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Abreu e Lima, Pernambuco

Brazil · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

58
Overall Score

Abreu e Lima is a Brazilian municipality located in the state of Pernambuco, forming part of the Metropolitan Region of Recife. Situated approximately 19 km from the state capital, Recife, the city holds historical significance, with its origins tracing back to the Sesmaria de Jaguaribe in 1540. The municipality was formerly known as 'Maricota' before being renamed in honor of José Inácio de Abreu e Lima. The city is characterized by a blend of urban and rural areas, with a significant portion of its territory covered by Atlantic Forest and environmental reserves. Abreu e Lima serves as a regional hub, attracting visitors primarily through its diverse commercial offerings.

About Pernambuco

Pernambuco is a state in northeastern Brazil known for its vibrant culture and historical significance, with its capital, Recife, often called the "Venice of Brazil" due to its waterways. The economy is diverse, with major industries including food production, automotive, shipbuilding, oil refining, chemicals, pharmaceuticals, textiles, and tourism, alongside its historical agricultural roots in sugarcane. The climate is generally hot and humid, especially in the coastal areas, and living costs in Recife are considered affordable compared to larger Brazilian cities like São Paulo or Rio de Janeiro, allowing for a comfortable lifestyle centered around family, beaches, and local cuisine.

104,824
Population
$6K
Avg Salary
45
Cost Index
57.7
Quality Score
How this 58/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 45 / 100 45.0 30% 13.5
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 45.0 100.0 25% 25.0
Economy & jobs Median household income: $8,000 Income needed to live here: $7,000 Unemployment rate: 9.5% 24.6 20% 4.9
Growth Population growth rate: 0.55% Job growth rate: 2.26% 52.0 15% 7.8
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 65 / 100 65.0 10% 6.5
Overall score 57.7

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (Tier 2 (reasoned), q=70), last refreshed 8 August 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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Quality Scores

Business
65
Livability
62
Affordability
75
Growth
68

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Abreu e Lima is generally considered lower than the national average in Brazil, which is reflected in the city's average salary being below the national GDP per capita. While specific, recent data for average rent is not consistently available, historical data suggests relatively low housing costs compared to larger urban centers. Essential services and goods, such as public transportation and basic groceries, are also priced affordably. However, the lack of comprehensive, up-to-date cost data makes a precise comparison challenging. The local economy's structure, with a significant portion of the workforce in formal employment earning a modest average salary, contributes to the overall lower cost environment.

Groceries
$250/mo
Transport
$40/mo
Utilities
$60/mo
Monthly groceries
$250.00
Monthly transit pass
$40.00
Electricity + internet (monthly)
$60.00

Salary Insights

Abreu e Lima's economy is primarily driven by the services sector, followed by industry and agriculture. The city boasts a varied commercial landscape and a growing industrial park, which includes multinational companies in sectors like animal feed, mortar, and cleaning products. A major economic driver in the broader region is the Refinaria Abreu e Lima (RNEST), located in the nearby Suape Industrial Port Complex, which focuses on oil refining and diesel production. Plans for the refinery's expansion, announced in December 2025, are expected to bring significant investments and job creation to the area. The city has shown positive job growth in the formal sector, with a net increase of 147 new workers recorded between January and June 2026.

The average salary in Abreu e Lima is $6,378 per year. You would need approximately $7,000 to live comfortably.

Top Industries

Services +2.00% Public Administration +1.00% Agriculture +0.50% Retail/Commerce +1.50%

Climate

🌡️
Avg Temp
☀️
Summer High
❄️
Winter Low
🌧️
"
Annual Rain
💧
80.00%
Humidity
🌤️
Sunny Days

Transport

Transportation in Abreu e Lima primarily relies on a network of bus lines that connect various parts of the municipality and provide access to neighboring cities within the Recife Metropolitan Region. The municipal Directorate of Traffic and Transport oversees local public transport services, including taxis and vans. Efforts are underway to modernize the public transport fleet, with plans to introduce new, more environmentally friendly buses to serve Abreu e Lima and surrounding areas. While specific walkability and transit scores are not available, the city's layout and reliance on bus services suggest a moderate level of car dependency, with walkability varying by neighborhood.

min
Avg Commute
/10
Transit Score
/10
Walkability
Medium
Car Dependency

Pros & Cons

Advantages
The expansion of the Refinaria Abreu e Lima (RNEST) is projected to bring significant investments and job creation to the region.
The municipality has made substantial investments in healthcare infrastructure, with the inauguration of seven new Basic Health Units (USFs) by July 2026.
Abreu e Lima experienced positive job growth in the formal sector, with 147 new workers added between January and June 2026.
The city boasts a high diversity in its commerce and services sectors, offering a wide range of business opportunities.
Abreu e Lima benefits from a strategic location within the Metropolitan Region of Recife, providing access to the larger urban center and the Suape Port Industrial Complex.
Drawbacks
The unemployment rate in Pernambuco state, where Abreu e Lima is located, was significantly higher than the national average in 2024.
The main hospital in Abreu e Lima, Hospital e Maternidade de Abreu e Lima, has faced structural issues and temporary closures in recent years.
The city's GDP per capita is lower than both the state and national averages, indicating a more modest economic output per resident.
Economic benefits from large-scale industrial projects, such as the refinery, have historically shown to be concentrated during the construction phase and may not lead to long-term structural changes in the local economy.
Specific data for several quality of life metrics, including median age, average rent, and detailed transit/walkability scores, is not readily available for Abreu e Lima from recent reliable sources.

Questions about Abreu e Lima

What people ask about living in and moving to Abreu e Lima, Pernambuco.

Gathering the most common questions about Abreu e Lima…

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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