Buying in Porto Alegre, in detail
Porto Alegre has the smallest households of the 55 Payotte cities: 2.39 residents per occupied home, 55th of 55, against 2.8 for Brazil. The 2022 census counted 1,332,845 residents in 557,831 homes. The 2026 estimate is 1,388,791, growth of 4.2%, 47th of 55 and below the national 5.5%. In headcount Porto Alegre is 11th of 55 on Payotte and 12th of the biggest 100 in Brazil.
Tenants live in 20.8% of homes, 49th of 55, and owners in 73.2%. In Rio Grande do Sul as a whole the rented share is 17.9%, and the capital holds 12.2% of the state population.
The ITBI rate is 3%, from Lei Complementar 197/1989, art. 16. Only 1 city read charges more and 30 charge less. The financed part of residential loans, with a minimum term of 5 years, and the buyer's FGTS funds pay 0.5%, while any excess above the cap is taxed at 3%. On R$ 500,000, ITBI is R$ 15,000, the escritura R$ 2,474 and the registro R$ 2,461, which makes R$ 19,935. On R$ 1 million the total is R$ 39,322. The state table leaves out state taxes and funds, so both totals are lower limits.
The Banco Central data on financed homes give a state median valor de avaliação of R$ 280,000 up to June 2026, 11th of 27, only for homes bought with a loan. A 30-year Tabela Price instalment on it is R$ 2,089. The SINAPI cost is R$ 1,965 per m2, 16th of 27. The 2024 IPTU averaged R$ 1,849 a home, which ranks 20th within the 100 largest cities.
Belém has 1,303,403 residents and Goiânia has 1,437,366, the closest in size.
A home priced at R$ 500,000 with the maximum 80% loan means R$ 400,000 borrowed. Over 30 years at the average annual rate of 11.28% in August 2026, the Tabela Price instalment is R$ 3,730 from the first month to the last. 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.
In short
On a R$ 500 thousand home in Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul), the ITBI transfer tax, the notary deed and the registration come to at least R$ 19,935. The city's ITBI rate is 3%. 20.8% of occupied homes were rented in the 2022 Census.
Calculate for Porto Alegre
The questions, answered
How much are the purchase costs on a R$ 500 thousand home in Porto Alegre?
On a R$ 500 thousand home in Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul), ITBI transfer tax (3%) R$ 15,000, notary deed (escritura) R$ 2,474, registration at the property registry R$ 2,461: at least R$ 19,935 in all, from the rates and fee tables read on 15 October 2026 (the state's table gives the fees before state taxes and funds).
How much are the purchase costs on a R$ 1 million home in Porto Alegre?
On a R$ 1 million home in Porto Alegre (Rio Grande do Sul): ITBI transfer tax (3%) R$ 30,000, notary deed (escritura) R$ 4,868, registration at the property registry R$ 4,455, at least R$ 39,322 in all.
What is the ITBI rate in Porto Alegre?
Porto Alegre charges ITBI at 3% of the value of the transfer (Lei Complementar nº 197/1989, art. 16 (rates); IN RM 001/2026 (base)); the same law sets a reduced rate of 0.5% for some purchases it defines (see the purchase costs calculator).
What monthly payment on a R$ 500 thousand home in Porto Alegre?
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 Porto Alegre than in Brazil as a whole?
In the 2022 Census, 20.8% of the 557,831 occupied homes in Porto Alegre were rented and 73.2% owned by a resident, against 22.2% rented across Brazil (IBGE).
How many people live in Porto Alegre?
Porto Alegre had 1,332,845 residents in the 2022 Census, and 1,388,791 in the IBGE estimate for 2026.
How Porto Alegre compares
Porto Alegre ranks 11th by population among the 55 cities on Payotte, with 1,332,845 residents in the 2022 Census, 12.2% of Rio Grande do Sul's 10,882,965. The IBGE estimate for 2026, 1,388,791, is 4.2% above the census: faster than Rio Grande do Sul as a whole (3.2%), 48th of 55 cities, against 5.5% for Brazil. The census counts 2.39 residents per occupied home, fewer than the 2.56 of Rio Grande do Sul.
20.8% of the 557,831 occupied homes of Porto Alegre were rented in 2022, close to the 22.2% national share, and 2.9 points above Rio Grande do Sul (17.9%); 73.2% were owned by a resident. That is the 49th highest rental share of 55 cities.
Porto Alegre 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 0.5% for some purchases it defines, which the calculator does not apply.
By population the closest cities on Payotte are Belém (1,303,403 residents, 19.9% of homes rented, ITBI 3%) and Goiânia (1,437,366 residents, 34.3% of homes rented, ITBI 2%). In the Sul region, which has 10 of the 55 cities, Porto Alegre has the 10th highest share of rented homes. Its 2.39 residents per occupied home rank 55th of 55, among the least crowded.
| Measure | Value | Reference | Rank |
|---|---|---|---|
| Porto Alegre: residents, 2022 Census | 1,332,845 | median city 616,317 | 11th of 55 |
| Porto Alegre: share of Rio Grande do Sul's residents | 12.2% | 10,882,965 in the state | 1st of 2 in the state |
| Porto Alegre: estimate for 2026 against the census | +4.2% | Rio Grande do Sul +3.2% | 48th of 55 |
| Porto Alegre: occupied homes, 2022 | 557,831 | Rio Grande do Sul 4,257,001 | 9th of 55 |
| Porto Alegre: residents per occupied home | 2.39 | Rio Grande do Sul 2.56 | 55th of 55 |
| Porto Alegre: homes rented | 20.8% | Brazil 22.2%, Rio Grande do Sul 17.9% | 49th of 55 |
| Porto Alegre: homes owned by a resident | 73.2% | Rio Grande do Sul 76.3% | 7th of 55 |
| Porto Alegre: ITBI rate | 3% | median of 41 cities 2% | 2nd of 41 |
| Porto Alegre: ITBI on R$ 500 thousand | R$ 15,000 | at the median rate R$ 10,000 | +R$ 5,000 |
| Porto Alegre: ITBI on R$ 1 million | R$ 30,000 | at the median rate R$ 20,000 | +R$ 10,000 |
| Porto Alegre: all computed lines on R$ 500 thousand | at least R$ 19,935 | 3.99% of the price | R$ 39,322 on R$ 1 million |
Notary and registry fees, the median financed home and the construction cost of Rio Grande do Sul are on its state page.
The figures
| Measure | Value | Source |
|---|---|---|
| ITBI transfer tax (3%), Porto Alegre, on R$ 500 thousand | R$ 15,000 | Lei Complementar nº 197/1989, art. 16 (rates); IN RM 001/2026 (base) |
| Notary deed (escritura), Porto Alegre, on R$ 500 thousand | R$ 2,474 | Rio Grande do Sul 2026 fee table |
| Registration at the property registry, Porto Alegre, on R$ 500 thousand | R$ 2,461 | Rio Grande do Sul 2026 fee table |
| Population, 2022 Census | 1,332,845 | IBGE |
| Population estimate, 2026 | 1,388,791 | IBGE |
| Occupied homes rented, 2022 Census | 20.8% | 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 Rio Grande do Sul
Sources
- ITBI, Porto Alegre: Lei Complementar nº 197/1989, art. 16 (rates); IN RM 001/2026 (base) (consulted 2026-10-15).
- Notary and registry fees, Rio Grande do Sul: Tabela de Emolumentos (Anexo, Lei estadual 12.692/2006) published by Corregedoria-Geral da Justica TJRS in DJE-RS Caderno Extra n. 8.048 of 15/12/2025; 5.86% adjustment (IPC/IEPE/UFRGS); in force 01/01/2026; the calculator.
- Census and construction cost: IBGE, SIDRA (4714, 6579, 9930, 2296).
- Loans and values: Banco Central do Brasil open data (ODbL 1.0); Copom decisions.