Why Guarulhos is Ranked One of the Fastest Growing Cities (According to a Pro Dancer Who Can’t Stop Hitting Samba Clubs)
so i’m sweating through my tank top in some back-alley *boteco at 2am, sipping a Skol beer that costs less than subway fare in São Paulo, and this dude with a flip-flop tanline starts ranting about how Guarulhos is basically multiplying like bacteria. turns out he’s not wrong-the city’s population jumped from 1.3 million in 2010 to nearly 1.4 million by 2022, and everyone’s either here for the GRU Airport jobs or because they got priced out of downtown SP. rent? try R$1,500 ($300) for a one-bedroom near Jardim Tranquilidade. yeah, it’s loud, but your wallet won’t scream.
the rhythm of chaos
Guarulhos doesn’t sleep. it clatters. i counted seven samba spots within walking distance of my Airbnb, packed with airport workers blowing off steam after shifts. the city feels like a remix-half Bosque Maia park (where joggers dodge iguanas), half highway spaghetti leading to São Paulo. check the Guarulhos subreddit-even locals argue whether it’s “melhor que SP” or just glorified airport real estate.
dirty cheap + dangerous spice
Let’s be real: safety’s a flip coin. my backpack got swiped near Pimentas Market (drunk advice: never wear flashy sneakers there). but you can still live like a king on R$3k/month-this Yelp list proves you’ll stuff your face with pão de queijo for R$5. jobs? logistics gigs pay 20% more than pre-pandemic, according to some dude named Carlinhos who claimed to be “the Uber driver mayor.”
the verdict from a dancer’s hips
Guarulhos isn’t pretty. it’s functional. wanna party? hit Casa de Samba Zé do Caroço. wanna save cash while São Paulo party crews nap? perfect. overheard at a bus stop: “we’re like SP’s armpit-smelly but necessary.” the weather? imagine a sweaty samba rehearsal at high noon. and if you hate it, Mogi das Cruzes* is 40 minutes east, but good luck finding cheaper caipirinhas.
You might also be interested in:
- https://topiclo.com/post/newelleville-street-art-crawl-messy-notes-from-a-wandering-soul
- https://topiclo.com/post/lagos-heatstroke-questionable-plantain-a-botanists-descent
- https://topiclo.com/post/childcare-costs-and-options-in-kbe-a-messy-real-talk
- https://topiclo.com/post/seasonal-weather-in-etimesgut-what-to-expect-throughout-the-year-and-honestly-everything-else
- https://topiclo.com/post/hidden-gems-in-valencia-that-even-locals-dont-know-about-and-why-you-should-care