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City Profile

Barra Mansa, Rio de Janeiro

Brazil · Comprehensive city data and intelligence

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70
Overall Score

Barra Mansa is a prominent municipality located in the Paraíba Valley region within the south of Rio de Janeiro state, Brazil. Historically recognized for its roots in agricultural production and later transformation into a strategic industrial and commercial hub, the city forms a vital conurbation with neighboring Volta Redonda. People are drawn to Barra Mansa for its strategic geographic positioning along major national transit arteries, offering a blend of interior tranquility with close proximity to major metropolitan economic centers like Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo.

About Rio de Janeiro

Rio de Janeiro, known as the "Marvelous City," is Brazil's second-most populous city, celebrated for its stunning natural beauty, vibrant culture, and relaxed lifestyle. The city's economy is diverse and service-oriented, with major industries including tourism, finance, trade, and oil and gas, benefiting from its significant port and proximity to offshore oil fields. Living in Rio generally offers a tropical climate with hot, humid summers and warm, sunny winters, though high humidity is common year-round. While the cost of living can vary significantly by neighborhood and lifestyle, it is generally considered more affordable than major cities in Europe or the United States, with average monthly expenses for a single person ranging from approximately $1,120 to $1,446, excluding rent. Cariocas, as residents are known, embrace a laid-back, social lifestyle, often enjoying beaches, outdoor activities, and a lively cultural scene.

181,675
Population
$8K
Avg Salary
42
Cost Index
69.9
Quality Score
How this 70/100 was calculated five components, with every reading behind them
Component Readings used Points Weight Contributes
Safety Safety score: 62 / 100 62.0 30% 18.6
Affordability Cost of living index (100 = national baseline): 42.0 100.0 25% 25.0
Economy & jobs Median household income: $8,500 Income needed to live here: $4,800 Unemployment rate: 7.5% 65.6 20% 13.1
Growth Population growth rate: 0.55% Job growth rate: 1.5% 44.4 15% 6.7
Business climate assessment Business climate assessment: 65 / 100 65.0 10% 6.5
Overall score 69.9

Provenance. These figures were produced by the research pass recorded as Tier 1 (fast) (q=66, partial — below threshold), last refreshed 12 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.

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Performance

Quality Scores

Business
65
Livability
70
Affordability
78
Growth
66

Expenses

Cost of Living

The cost of living in Barra Mansa is generally aligned with or slightly below the national average for mid-sized Brazilian industrial cities, making it an attractive option for families seeking affordability without sacrificing urban amenities. Expenses are largely driven by local housing and utilities, while daily necessities such as locally sourced food items remain reasonably priced compared to coastal state capitals. Transportation and service costs fluctuate moderately based on proximity to the central commercial districts and major highway corridors.

Average Rent
$350/mo
Groceries
$220/mo
Transport
$60/mo
Utilities
$90/mo
Healthcare
$110/mo
Gym membership (monthly)
$25.00
Cinema ticket
$6.00
Restaurant meal (mid-range)
$10.00
Monthly groceries
$200.00
Doctor visit (without insurance)
$45.00

Income

Salary Insights

Barra Mansa's economy is strongly anchored by a robust trade and services sector, alongside a significant footprint in manufacturing, metallurgy, and wholesale distribution. Major employment opportunities stem from regional industrial integration within the Sul Fluminense area, benefiting from proximity to major steel and automotive operations in neighboring cities. While remote work infrastructure is expanding, the local job market relies heavily on traditional commerce, logistics, light manufacturing, and administrative services.

The average salary in Barra Mansa is $7,500 per year. You would need approximately $4,800 to live comfortably.

Employment

Top Industries

Public Administration +0.80% Healthcare and Social Services +2.50% Logistics and Transportation +2.10% Trade and Commerce +2.00% Manufacturing and Metallurgy +1.40%

Weather

Climate

🌡️
23°C
Avg Temp
☀️
25°C
Summer High
❄️
21°C
Winter Low
🌧️
42.40"
Annual Rain
💧
72.00%
Humidity
🌤️
218
Sunny Days

Mobility

Transport

Transportation is heavily defined by Barra Mansa's crucial positioning along the Rodovia Presidente Dutra (BR-116) and BR-393, facilitating seamless road travel across state lines. Public transit options include municipal bus networks connecting peripheral neighborhoods to the commercial core, though private vehicle ownership and motorcycle transit remain popular for daily commuting.

25 min
Avg Commute
48.00/10
Transit Score
58.00/10
Walkability
Medium
Car Dependency
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At a Glance

Pros & Cons

Advantages
Strategic geographic location along the Presidente Dutra highway connecting Rio de Janeiro and São Paulo per IBGE and regional reports
Lower overall cost of living compared to major metropolitan state capitals while retaining urban conveniences
Active commercial and service sectors providing diverse employment options per municipal economic data
Strong industrial heritage and proximity to major regional manufacturing hubs in the Sul Fluminense region
High literacy rate exceeding 99% among adults aged 15 and older per official Censo data
Drawbacks
Urban traffic congestion during peak hours along main thoroughfares and bridges connecting to Volta Redonda
Local crime rates and security challenges reflective of broader urban trends in industrial interior regions
Limited municipal public transport infrastructure forcing heavier reliance on road transport and private vehicles
Fluctuations in local job market formality dependent on broader national economic shifts
Vulnerability of low-lying urban sectors to seasonal heavy rainfall and localized weather events

Head to Head

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Rio de Janeiro
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Community Q&A

Questions about Barra Mansa

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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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