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Riacho Fundo, Federal District

Brazil · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

58
Overall Score

Riacho Fundo is an administrative region located in the Federal District of Brazil, originally established as part of the region's planned urban expansion to manage residential growth outside the core of Brasília. Characterized by a mix of residential zones and local commerce, it provides a quieter, community-oriented suburban environment for commuters working in the central pilot plan. People frequently move here for its relative affordability, organized neighborhood layout, and proximity to the federal capital while maintaining a distinct local identity.

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.

39,552
Population
$14K
Avg Salary
92
Cost Index
58.5
Quality Score
How this 59/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 68 / 100 68.0 30% 20.4
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 92.0 53.8 25% 13.4
Economy & jobs Median household income: $15,000 Income needed to live here: $12,000 Unemployment rate: 6.5% 50.0 20% 10.0
Growth Population growth rate: 1.1% Job growth rate: 2% 56.3 15% 8.4
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 62 / 100 62.0 10% 6.2
Overall score 58.5

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Gemini (ungrounded) (q=54, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 11 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 Riacho Fundo

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Quality Scores

Business
62
Livability
72
Affordability
68
Growth
65

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Riacho Fundo is generally aligned with or slightly below the broader Federal District average, though it remains higher than the national Brazilian baseline due to its metropolitan positioning. Expenses are primarily driven by housing and transportation costs associated with commuting into central Brasília for employment and specialized services. Conversely, local neighborhood markets and neighborhood-level dining options offer accessible everyday pricing for residents.

Average Rent
$450/mo
Groceries
$250/mo
Transport
$80/mo
Utilities
$90/mo
Healthcare
$120/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$30.00
Cinema ticket
$8.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$15.00
Monthly groceries
$220.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$60.00

Salary Insights

While Riacho Fundo functions largely as a residential satellite city, its local economy is anchored by small-to-medium retail enterprises, public administration services, and local trade. Major employment opportunities for residents are predominantly found in central Brasília, spanning government sectors, healthcare, education, and professional services. The remote work scene has grown moderately among residents employed in federal agencies or technology sectors within the wider Federal District.

The average salary in Riacho Fundo is $14,000 per year. You would need approximately $12,000 to live comfortably.

Top Industries

Healthcare and Social Services +2.80% Construction and Real Estate +1.70% Education and Training +1.90% Public Administration and Defense +1.50% Retail Trade and Local Commerce +2.10%

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 relies heavily on bus lines connecting Riacho Fundo to the central subway and bus terminal network of the Federal District, alongside moderate car dependency for daily commuting. Walkability is moderate within the immediate commercial and residential sectors, though main arterial roads experience predictable morning and evening traffic congestion. Driving remains a primary mode of transit for workers traveling across the metropolitan region.

35 min
Avg Commute
52.00/10
Transit Score
58.00/10
Walkability
Medium
Car Dependency

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Housing costs are notably more affordable in Riacho Fundo compared to central Brasília and upscale pilot plan neighborhoods.
Well-structured urban layout featuring organized residential blocks, green plazas, and local community spaces.
Strong sense of local community with active neighborhood associations and family-friendly public zones.
Convenient access to major regional bus routes connecting directly to the Federal District transit network.
Proximity to major employment hubs and governmental centers in central Brasília without paying central zone prices.
Drawbacks
Traffic congestion on arterial roads during peak morning and evening commuting hours toward central Brasília.
Limited large-scale entertainment and cultural venues within the immediate administrative region boundaries.
Moderate dependence on private vehicles or regional buses for accessing specialized healthcare and higher education.
Property crime rates, particularly petty theft and vehicle break-ins, require standard urban vigilance.
Limited large industrial or corporate job growth directly within the neighborhood, necessitating external commutes.

Questions about Riacho Fundo

What people ask about living in and moving to Riacho Fundo, Federal District.

Gathering the most common questions about Riacho Fundo…

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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