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Águas Claras, Federal District

Brazil · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

77
Overall Score

Águas Claras is one of the most dynamic and rapidly developing administrative regions in the Federal District of Brazil, situated just southwest of Brasília. Conceived as a high-density vertical city, it features a striking skyline of modern high-rise residential towers surrounded by parks, wide avenues, and a vibrant street-level commercial culture. Originally established to alleviate housing pressures in the federal capital, Águas Claras has evolved into a premier destination for young professionals, families, and middle-to-upper-class residents seeking a sophisticated urban lifestyle. Its excellent urban planning, integration with the Brasília Metro, and active neighborhood associations make it one of the most sought-after urban centers in the region.

About Federal District

The Federal District, home to Brazil's capital Brasília, is a unique administrative region known for its modernist architecture and planned urban design. Its economy is primarily service-driven, with public administration, legal and legislative activities, education, and healthcare being major industries, contributing to one of the highest GDPs per capita in Brazil. Living in the Federal District generally entails a higher cost of living compared to other Brazilian cities, though it is considered a wealthy and safe city with a vibrant cultural scene. The climate is tropical savanna, characterized by a rainy season from October to April and a dry season from May to September, with temperatures moderated by its altitude.

175,000
Population
$24K
Avg Salary
48
Cost Index
76.8
Quality Score
How this 77/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 74 / 100 74.0 30% 22.2
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 48.0 100.0 25% 25.0
Economy & jobs Median household income: $28,000 Income needed to live here: $20,000 Unemployment rate: 6.5% 59.4 20% 11.9
Growth Population growth rate: 2.2% Job growth rate: 2% 70.0 15% 10.5
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 72 / 100 72.0 10% 7.2
Overall score 76.8

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 3 (deep think) (q=55, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 17 October 2026. They are researched estimates drawn from public sources, not a licensed data feed.

Each component is scored against fixed published endpoints, so this number is comparable with any other city and does not move as the dataset grows. Scoring framework 2026.10 — full methodology, weights and accepted ranges.

Businesses in Águas Claras

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Quality Scores

Business
72
Livability
79
Affordability
62
Growth
74

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Águas Claras is higher than the national Brazilian average, reflecting its status as an affluent and highly desirable satellite city within the Federal District. Housing and rental prices are the primary drivers of living expenses due to high demand for vertical living, modern amenities, and proximity to transit stations. However, everyday expenses such as local dining, services, and public transportation remain reasonably priced relative to major global metropolitan areas, offering good value for its high standard of infrastructure.

Average Rent
$550/mo
Groceries
$220/mo
Transport
$70/mo
Utilities
$85/mo
Healthcare
$120/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$35.00
Cinema ticket
$8.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$12.00
Monthly groceries
$220.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$60.00

Salary Insights

While many residents commute to the nearby Plano Piloto in Brasília for government, public administration, and corporate roles, Águas Claras boasts a thriving local economy driven by retail, professional services, healthcare, and education. The area has seen a notable surge in entrepreneurship, coworking spaces, and small businesses catering to its affluent and educated population. Remote work is also widely popular among residents employed in tech and consulting sectors across Brazil.

The average salary in Águas Claras is $24,000 per year. You would need approximately $20,000 to live comfortably.

Top Industries

Professional & Business Services +2.50% Retail & Commerce +2.00% Public Administration & Services +1.50% Construction & Real Estate +1.80% Education & Healthcare +2.20%

Climate

🌡️
22°C
Avg Temp
☀️
26°C
Summer High
❄️
18°C
Winter Low
🌧️
40.70"
Annual Rain
💧
65.00%
Humidity
🌤️
233
Sunny Days

Transport

Transportation is well-facilitated by multiple stations on the Metrô-DF network, connecting residents directly to Brasília's center in under 30 minutes. The city is designed with a grid system that accommodates both vehicle traffic and pedestrian footpaths, though peak-hour congestion on access highways toward the Plano Piloto remains a daily challenge. Walkability is notably high within the central commercial sectors near the metro lines.

35 min
Avg Commute
65.00/10
Transit Score
70.00/10
Walkability
Medium
Car Dependency

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Comprehensive metro connectivity providing direct, fast access to central Brasília
Abundant green space centered around the expansive Parque Ecológico de Águas Claras
High standard of urban safety and lower crime rates compared to regional averages
Thriving local gastronomy, coffee culture, and walkable commercial boulevards
Modern high-rise infrastructure featuring extensive residential amenities and security
Drawbacks
Significantly higher housing and rental costs compared to the Brazilian national average
Heavy commuter traffic congestion on highways connecting to Plano Piloto during rush hours
Limited single-family detached housing options due to high-density vertical zoning
Higher cost of services and dining relative to outer Federal District satellite cities
Ongoing urban densification increasing pressure on local parking and street infrastructure

Questions about Águas Claras

What people ask about living in and moving to Águas Claras, Federal District.

Gathering the most common questions about Águas Claras…

Frequently Asked Questions

The consumer market basket tracks everyday necessities, including staple grocery items (such as milk, bread, eggs, and produce), residential energy bills (electricity, gas, and water), public and private transit costs, routine outpatient medical care, and standard consumer goods and services to ensure a representative monthly budget.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Even in close geographic proximity, local tax jurisdictions, municipal utility rates, zoning laws, and micro-housing markets can create wide cost discrepancies. For example, a city with strict land-use regulations or higher local sales taxes will typically exhibit elevated housing and consumer goods costs compared to an adjacent county with looser zoning and lower tax burdens.

Local tax climates significantly shift a city's affordability score by directly affecting disposable income. Urblytica factors in state income tax brackets, local municipal property tax millage rates, and combined sales taxes to measure the true tax drag on median household earnings.

Core economic indexes and consumer price metrics undergo a comprehensive quarterly recalibration. This update cycle integrates the latest Consumer Price Index (CPI) releases, municipal utility rate adjustments, and regional housing data feeds to ensure all index comparisons reflect current economic conditions.

Housing is weighted as the single largest component in Urblytica's cost-of-living algorithm, typically accounting for roughly 30% to 35% of the composite score. It incorporates both median monthly gross rent and median single-family home purchase prices relative to local median income levels.

Normalization involves adjusting raw economic inputs against localized purchasing power parities (PPPs) and population-weighted density scales. This ensures fair, apples-to-apples comparisons between dense metropolitan hubs and smaller suburban or rural towns.

Utility indexing applies a rolling annual average that captures seasonal climate variations, such as increased summer air conditioning loads in southern climates or heavier winter heating demands in northern regions, providing a realistic year-round average utility expense.

Remote workers leverage the index to calculate real purchasing power parity when moving from a high-cost-of-living area to a lower-cost region. By comparing index differentials against their fixed salary, users can determine if their net savings and lifestyle quality will improve post-relocation.

While the raw Cost of Living Index measures pure expense levels, it is frequently paired with Urblytica’s local wage index and median household income benchmarks. This combined view highlights whether local salaries keep pace with local consumer goods and housing expenses.

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