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It’s been officially one whole month since Ragz and I arrived in Rio!
This past month absolutely flew by and in this episode, we’ll be reflecting on my time in two of Brazil’s most iconic destinations: Rio de Janeiro and Florianópolis, also known as Floripa.
This podcast was actually born in Floripa (check out the first ever episode here!) when we spent nine, almost ten months there during the pandemic.
I would say I’m pretty familiar with the whole island and currently I’m obviously really learning my ropes around here in Rio. They are both fantastic cities. They’re both uniquely different.
I’ve been getting a few questions about which one I like better and which one I would recommend to travelers and digital nomads, whether you’re visiting or looking to relocate.
So if you are just curious about how life is in Brazil as a foreigner, or if you’re planning to visit, or want to visit, I will be breaking down my experiences to help you decide which city might suit you better.
The Decision to Move
Obviously, the city you might prefer is totally dependent on your preferences, but I would also say it really depends on the chapter in your life you’re in right now, plus how long you plan to stay for.
So back then, when I wasn’t pregnant, I really knew I wanted to focus on my surfing. I didn’t care if I was near a big city and I was just in a phase of my life where I wanted to travel and see the world and we entered Florianopolis before the pandemic and I had plans to go all over Brazil.
Now, when I choose a destination, it’s very intentional. I know I’m going to stay for at least a few months.
And so ask yourself are you going to stay for a few months or are you planning to bounce around? That’s really going to help you with your decision.
Why I Chose Rio de Janeiro
If you aren’t aware already, I am currently 33 weeks pregnant! So the baby is coming in less than two months, which is insane.
We initially thought about going back to Florianopolis to give birth, that was the original plan. But after researching maternity hospitals, we realized the medical facilities there just weren’t as advanced as those in big cities like Sao Paulo and Rio.
However, I will note here that for anyone listening who might be interested in giving birth in Brazil in the future, there is a huge, huge home birth movement in Florianopolis or natural birth movement. So if that’s something that you want to look into, maybe Florianopolis is the better option.
But I knew that I wanted a c section. I knew I wanted to be in a hospital. So we were looking at bigger cities like Sao Paulo and Rio.
And so for this part of my pregnancy journey, We chose Rio, a big city with excellent medical facilities and being close to the beach. So it was like the best of both worlds.
We’re planning to stay here for at least another three, four, five months, depending on how I feel after birth. The plan is to still fly back to Florianopolis for at least a few weeks, but we will cross that bridge when we get there.
The other thing I want to mention is because Rio is such a big, big city, we are not staying in Zona Sul, which is the city center where all the tourist attractions are located, where all of the really crowded and famous beaches like Copacabana, Ipanema are, Christ the Redeemer, like all of that, that’s all in Zona Sul. The city center zone.
We are 45 minutes an hour away driving and it’s more local. I would say it’s more residential. It’s farther from the tourist center and it’s just more beautiful. In my opinion, it’s less hectic.
We’re able to walk on the beach without bumping into, like a ton of tourists and it’s just perfect for the stage of life that we are in right now.
As you can tell by now, it truly depends on what you are looking for at this stage, whether it’s nightlife, carnival, partying, or if you just want to chill and surf by the beach, if you want a relaxed vacation, if you are planning to stay for a few weeks or months and you have the time to explore, really get to know where you are at and Use where I’m at to make that decision, right?
Like I’m currently pregnant. So note that my experiences might not even be applicable.
But with all of that being said let’s break down the main differences that i’ve noticed from experience from spending my time here over the past five years and from just what I know about these two places. I have eight categories that we are going to go through and the first is going to be the overall vibe.
Overall Vibe
How would I describe The main difference between Rio de Janeiro and Florianopolis. Rio is a massive city, so it has something for everyone. Think about it like Los Angeles.
Whether you’re an introvert looking to live quietly by the beach, or if you want to immerse yourself in the biggest party in the world during Carnaval, which is happening when the baby is born.
Rio De Janeiro
So Rio Carnival is massive and if you can get tickets to the Sambadrome and watch the parades of all of these dancers and floats that go on until eight in the morning, that is all here.
I know when you first think of Rio, maybe you think of Christ the Redeemer and Copacabana, but it’s so much bigger than that.That’s basically like saying if you think of New York City and you just think of the Empire State Building, it is just a huge, huge city. So I really think that you can find something for everyone.
Florianopolis
However, on the other hand, Florianopolis is much more relaxed and beach focused and less city hustle culture. It is more ideal for. peaceful, quiet, chilling, surfing, and enjoying nature.
So if that is the pace you are looking for, then it might be better suited for you. That’s not to say there’s no nightlife because there is a city in Floripa. It’s just not going to be as wild or crazy as a bigger city. But if that’s what you are prioritizing, then maybe Florianopolis is better for you.
I would think of it more as city life versus island life. Keep in mind that the population in Rio is around like 6 million people and the population on Floripa, which is an island in itself, it’s around 500,000.
So even the scale of numbers, Rio is just a much, much bigger city.
Cost Of Living
This (obviously) really varies depending on where you stay.
Rio De Janeiro
I think in any major city, you can find a wider range.
The more central you go in Rio, so the Zona Sul area where Leblon, Ipanema, Copacabana, where that is, it’s going to be pricier. But you can also go like on the lower end so you can stay at hostels. There’s many like homestays and just cheaper options in those areas.
But then you also have like penthouses and beachfront properties, right? It really varies, and I think you can find something that suits everyone.
Florianopolis
In Florianópolis, it is located in one of the wealthier states in Brazil, but the prices are still very affordable. You can find more options that are near the beach that feel luxurious, whereas I feel like if you are using the same budget in Rio, you might be further away from the beach.
Both cities can fit different budgets if you plan wisely.
Public Transport
I would also say the major difference in the cost of living is in Rio because you are able to get by without a car. There’s public transportation, there’s subways, there’s buses.
In Floripa, the public transportation isn’t as reliable and you’re definitely going to need a car if you plan to go surfing.
So factor that into the cost. It’s definitely a less walkable city in Florianopolis. That’s not to say it’s impossible to get by without public transportation, but it is a lot more hassle.
Beaches
So both cities have incredible beaches, but they are very different.
Rio De Janeiro
I would say Rio’s beaches are more accessible within the city because it’s City and then beach. They tend to get better the further out you go.
A few weeks ago we went into Copacabana and the beach was very crowded. The water was kind of brown and I didn’t know if it was a runoff from the city.
But the farther out you get from Zona Sul, the water becomes like crystal clear blue and there’s so much more to explore around Rio as well. There’s places that are named like the Caribbean of Brazil and it’s just insanely clear waters.
In places like Recreio and Barra da Tijuca, they have gorgeous like miles long strips of beach that are far less crowded.
Florianopolis
However, in Florianopolis, the beaches are all pristine. (Check out my top 5 here!) I don’t think I’ve gone to any like dirty beach at all. They often have bluer waters.
So from what I remember, every single beach in Florianopolis is just blue and clean and it’s really beautiful. Palm trees. There’s no really like massive city right on the beach. It feels more untouched.
So I would say for beaches Florianopolis definitely wins on that one. So if you are looking for more of a beach vacation, Florianopolis might be right for you.
Internet
This is another major factor if you are a digital nomad or working online. Luckily, both cities have super fast Wi Fi and Airbnbs tend to have really fast Wi Fi as well.
The Airbnb that I’m staying right now in, it goes up to 300 mbps, upload and download. In Florianopolis even during COVID, I was connected most of the time.
In both cities, we have found coworking spaces. So they have even more fast and reliable internet. You can work from almost anywhere, even on the beaches. Most of them are super connected. So you can hotspot.
So connectivity is definitely not an issue in more remote places in Brazil. It can be, but definitely not in Rio or Floripa.
Surfing
Florianopolis
I would say surfing is more consistent in Floripa thanks to its location and just how many more beaches there are. It is an island so if you think about the surf like you can kind of find a little beach that you can surf at no matter what the wind and swell directions are.
Rio De Janerio
Rio has amazing surf spots. Especially further out from the city center. Again, like you can surf in the city, but it’s definitely better the farther out you go.
But because it’s one strip of land and not an island, it really depends on whether you get lucky for the day or whether you have to travel down to a farther beach to find more waves. And then in that case, you’re definitely going to need a car.
So if you are on a surf trip, then I would also say Florianopolis might be a little bit better for surfing.
Food
Rio De Janeiro
In the food and dining category Rio wins for sure. They win for variety with countless restaurants from Brazilian food to international cuisine.
You’re definitely going to find more. city vibe restaurants where you can have rooftops and Michelin star restaurants, but then you can also find like street food.
Florianopolis
However in Floripa, it is also amazing food, especially for seafood. I think Florianopolis is like one of the biggest exporters of oysters.
So if you love seafood and oysters and just fresh dishes, like prepared right in front of you from the day’s catch, then you will be spoiled in Floripa.
But for the variety, I would say Rio just because it is a big city. They also have Uber Eats and iFood, so you can also get food delivered in both places.
If you just do a quick google search, like every establishment here, has either Instagram or Google so you can see reviews. And what I love about Brazil in general is like everyone uses WhatsApp. You can contact doctors and restaurants and like government officials using WhatsApp and it’s just a lot more convenient to find out information about opening hours or getting reservations.
Nightlife
Next, we have nightlife, and nightlife, hands down, no brainer, Rio is the party capital.
Rio De Janeiro
The nightlife here, every single day, there’s something going on, and right now it’s January, carnival starts in end of February, beginning of March. There are parties going on every single day already.
They’re called blocos and people are starting their carnival partying two months in advance. There are so many options for nightlife too, whether it’s like samba, or a trendy bar, or a beach party, Rio. is the party capital. Floriba has fun nightlife too, and a few years ago we spent carnival there.
And it’s more like street party, day drinking, and it’s more laid back. It’s definitely not like intense. Go there to party kind of vibe. So if that’s the chapter of life that you are in, if you want to meet new people, if you want to go bar hopping, then Rio is definitely better for you.\
Safety
And then the last point that I’ve been getting asked about a lot that I want to touch on is safety.
Florianopolis
So overall, I would say Florianopolis feels safer walking around at night as like a solo female, not an issue.
Rio De Janeiro
But Rio, the safety can vary by neighborhood. So you really have to be like aware of where you are walking to because there are sketchy parts as with any city, there’s sketchy parts of the city.
You really just have to be a little more aware and use your common sense. I feel like in Rio, you don’t want to stick out as a tourist. So if you just use your common sense and you don’t make yourself a target, you are less likely to end up in those. dangerous situations.
But let’s say you want to party, you’re like really blackout drunk and you’re like asking people for drugs. That’s where the danger comes in as in any other cities.
So even as a traveler, just use your common sense. And I really think Rio is one of those cities where if you Google or read the news, you’re only going to find the bad things, but there are so many great things about this city and most people are not in danger.
So I personally don’t feel like safety is an issue, especially because we’re also staying like outside of the city. But my friends who have spent New Year’s here, carnival here, use your common sense and it’s just such a fun place to be.
Safety Tips
- Don’t bring expensive things out with you. Don’t flash around your iPhone or like I didn’t bring my engagement ring here. And we are really careful when we go out shooting with our cameras and stuff.
- Number two is depending on Which neighborhood, which beach you’re at don’t leave your bags or valuables unattended on the beach unless you are further out and you’re not in the city center.
- Number three is try to dress like locals. I’ve just noticed that most people here, they live in bikinis or they live in tank tops. So don’t make yourself a target by having like, Long knee high socks with sneakers on the beach. Try to fit in. And it always helps to learn a bit of the language. So if you’re just babbling really loudly in American English, people are going to notice.
Thankfully because of all of the places Ragz and I have traveled to, we’ve never felt like any of these are issues. We’re always just very aware and cautious, and it’s not like now we’re getting drunk every single night. So it’s been pretty laid back, honestly. We go to the beach every day, we have our co working space, we go to the gym, and we have a really solid routine down.
We’ve made amazing friends here. We haven’t heard of any horror stories.
The Final Verdict
And so that has been my experience in both cities, even though I’ve always loved how relaxed Florianopolis is.
Right now, I am just loving Rio because of being in my third trimester. It really has felt like the perfect decision for us. The medical care, the beautiful beaches, the vibrant energy, being so close to the center, but also being at the beach and being able to walk to the beach every day. It’s just been absolutely perfect.
Tijuca area has really felt like the best of both worlds, and this is where I’ve been able to meet a lot of other expats who also have young children, and so it just feels really aligned at this time.
Honestly, I cannot wait to return to Floripa when the time is right. But for now, Rio is home. My parents and my younger brother, they’re visiting next month.
If you are deciding between Florianopolis and Rio, it truly just depends on what you’re looking for. Are you in the mood for vibrant city life and parties, or are you craving peace and surfing and quiet beaches?
Both are truly amazing in their own ways, and I just feel so lucky that I’m able to spend so much time. In both. If you have any questions, I’m always more than happy to answer on Instagram.
And if you’ve enjoyed this episode, don’t forget to leave a review on Spotify or Apple Podcasts and follow me at @thewanderlover or @thewanderloverpodcast. I will see you guys in the next episode and have an amazing week, my loves!
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