Buying in João Pessoa, in detail
João Pessoa has the highest ITBI rate among the cities Payotte read in full detail: 3%, under LC 53/2008 (Tax Code), art. 206. Just 1 city of those read sits above it, and 30 sit below. The first transfer of a home in that housing category is exempt under art. 209, I. On R$ 500,000 the ITBI is R$ 15,000, and on R$ 1 million it is R$ 30,000. No escritura or registro amount is given for the city, since the Paraíba fee table of 2026 was unreadable; each total is therefore a minimum.
The city is the capital of Paraíba and holds 21% of its population. João Pessoa had 833,932 residents in 2022 and 906,093 are projected for 2026, a rise of 8.7%. That ranks 14th of the 55 Payotte cities for growth and 19th for population, or 20th among the 100 largest in Brazil. Its 296,223 occupied homes average 2.82 residents. Rented homes are 28.5% of the total, 22nd of 55, well above the 20.2% for the whole state.
The Banco Central data on financed homes give a Paraíba median valor de avaliação of R$ 198,500 up to June 2026. It is 25th of 27 and below the Brazilian median of R$ 290,545, and it covers only homes bought with a loan. A 30-year Tabela Price instalment on that median is R$ 1,481. Construction on SINAPI costs R$ 1,929 per m2 in Paraíba, 18th of 27.
The 2024 IPTU came to R$ 606 per home, 73rd on the list of the 100 largest cities. São Bernardo do Campo has 810,729 residents and Teresina has 866,300, the closest in size.
ITBI is the municipal tax on the transfer of a property. The escritura is the notary deed, and the registro enters the sale in the property registry. Among the 41 cities whose law Payotte read, the median ITBI rate is 2%. João Pessoa sits above it. Because the Paraíba fee table was not read, ask the cartório for a quote.
A home priced at R$ 500,000 with the maximum 80% loan means R$ 400,000 borrowed. A 30-year Tabela Price loan at the 11.28% August 2026 average has one fixed payment: R$ 3,730. With SAC the first instalment is R$ 4,690 and the later ones fall. The Selic stands at 13.75%, and bank rates follow it. These loan figures are the same in every state. What changes from place to place is the ITBI, the cartório fees and the IPTU. IPTU is the yearly property tax collected by the city. SINAPI measures construction cost per m2.
In short
On a R$ 500 thousand home in João Pessoa (Paraíba), the ITBI transfer tax, the notary deed and the registration come to at least R$ 15,000. The city's ITBI rate is 3%. 28.5% of occupied homes were rented in the 2022 Census.
Calculate for João Pessoa
The questions, answered
How much are the purchase costs on a R$ 500 thousand home in João Pessoa?
On a R$ 500 thousand home in João Pessoa (Paraíba), ITBI transfer tax (3%) R$ 15,000: at least R$ 15,000 in all, from the rates and fee tables read on 15 October 2026 (the state's 2026 fee table could not be read).
How much are the purchase costs on a R$ 1 million home in João Pessoa?
On a R$ 1 million home in João Pessoa (Paraíba): ITBI transfer tax (3%) R$ 30,000, at least R$ 30,000 in all.
What is the ITBI rate in João Pessoa?
João Pessoa charges ITBI at 3% of the value of the transfer (LC 53/2008 (Tax Code), art. 206); the same law sets a reduced rate of 0% for some purchases it defines (see the purchase costs calculator).
What monthly payment on a R$ 500 thousand home in João Pessoa?
R$ 400,000 borrowed on a R$ 500 thousand home (CMN cap 80%) costs R$ 3,738 a month with Price over 30 years at 11.31% (September 2026), or R$ 4,699 the first month with SAC.
Do more people rent in João Pessoa than in Brazil as a whole?
In the 2022 Census, 28.5% of the 296,223 occupied homes in João Pessoa were rented and 66.7% owned by a resident, against 22.2% rented across Brazil (IBGE).
How many people live in João Pessoa?
João Pessoa had 833,932 residents in the 2022 Census, and 906,093 in the IBGE estimate for 2026.
How João Pessoa compares
João Pessoa ranks 19th by population among the 55 cities on Payotte, with 833,932 residents in the 2022 Census, 21% of Paraíba's 3,974,687. The IBGE estimate for 2026, 906,093, is 8.7% above the census: faster than Paraíba as a whole (5.2%), 14th of 55 cities, against 5.5% for Brazil. The census counts 2.82 residents per occupied home, fewer than the 2.9 of Paraíba.
28.5% of the 296,223 occupied homes of João Pessoa were rented in 2022, well above the 22.2% national share, and 8.3 points above Paraíba (20.2%); 66.7% were owned by a resident. That is the 22nd highest rental share of 55 cities.
João Pessoa charges ITBI at 3%, above the 2% median of the 41 city rates read (1 city charges more). That is R$ 15,000 on R$ 500 thousand and R$ 30,000 on R$ 1 million; the law also lists 0% for some purchases it defines, which the calculator does not apply.
By population the closest cities on Payotte are São Bernardo do Campo (810,729 residents, 23.5% of homes rented) and Teresina (866,300 residents, 16.4% of homes rented, ITBI 2%). In the Nordeste region, which has 14 of the 55 cities, João Pessoa has the 6th highest share of rented homes. Its 2.82 residents per occupied home rank 18th of 55, in the middle of the field.
| Measure | Value | Reference | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| João Pessoa: residents, 2022 Census | 833,932 | median city 616,317 | 19th of 55 |
| João Pessoa: share of Paraíba's residents | 21% | 3,974,687 in the state | 1st of 1 in the state |
| João Pessoa: estimate for 2026 against the census | +8.7% | Paraíba +5.2% | 14th of 55 |
| João Pessoa: occupied homes, 2022 | 296,223 | Paraíba 1,372,093 | 19th of 55 |
| João Pessoa: residents per occupied home | 2.82 | Paraíba 2.9 | 18th of 55 |
| João Pessoa: homes rented | 28.5% | Brazil 22.2%, Paraíba 20.2% | 22nd of 55 |
| João Pessoa: homes owned by a resident | 66.7% | Paraíba 73.4% | 29th of 55 |
| João Pessoa: ITBI rate | 3% | median of 41 cities 2% | 2nd of 41 |
| João Pessoa: ITBI on R$ 500 thousand | R$ 15,000 | at the median rate R$ 10,000 | +R$ 5,000 |
| João Pessoa: ITBI on R$ 1 million | R$ 30,000 | at the median rate R$ 20,000 | +R$ 10,000 |
| João Pessoa: all computed lines on R$ 500 thousand | at least R$ 15,000 | 3% of the price | R$ 30,000 on R$ 1 million |
Notary and registry fees, the median financed home and the construction cost of Paraíba are on its state page.
The figures
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ITBI transfer tax (3%), João Pessoa, on R$ 500 thousand | R$ 15,000 | LC 53/2008 (Tax Code), art. 206 |
| Population, 2022 Census | 833,932 | IBGE |
| Population estimate, 2026 | 906,093 | IBGE |
| Occupied homes rented, 2022 Census | 28.5% | IBGE |
| Average rate, new housing loans to individuals (2026-09) | 11.31% | Banco Central do Brasil, SGS 20774 |
| Selic target, since 2026-09-17 | 13.75% | Banco Central do Brasil, Copom |
No open official series gives home prices by city in Brazil; the Banco Central median is by state.
Elsewhere in Paraíba
Sources
- ITBI, João Pessoa: LC 53/2008 (Tax Code), art. 206 (consulted 2026-10-15).
- Census and construction cost: IBGE, SIDRA (4714, 6579, 9930, 2296).
- Loans and values: Banco Central do Brasil open data (ODbL 1.0); Copom decisions.