Rio for a month or longer: housing, connectivity and daily life

At a glance

Housing: seasonal rentals and areas

When you live somewhere for weeks, the view matters less than a stable connection, a proper table to work at, air conditioning and quiet during the day. Ask about those before you book.

Brazil’s tenancy law, Law 8.245 of 1991, has a category for this. Article 48 defines a seasonal rental (locação para temporada) as one for temporary residence, for leisure, courses or similar reasons, agreed for no more than ninety days, furnished or not. For a furnished place the contract has to list the furniture and its condition. Article 49 lets the landlord collect the whole rent and charges at once, in advance. If you stay on for more than thirty days after the agreed term without the landlord objecting, article 50 says the rental becomes open-ended. Agree any extension in writing ahead of time.

Which area works depends on your day:

The full comparison is on where to stay in Rio. If you want options for your dates, see Rio accommodation.

Connectivity

Apartment Wi-Fi covers work at home, but you will want mobile data for calls outside and as a backup. Brazilian law requires every prepaid line to be registered, and Anatel says the line is not activated until registration is complete. The online route asks for a CPF, so visitors usually finish it at a carrier store with an ID. For a month or longer, a local number can still pay off: it is handy for calling restaurants and for receiving SMS codes from Brazilian apps. The alternatives are roaming or a travel eSIM. Details: Brazil SIM card and eSIM.

Coworking

If working from the apartment does not suit you, a coworking space is the usual alternative. Look for one near your accommodation, and ask which passes it offers (a day, a week, a month), what the hours are, whether there is a room for calls and how the air conditioning copes in summer.

Time difference with Europe and North America

Rio is on UTC-3 all year: Decree 9.772 of 2019 ended daylight saving time in Brazil. The gap with home changes only when your country moves its clocks.

A 9:00 start in London in winter is 6:00 in Rio, and in Berlin it is 5:00. A 9:00 call in New York during US standard time is 11:00 in Rio. If your team is in Europe, expect early mornings, and agree your working hours before you leave. More on Brazil’s four zones: Brazil time zone.

Everyday life

• Money: Cards are widely accepted in cities, restaurants and stores, according to the Government of Canada. Pix needs an account at a Brazilian institution, so keep a card and some cash. See money in Brazil.
• Getting around: The metro runs Monday to Saturday from 5:00 to midnight, and on Sundays and holidays from 7:00 to 23:00. You pay by tapping a contactless Visa, Mastercard or Elo card. After hours you need a taxi, a ride app or a driver. See getting around Rio.
• Health: For an ambulance call 192. For a fever or a toothache that is not an emergency, Brazil’s Ministry of Health points you to a posto de saúde or a UPA 24h. Mosquito protection matters all year. Vaccines and insurance: Brazil health tips.
• Safety advice: Official advisories and practical tips are in our Rio safety tips.

We do not arrange visas: the conditions are published by the consulate of Brazil, and our Brazil visa requirements page explains where to check them.

Before you go

1. Accommodation booked for the whole stay, with the owner’s terms and the extension rules in writing.
2. Stable Wi-Fi, a table to work at and air conditioning confirmed.
3. Mobile data sorted: roaming, a travel eSIM or a plan to register a Brazilian line.
4. Working hours agreed with your team, with the time difference in mind.
5. The route from Galeão airport planned for your arrival time.

What we take on. We find accommodation options for your dates and send them with what is included and the owner’s terms, then arrange your first days: an airport transfer, a private driver and a guide who speaks your language to show you the city. During the stay you have one contact on our team, and if something goes wrong we help on the ground (on-trip assistance). Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm.

Planning a few weeks or months in Rio? Write to us with your dates, the area or what has to be nearby, and your accommodation budget.