Living in Camboriú, SC: real estate and expat investment guide

Camboriú in a few words

Camboriú and Balneário Camboriú are two distinct municipalities. Balneário Camboriú is the coastal city famous for its skyscrapers. Camboriú is located just behind it, 5.5 km from Balneário's downtown area. It has no ocean beach and features a residential profile with rural areas, hills, and waterfalls. According to local authorities, Camboriú was emancipated from Itajaí on April 5, 1884, and city hall playfully refers to Balneário Camboriú as "our daughter".

It is the fastest-growing city monitored by our portal. The 2022 IBGE Census recorded 103,074 residents, up from 62,361 in 2010: an annual growth rate of 4.28%, more than two and a half times the rate of Santa Catarina state (1.66% per year). IBGE estimates a population of 121,040 inhabitants for 2026.

Living in Camboriú year-round

Camboriú is not a seasonal resort town. In the 2022 Census, only 3.8% of housing units were for occasional use, compared to 26.6% in Balneário Camboriú and a 10.3% average across Santa Catarina. Nearly nine out of ten homes (88%) were occupied by permanent residents. In practice, the city's pace changes very little between January and July, and the beach is just a short drive away in the neighboring municipality.

The local economy reflects its residential nature. GDP per capita was R$26,228 in 2023, and the average wage for formal workers was 2.2 minimum wages in 2021, according to IBGE. IBGE data also shows that formal employment registered in the municipality accounts for 19% of the population, significantly lower than Balneário Camboriú (58%) and Itajaí (53%), indicating that many residents commute to work in neighboring cities.

The climate matches the rest of the region. At the INMET weather station in nearby Itajaí, average high temperatures from December to February were 29.4 °C (85 °F) with lows around 21 °C (70 °F) based on hourly data from 2011 to 2025. From June to August, average highs are around 21.6 °C (71 °F) and lows hit 13.3 °C (56 °F). Annual rainfall is around 1,770 mm, peaking in March and hitting its lowest levels in July.

Neighborhoods, nature, and leisure

Without its own coastline, outdoor activities in Camboriú focus on the countryside. The Local Tourism Secretariat highlights the Cesino Bernardino Ecological Educational Park, Bica Municipal Park, Caetés Lookout, the Alto dos Macacos Natural Reserve featuring Cachoeira Seca waterfall and Pico da Pedra, alongside agritourism properties, fishing ponds, and farmers markets. The city is also part of the Caminho de Santa Paulina pilgrimage route and celebrates the Festa do Divino festival, designated as intangible cultural heritage. Additionally, city hall notes that Camboriú hosts two electronic music venues recognized internationally.

Key neighborhoods in Camboriú:

• Tabuleiro: the neighborhood featured on its own new launches page on our portal.
• Rio Pequeno: a neighborhood experiencing high search volume on our platform.
• Centro: downtown, home to city hall and the main population core.
• Areias: location of the Camboriú Surgical Hospital.

In our portal's catalog, Tabuleiro and São Francisco de Assis account for the majority of off-plan developments and active construction sites in the city.

Safety: analyzing the statistics

The Santa Catarina Public Safety Secretariat (SSP-SC) recorded 8 homicide victims in Camboriú in 2025, 3 in 2024, and 8 in 2023. Between January and July 2026, 3 cases were registered. Calculated using IBGE's estimated population, the 2025 homicide rate stands at 6.8 per 100 thousand inhabitants, slightly above Santa Catarina's state average of 5.2 for the same year. In 2024, with 3 incidents, the rate was 2.6 per 100 thousand.

Historical data provides valuable perspective. According to Ipea's Atlas da Violência, Camboriú recorded rates exceeding 30 homicides per 100 thousand residents between 2013 and 2019 (reaching 31.3 in 2019). By 2022, the last year compiled at the municipal level, the rate fell to 7.8 per 100 thousand. Because absolute numbers are small, annual rates can fluctuate. SSP-SC reports do not break down robberies and thefts by municipality.

Quality of life and local services

Healthcare. The National Register of Health Establishments (CNES) lists HCC Hospital Cirúrgico Camboriú in the Areias neighborhood, managed by the municipality and providing free care through Brazil's public health system (SUS). Larger regional medical centers are located nearby: Hospital Regional Ruth Cardoso in Balneário Camboriú, and Hospital e Maternidade Marieta Konder Bornhausen in Itajaí.

Education. In the 2025 Ideb national education index, public schools scored 5.6 in primary education, 4.7 in middle school, and 4.3 in high school. The state-run EEB Prof. Mario Garcia scored highest in middle school (5.5) and high school (4.4). The city also hosts a campus of the Instituto Federal Catarinense (IFC).

Sanitation. According to the 2022 Census, 85.1% of residents had sewage linked to the main collection network or rainwater system.

Human Development. The 2010 Municipal Human Development Index (MHDI) stood at 0.726, classified as "high". Education measured lowest (0.600), while life expectancy reached 0.866.

Driving distances. It is 5.5 km to downtown Balneário Camboriú, roughly 35 km to Navegantes International Airport (about 45 minutes without traffic), and 98 km to Florianópolis Airport (approx. 1h45). Routes were calculated using OpenStreetMap; during peak summer season, travel times toward the BR-101 highway are noticeably longer.

Real estate market: why international investors look at Camboriú

Camboriú is not tracked by the FipeZap index or market surveys from DWV covering neighboring coastal towns like Balneário Camboriú, Itapema, Itajaí, and Porto Belo. Consequently, there is no single official price per square meter to report.

Market interest is driven by location. Nearby Balneário Camboriú, just 5.5 km away, registered an average price of R$15,369 per square meter in September 2026 according to FipeZap, facing a shortage of buildable land. Camboriú offers nearly five times the land area (210.6 km² versus 45.2 km²) and experienced a 65% population surge between 2010 and 2022. This contrast creates opportunities for buyers seeking lower entry prices close to the ocean or looking for year-round primary housing.

Past appreciation in a neighboring city does not guarantee future gains in Camboriú. Buyers should evaluate individual development pricing against similar properties in the immediate area.

Key considerations before buying pre-construction in Camboriú

• Long-term living vs. short-term rentals. With only 3.8% of housing dedicated to occasional use, Camboriú functions primarily as a residential hub. Vacation rental demand is heavily concentrated along the beachfront in Balneário Camboriú.
• Actual distance to the beach. Test driving times from the site to Praia Central during peak traffic hours, rather than relying solely on map distances.
• Neighborhood infrastructure. In a fast-growing area, inspect nearby schools, clinics, public transport, and paved roads.
• Construction timeline. Our catalog includes developments scheduled for completion a few years out. Extended construction timelines demand extra due diligence on the developer's financial track record.
• Payment schedule and index adjustments. Understand how a down payment in installments functions, how installments are adjusted by the INCC (Brazil's national construction cost index), and review all costs to buy off-plan real estate, including the city's ITBI (municipal property transfer tax).
• Development registration. Off-plan sales can legally take place only after official development registration at the local Real Estate Registry (Law 4.591/1964). Read our guide on how to choose an off-plan development.

For non-resident investors, our guide on buying property in Brazil as a foreigner explains how to obtain a CPF, issue power of attorney, and handle remote digital signatures.

To explore current options in Camboriú with price lists, floor plans, and payment plans, schedule an online investment consultation or book a show unit visit.