and the cheapest in Rio Vermelho (US$ 1,672 (R$ 8,500)), among neighborhoods with at least 15 for-sale listings.

Homicides

In 2024, Florianópolis had an estimated rate of 9.7 homicides per 100,000 residents. Among the 14 cities in SC with more than 100,000 residents, 9 had a lower rate (Camboriú had the same rate). For comparison: Jaraguá do Sul had 2.0 and neighboring São José 10.0.

Average formal-sector wage

US$ 1,242 (R$ 6,312.50) a month in 2024, the highest among the 14 cities and above the Santa Catarina average (US$ 758 (R$ 3,852.97)). It is the average of all formal private-sector and public-sector jobs in the city, not the pay for a typical opening.

Jobs and tech

In 2025, Florianópolis created 6,257 more formal jobs than it lost, the largest net gain in Santa Catarina, and reached about 231.7 thousand formal jobs. The tech sector accounted for 21% of the city's GDP in 2025, with US$ 2,754.5 million (R$ 14,000,000,000) in revenue and 44.8 thousand formal jobs, according to the ACATE observatory together with City Hall.

Health indicators

Infant mortality: 7.2 per 1,000 live births (2022 to 2025 average), the 2nd lowest among the 14 cities. Sewage: 55.2% of residents connected to the sewer network, the 3rd lowest share among the 14.

Humid all year round

According to INMET's climate normals (1991–2020), the average annual temperature is 21.1 °C. February has an average high of 29.5 °C and July an average low of 12.9 °C. It rains about 1,766 mm a year: January is the wettest month (241.3 mm) and June the driest (86.3 mm). Average relative humidity is 79.9%: people coming from dry places tend to notice it in mold and the damp winter.

100 beaches by law

People often talk about "42 beaches," but Municipal Law No. 5,847 of 2001 made 100 beaches in Florianópolis official, counting the island, the lagoons and the mainland part.

Not every beach is safe for swimming all the time. Beach water quality changes every week: check IMA's current report before you go.

Buses

A fare costs US$ 1.22 (R$ 6.20) with the resident card and US$ 1.42 (R$ 7.20) with the tourist card or the employer transit pass (vale-transporte). Since Jan 5, 2026, city buses no longer accept cash on board. With Pix, QR code or cash (cash only at terminal ticket booths), the fare is US$ 1.51 (R$ 7.70). The express (executivo) bus costs US$ 3.93 (R$ 20).

Airport

Hercílio Luz airport was named the best airport in Brazil for the 6th year in a row, with a passenger rating of 4.75 out of 5 in the 2025 evaluation (Aviação + Brasil award, from the federal government).

Water outages

On Aug 31, 2026, after heavy rain, a water main broke in Palhoça. It carries about 70% of the water treated at the Cubatão plant to Florianópolis, São José, Palhoça and Biguaçu. Some neighborhoods went up to 5 days without water. Before renting, ask whether the building has a water tank with reserve capacity.

Landslides and flooding

The Natureza ON platform map identifies 53.88 hectares at risk of landslides in the city, 56% of them at a very high level, notably in the José Mendes neighborhood. Another 28 hectares are subject to street flooding; João Paulo is among the neighborhoods named.

Florianópolis Civil Defense · SC Civil Defense (SMS alerts: text your CEP (Brazilian ZIP code) to 40199).