São Paulo is the largest city in Brazil and, in fact, the whole of South America. It has a great deal for tourists and expats to experience when visiting or relocating to this city. São Paulo is filled with lots of museums and theatres that allow visitors to learn about and experience the local culture. You can also experience cultures and cuisines from all over the world as São Paulo is a massively multicultural city with large communities of nationalities from places including Japan, Italy, and the Middle East.
As such a large metropolis, São Paulo also has plenty of economic influence and the employment opportunities that come with this. Being such a major economy, lots of expats move to São Paulo for work, whether on a temporary or permanent basis. It also attracts students to its many higher education institutions, particularly The University of São Paulo.
If you’re looking for apartments in São Paulo, Brazil, then you can find a range of choices on Nestpick. Whether you’re looking for São Paulo apartments or you’d like to rent a room in São Paulo, there is plenty of choice to suit a range of needs and budgets.
Serviced apartments São Paulo
If you’re arranging a temporary stay in São Paulo and your main priorities are comfort and convenience, then a serviced apartment should be your top choice. Serviced apartments in São Paulo are especially popular among professionals visiting the city on business for a couple of weeks or even a month or more. Serviced apartments are fully furnished and include facilities and services such as cleaning, on-site laundry, and other essentials. Furnished apartments in São Paulo are much more convenient for people moving or visiting from overseas as everything you need is already there in the apartment.
Types of Accommodations in São Paulo
Apartments in São Paulo by district
A large and sprawling city, São Paulo, Brazil is made up of 31 municipal boroughs that are each divided into their own districts and neighbourhoods. Each district has its own charm and personality, providing lots of different atmospheres and experiences for visitors to the city to enjoy. Whether you want a taste of the vibrant city life or a more laidback suburban environment, São Paulo has plenty to offer. You’ll also find a range of prices across São Paulo to suit different budgets, although it is generally quite affordable.
Largely, the city is split into 9 main zones containing the 31 boroughs, primarily separated using cardinal directions, including the West, South Central, and Northeast zones. Downtown São Paulo, or the historical centre, is a popular area for both locals rushing to work and tourists getting a taste of the city.
Most attractive areas for apartments in São Paulo
Itaim Bibi
Itaim Bibi is a trendy, up and coming neighbourhood located centrally in São Paulo on the eastern bank of the Pinheiros River. It is a densely populated neighbourhood packed full of buildings to accommodate the people living and working there. It is filled with both residential and commercial buildings including offices, restaurants, bars, and more. Its most famous residency is that of Google São Paulo headquarters. Yahoo also has offices there, so many coveted, international jobs are available in this district.
Itaim Bibi is especially popular among young professionals living in or relocating to São Paulo for work. People choose this area to rent a room or an apartment for its hot location, close to other fashionable districts and boasting a lively social atmosphere and plenty of choice when it comes to drinks and meals out with friends. The price to rent or buy Itaim Bibi apartments is quite high for São Paulo to reflect this desirable location, but the quality of living and the style and comfort of a flat in Itaim Bibi makes the price worthwhile if it is within your budget.
The price of a flat in Itaim Bibi for rent varies greatly depending on the size and quality of the accommodation. They start from reasonably priced yet comfortable all the way to luxury apartments, so search the area on Nestpick today to find an apartment that suits you.
Pinheiros apartments
Pinheiros is located to the north of Itaim Bibi, also lying on the east bank of the Pinheiros River. Being sandwiched between Itaim Bibi and Vila Madalena, another of São Paulo’s trendiest neighbourhoods, makes Pinheiros another popular location to live in as you have easy access to all the charms the district has to offer plus lots of nearby places to visit in its neighbouring districts.
Pinheiros itself contains plenty of nice eateries, bars, and clubs for its residents to enjoy plus cultural experiences in the local museums and theatres, including the Tomie Ohtake Institute. But, people don’t just come to Pinheiros for the leisure; it is also a big economic hub for professionals in São Paulo, so a lot of people live here for the easy access it provides them to their workplace.
Pinheiros has lots of residential buildings across the district, predominantly made up of apartments and rooms for rent. Monthly rental prices are similar to those in neighbouring district, Itaim Bibi, so they’re not the cheapest you’ll find around the city, but it places you in a great location with easy access to amenities as well as a high standard of living and quality apartments. Pinheiros is especially popular among professional expats either relocating to Brazil or staying temporarily for business. Apartments for rent in Pinheiros, São Paulo can be found at a range of prices through Nestpick’s handy search tool.
Vila Nova Conceição
Vila Nova Conceição is quite a small neighbourhood in central São Paulo with plenty of charm and amenities to offer its local residents and visitors. It’s a diverse neighbourhood with bars and restaurants offering various cuisines, shops and supermarkets, as well as local attractions to see. Vila Nova Conceição has residential areas scattered throughout, particularly made up of apartment blocks. It is also home to offices for businesses like Western Union, making it a popular spot for professionals as well.
The neighbourhood’s surroundings add to its desirability as a central location in São Paulo. It is located close to the districts of Ibirapuera, Jardim Lusitânia, and Itaim Bibi, so there is lots to see and do nearby. This also puts it close to other major employment centres, including Google’s São Paulo headquarters. It’s not all about the urban sector, however, as the large park and garden borders Vila Nova Conceição to the east. This is a beautiful landscape with lots of greenery and lakes, as well as museums contained within it.
Renting a flat in Vila Nova Conceição is a popular choice among millennials and other young professionals as it puts you right at the heart of the city, surrounded by a bustling lifestyle and vibrant nightlife. You’ll find a range of apartments to match what you’re looking for in Vila Nova Conceição, São Paulo.
Apartments in Vila Madalena
One of the trendiest neighbourhoods in São Paulo, Vila Madalena always seems to have something going on. It is home to a large open-air market each weekend that sells food from local and international cuisines as well as artwork and antiques. Art exhibitions and workshops are also hosted regularly in Vila Madalena in its various art galleries. The district is actually well known for its art and culture, and the artwork even takes to the streets with lots of street art and graffiti on display around the neighbourhood. The most notable place to see this is Beco do Batman, which is a small street filled with street art.
If art isn’t your thing, there is still plenty more on offer in Vila Madalena, including one of the best areas for nightlife in São Paulo. There are lots of popular bars and nightclubs that are frequented by students and young professionals living in the area. Living in Vila Madalena means you don’t have to walk far at the end of the night, and there are plenty of late night restaurants to stop off at on the way home. There are also plenty of trendy shops and boutiques. Overall, it’s a bohemian dream in central São Paulo.
Apartments, flats and rooms in Vila Madalena are popular among young people and especially the millennial generation because of the fashionable surroundings. The apartments reflect this trendiness with bohemian studio apartments and modern apartment buildings with flats available to buy or rent around the district.
Student accommodation in São Paulo Brazil
Student accommodation is primarily located around the central areas of São Paulo, Brazil, with lots of affordable apartments, shared houses, and rooms to rent available for students attending one of the many institutions in São Paulo. The main university campus is to the west of the River Pinheiros, so nearby neighbourhoods such as Butantã and Vila Lageado are especially popular among students.
Many international students come to The University of São Paulo or other institutions to either complete their entire degree there or on a transfer from their home university for a semester. So, there are lots of students in the city, both local and international, meaning plenty of student accommodation, flats to share and rooms to rent, is available to meet these demands.
Student flats are reasonably priced in São Paulo, with plenty of shared accommodation available that helps you to save money on rent as well as making friends with flatmates who are also studying in the city.
São Paulo public transport
São Paulo is home to a comprehensive bus network, with the São Paulo Tietê Bus Terminal holding the title of the second largest bus terminal in the whole world. As well as providing efficient transport links around São Paulo, this terminal also offers routes to other cities in Brazil and even other South American countries, including Argentina and Chile. Bus fares in São Paulo are extremely cheap, with a single journey costing, on average, the equivalent of less than one Euro.
São Paulo public transport also includes railway lines serving across Brazil and neighbouring South American countries. Luz Station is one of the main railway stations in São Paulo, making transportation in São Paulo easy to access from and to the centre of the city.