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Closing costs
On top of the purchase price, a buyer in the city of Rio pays a municipal transfer tax and two sets of official fees. Together they usually land between 3.5% and 4.5% of the price, and almost all of that is the tax.
ITBI (Imposto sobre Transmissão de Bens Imóveis) is the municipal property transfer tax. In the city of Rio de Janeiro the rate is 3%, charged on whichever is higher: the price in the contract, or the city’s own reference value for that property. The buyer pays it, and it must be settled before the deed can be registered — the registry office will not record the transfer without proof of payment.
There is no first-purchase discount on ITBI. The 50% reduction people mention applies to the notary and registry fees, and only for a first residential purchase financed under the Brazilian SFH housing finance system — which in practice is not the route most international buyers take.
Cash purchase, city of Rio de Janeiro, no financing. Notary and registry fees are set by a published state schedule in value bands, not as a percentage — which is why they barely move as the price rises.
| Property price | ITBI (3%) | Notary (escritura) | Registry | Total added |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| R$ 500,000 (~US$ 98,000) | R$ 15,000 | R$ 2,907 | R$ 2,874 | R$ 20,781 (~US$ 4,100) |
| R$ 800,000 (~US$ 157,000) | R$ 24,000 | R$ 3,422 | R$ 3,389 | R$ 30,811 (~US$ 6,000) |
| R$ 1,500,000 (~US$ 294,000) | R$ 45,000 | R$ 4,452 | R$ 4,418 | R$ 53,870 (~US$ 11,000) |
US dollar figures are indicative, converted at R$ 5.1053 per US$ 1 (Central Bank of Brazil reference rate, 2026-08-04). Everything is charged in Brazilian reais.
Our interactive calculator handles the full fee schedule, including the financing and first-purchase reductions. It is in Portuguese, but the form takes one number and the result is a table of amounts — usable with a translation tool if you need one. Or send us the price and we will run it for you.
These are reference estimates for the city of Rio de Janeiro. The actual ITBI is calculated on the city’s reference value when that exceeds the contract price, and notary and registry fees follow the current state schedule. Rates and schedules are set by rules that change. Confirm the final amounts with the relevant notary and registry office, or with a Brazilian lawyer, before you commit.