If you're curious about Florianopolis or considering moving there as a digital nomad, you are in the right place! After spending a month living and working in Florianopolis, here’s an honest look at what life on the island feels like — from accomodation, living costs, Wi-Fi, and safety, to the day-to-day rhythm of working remotely in Brazil’s most talked-about island city.

Florianópolis (“Floripa” to locals) is known for its long white-sand beaches, surfing culture, and access to nature. But it’s also growing quickly as a digital nomad destination, attracting remote workers looking for a slower pace of life with plenty of outdoor adventure.

Here’s everything we learned during our stay.

Where to Stay

We quickly realised that the two best locations on the island for digital nomads are Novo Campeche and Lagoa da Conceição.

They are two of Florianópolis’ most vibrant and contrasting neighborhoods. They are especially appealing to digital nomads seeking a balance between work, nature, and community.

Novo Campeche offers a calm, beachside lifestyle with reliable internet, modern apartments, and cafés perfect for remote work, all just steps from the ocean. It is upmarket, and has a strong comunity of Brazilian's living there. There are definitely other international digital nomads living here, but not as noticable as in Lagoa da Conceição.

Nearby, Lagoa da Conceição functions as the social and creative hub of the island, with coworking spaces, strong Wi-Fi, networking opportunities, and an active expat scene. Together, they provide an ideal setup for digital nomads who want productivity by day and an outdoors-focused, social lifestyle by evening.

We noticed lots of other digital nomads in Lagoa, particularly in cafés like Café Cultura .

We found our accomodation on Airbnb and were so impressed with the availability at short notice, affordable monthly rates, and overall quality of the accomodation.

If you can stay for a long time, try finding a local rental for cheaper prices.

Why Florianopolis Works Well for Digital Nomads

• Strong and reliable Wi-Fi in cafés and apartments
• Great coffee shops for co-working
• Organic food and farmers market (Tuesdays & Saturdays in Novo Campeche)
• Easy access to nature — dunes, trails, and the beach
• A small but useful selection of restaurants and takeaways
• Affordable apartments with modern decor

Cost of Living in Florianopolis

As a couple, we spent around $2000 for a month in Florianopolis. If you were single or on a budget, you could do it for a lot less by renting studio appartments or rooms.

Airbnb (Campeche / Lagoa)

• Simple studio/1-bed: ≈ $900 – $1,800+ USD/month

Local Long-Term Rentals

• Furnished 1-bed: ≈ $700 – $1,400 USD/month
• Shared rooms or better deals if negotiated

We found food and drinks to be very affordable. Eating out for two people with a drink and main course rarely exceeded $25, and the food was great! We recommend Rufus Rock Bar for great food, music, and drinks and Nomade Sabor for great takeaway burgers.

Supermarkets were reasonable and the local markets were even better value for money.

The Beaches: Wild, Windy, and Unbelievably Beautiful

Campeche Beach became our daily walking route — a long, bright stretch of sand with views that seem to go on forever. It’s one of the most atmospheric beaches we’ve ever lived near as digital nomads and has a huge maze of sand dunes.

Some things to know:

• The sand is very soft, making long walks a workout in themselves
• Strong winds are common in spring
• The waves can be rough, so swimming isn’t always safe
• The beach is peaceful during the week (especially outside summer season)
• When the weather is good, locals come out in force — runners, surfers, families, everyone enjoying the coastline

Novo Campeche is good if you want long beach walks before or after work, or if you’re a surfer wanting consistent waves. The soft sands do make it more of a wade than a stroll, but we senjoyed the epic views and the exercise.

Even on the windier days, the landscape in throughout Florianpolis is stunning: dunes filled with aincient plants, smooth granite rocks that date back millions of years, and huge open spaces that feel wild and untouched.

Weather Note

We visited during their spring, in September-October, which can be windy, cloudy, and cooler. If you’re expecting tropical sunshine, know that early spring feels more like a moody shoulder season. When the sun breaks through though, the whole coastline comes alive.

Hiking & Nature for Remote Workers

If you’re a digital nomad who swaps screen time for hiking time, Florianópolis is an incredible base.

We spent hours exploring the sand dunes, forests and beaches. It was a great place for nature photography, with so many interesting wild flowers!

Lagoinha do Leste Trail

Our favourite hike was the Lagoinha do Leste trail — a route that takes you from the fishing village of Armação, across beaches and through pockets of coastal forest, before dropping down to a remote, beautiful beach.

• Rated difficult on AllTrails
• Doable if you’re reasonably fit
• Ends at a second village where you can call an Uber back

For us, this was one of the most memorable hikes of our entire travels — dramatic, rewarding, and surprisingly quiet in shoulder season.

Wi-Fi & Working Conditions

For digital nomads, Florianópolis generally has strong internet, especially in newer neighbourhoods like Campeche, Lagoa da Conceição, and the city centre.

Our apartments had fast Wi-Fi, and local cafés offered stable connections suitable for calls and workflow days.

If your work is highly bandwidth-intensive, it’s worth checking apartment speeds before booking, but overall Floripa is very workable for remote life.

Safety in Campeche

Safety is a common question for digital nomads considering Brazil, so it’s worth addressing realistically but calmly.

During our stay, there was a violent incident in a nearby area that reminded us that certain parts of Brazil can experience crime related to local conflicts. While this didn’t affect tourists or digital nomads directly, it did make us more aware of our surroundings.

In day-to-day life, we felt comfortable walking around Novo Campeche, visiting cafés, and using the beach during daylight hours. As with many places in Brazil, it’s about staying informed, avoiding isolated areas at night, and taking the usual urban precautions.

We met many remote workers who lived in Floripa long-term and felt safe and settled there — it depends greatly on personal comfort levels and the area you choose.

The Local Vibe

Florianópolis has an interesting energy — a mix of surf culture, health-conscious locals, students, families, and an emerging digital nomad community.

People generally keep to themselves, and interactions tended to be practical rather than warm, especially in supermarkets and busy service environments. This isn’t personal — it’s simply the local communication style.

Overall, we found the vibe to be:

• Active — lots of runners, surfers, cyclists
• Nature-led — people really live outdoors here
• Relaxed weekdays / lively weekends
• Independent — not overly social unless you make the first move

Final Thoughts

Florianópolis is one of the most physically beautiful places we’ve ever visited.

The dunes, the granite rock formations, the dramatic coastline, the prehistoric plants — it’s a natural masterpiece. The hikes were unforgettable, the beaches wild and mesmerising, and Novo Campeche gave us moments of peaceful day-to-day living that we’ll always remember.

But it also challenged us. It made us think deeply about safety, culture, and how a place can be both paradise and unsettling at the same time.

If you’re drawn to wild landscapes, dramatic coastlines, and a more off-beat Brazilian experience, Florianópolis might steal your heart.

Just go with awareness, openness — and a willingness to embrace its beautiful, complicated soul.