Fortaleza vs Manaus
How to read the comparison chart
The grouped bars score each city 0–100 on cost, climate and safety — taller is better. Fortaleza leads on any axis where its bar is higher, Manaus where its is. The cost bar uses a higher-is-cheaper scale, so Manaus's taller cost bar reflects its lower cost of living, not a higher price.
| Axis | Fortaleza | Manaus |
|---|---|---|
| Livability | 63 | 62 |
| Cost (higher=cheaper) | 43 | 43 |
| Climate | 84 | 82 |
| Safety | 65 | 63 |
| Summer °C | 27.3 | 27.7 |
| Winter °C | 25.6 | 26.3 |
| Top disaster risk | flooding | flooding |
Fortaleza vs Manaus: the short answer
Fortaleza comes out ahead on overall livability (63/100), only marginally above Manaus (62/100). The two cities diverge most on climate. On affordability Manaus is the cheaper base — nearly identical prices on our cost index (Fortaleza 43 vs Manaus 43, where a higher score means a lower cost of living, normalised from World Bank price levels). For climate, Manaus runs warmer in summer (about 27.7°C peak vs 27.3°C in Fortaleza), while winter lows sit near 25.6°C in Fortaleza and 26.3°C in Manaus. On natural-disaster exposure Fortaleza is the safer choice (safety 65/100); the dominant modelled hazard is flooding for Fortaleza and flooding for Manaus.
Which city should you choose?
- On a tight budget → Manaus — lower everyday costs..
- You want warmth → Manaus — hotter summers.
- Safety is the priority → Fortaleza — lower disaster risk.
- Best all-rounder → Fortaleza — highest overall livability.
Data & methodology
Cost scores are normalised from World Bank price-level data. Climate figures (summer highs, winter lows) are drawn from 1991–2020 climate normals. Disaster-safety blends USGS earthquake history (magnitude 4.5+ within 300 km since 1980), tropical-cyclone basin position, flood/elevation exposure and Köppen climate zone. The livability score is the weighted composite of cost, climate and safety. All figures are planning indicators for 2026, not guarantees — verify specifics before relocating.
FAQ
Is Fortaleza or Manaus better to live in?
Fortaleza scores higher overall — 63 vs 62 on our 0–100 livability index, which weights cost, climate and safety.
Which is cheaper, Fortaleza or Manaus?
Manaus has the lower cost of living (cost index 43 vs 43; higher = cheaper, from World Bank price levels).
Which is warmer, Fortaleza or Manaus?
Manaus — summer highs reach about 27.7°C versus 27.3°C in Fortaleza.
Which is safer from natural disasters, Fortaleza or Manaus?
Fortaleza (disaster-safety 65/100). Main hazard: flooding in Fortaleza, flooding in Manaus.
What is the main natural-disaster risk in Fortaleza?
flooding is the dominant modelled hazard for Fortaleza on our risk index.
How is the Fortaleza vs Manaus comparison calculated?
Cost comes from World Bank price levels, climate from 1991–2020 normals, and disaster risk from USGS earthquake data, cyclone-basin position and flood exposure; livability is their weighted composite.