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City Profile

Santa Rita, Paraíba

Brazil · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

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55
Overall Score

Santa Rita, located in the state of Paraíba, Brazil, is a municipality within the Greater João Pessoa metropolitan area. With an estimated population of 162,571 in 2026, it is a growing city in the Northeast Region of Brazil. The city plays a significant role in the regional economy, particularly known for its agricultural sector, including sugar cane and ethanol production. Its strategic location, close to the state capital and the Porto de Cabedelo, also positions it as a hub for logistics and transportation.

Santa Rita is characterized by its blend of urban development and natural beauty, including the Engenho Gargaú Private Natural Heritage Reserve. The presence of Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport further enhances its connectivity. While offering a vibrant local culture, the city faces challenges related to safety, as indicated by recent reports on crime rates.

People are drawn to Santa Rita for its relatively affordable cost of living compared to larger Brazilian cities, its developing infrastructure, and its access to employment opportunities in key industries. The city's community vibe is influenced by its strong local identity and its proximity to the more bustling capital, João Pessoa, offering a balance between a quieter lifestyle and access to urban amenities.

About Paraíba

Paraíba is a northeastern Brazilian state known for its diverse landscapes, from Atlantic coastline to the semi-arid Borborema Plateau, and a rich cultural heritage influenced by indigenous, African, and Portuguese traditions. The economy is diversified, with major contributions from the service sector, industrial development in areas like clothing, agricultural machinery, and plastics, and agriculture producing sugar, pineapples, sisal, livestock, and hides. Living in Paraíba, particularly in its capital João Pessoa, generally offers a relaxed, coastal lifestyle with a tropical climate and year-round warm temperatures, and a lower cost of living compared to larger Brazilian cities.

162,571
Population
$6K
Avg Salary
30
Cost Index
54.8
Quality Score
How this 55/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 20 / 100 20.0 30% 6.0
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 30.0 100.0 25% 25.0
Economy & jobs Median household income: no usable reading Income needed to live here: $10,896 Unemployment rate: 5.97% 50.4 20% 10.1
Growth Population growth rate: 1.07% Job growth rate: no usable reading 51.8 15% 7.8
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 60 / 100 60.0 10% 6.0
Overall score 54.8

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 2 (reasoned) (q=68, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 14 September 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.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business
60
Livability
60
Affordability
85
Growth
65

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Santa Rita is notably lower than in many major global cities, making it an attractive option for those seeking affordability. A single person's monthly expenses, including rent, are estimated to be around $908 as of August 2026. Without rent, everyday expenses for a single person are approximately $528 per month, covering food, utilities, transportation, and some leisure activities.

Housing costs are a significant component of the overall expenses, with a one-bedroom apartment in the city center costing approximately $908 per month. Groceries for one person are estimated at around $223 per month, while a mid-range dinner for two is priced at about $33.00. Public transportation is also relatively inexpensive, with a monthly pass costing around $39.65. These figures suggest that Santa Rita offers a budget-friendly lifestyle, particularly when compared to the US average, with an estimated cost of living index of 30.

Average Rent
$908/mo
Groceries
$223/mo
Transport
$40/mo
Utilities
$100/mo
Healthcare
$100/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$30.00
Cinema ticket
$8.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$16.50
Monthly groceries
$223.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$75.00

Income

Salary Insights

Santa Rita's economy is primarily driven by its agricultural sector, with a strong emphasis on sugar cane cultivation and ethanol production. The Miriri Mill, a significant industrial player in the region, operates with a harvest in full swing during 2024-2025, highlighting the importance of this industry. The city's strategic location, including the Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport and its proximity to the Porto de Cabedelo, also supports a growing logistics and transportation sector.

While specific job growth rates for Santa Rita are not readily available, the national residential real estate market in Brazil is projected to grow at a 5.33% CAGR between 2026 and 2031, which could indirectly support construction and related employment in the region. The average net monthly salary in Santa Rita is approximately $494, which is below the estimated monthly living costs, indicating a challenging job market for some residents. The remote work scene in Santa Rita is not extensively documented, but the general trend in Brazil suggests a growing adoption of flexible work arrangements.

The average salary in Santa Rita is $5,928 per year. You would need approximately $10,896 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Retail Agriculture Logistics & Transportation Public Services Sugar Cane & Ethanol Production

Weather

Climate

🌡️
26°C
Avg Temp
☀️
28°C
Summer High
❄️
23°C
Winter Low
🌧️
35.30"
Annual Rain
💧
%
Humidity
🌤️
192
Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Getting around Santa Rita primarily involves a combination of public transit and private vehicles. The city is served by a municipal bus system, Sistema Municipal - Santa Rita (CMTRS), which operates 11 bus routes with 215 stops across João Pessoa and its surrounding areas, including Santa Rita. Additionally, train services are available, connecting Santa Rita to other parts of the region.

While specific walkability scores are not available, the presence of extensive bus routes and train lines suggests a degree of public transit accessibility. However, the average commute time and the level of car dependency are not explicitly documented for Santa Rita. The cost of a monthly public transport pass is approximately $39.65, making it an affordable option for daily commuting.

min
Avg Commute
/10
Transit Score
/10
Walkability
Medium
Car Dependency
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At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages
The cost of living in Santa Rita is relatively affordable, with monthly expenses for a single person, including rent, estimated at $908 as of August 2026.
The city benefits from a developing public transportation network, including bus and train services, making commuting accessible.
Santa Rita has a strong agricultural sector, particularly in sugar cane and ethanol production, providing local employment opportunities.
The presence of Presidente Castro Pinto International Airport enhances the city's connectivity and supports logistics.
The Engenho Gargaú Private Natural Heritage Reserve offers natural beauty and outdoor activities.
Drawbacks
Santa Rita was ranked as the ninth most violent city in Brazil in 2025, with a high rate of intentional violent deaths.
The average net monthly salary of $494 is below the estimated monthly living costs, indicating potential financial strain for residents.
The city's proximity to the Porto de Cabedelo and federal highways contributes to criminal activities and territorial disputes.
Specific, recent data for several key metrics like median household income, unemployment rate, and median age are not readily available for 2024 or later.
The housing market, while affordable, lacks detailed recent data on price trends for buying, making long-term investment planning less clear.

Head to Head

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Explore

Nearby Cities

João Pessoa
66
Sapé
66
Alagoa Grande
63
Solânea
66

Community Q&A

Questions about Santa Rita

What people ask about living in and moving to Santa Rita, Paraíba.

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Gathering the most common questions about Santa Rita…

FAQ

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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