Belo Horizonte vs João Pessoa vs Natal (dating + lifestyle?)
I'm moving to Brazil for 6–12 months (possibly permanently if I end up loving it), and after a lot of research, I've narrowed it down to three cities:
- Belo Horizonte
- João Pessoa
- Natal
A bit about me:
- 37-year-old European
- Previously lived in Thailand for 5 years, so I'm already sure I enjoy living abroad
- I'll start Portuguese classes as soon as I arrive
- Budget: around R$12,000/month
- Looking for an upper-middle-class lifestyle
- Rio, São Paulo, and Florianópolis are outside my budget
My priorities, in order:
- Dating (I'm interested in meeting attractive, educated, fitness-oriented local women. I'm not interested in the sex industry.)
- Outdoor lifestyle (beaches, running, gyms, weekend trips, etc.)
- Cost of living
- Safety (relative to Brazil)
My current thinking:
João Pessoa
Pros:
- Beautiful beaches and beach lifestyle
- Affordable
- Close to Recife, Natal and Maceió
Cons:
- Might feel too small after a while?
Natal
Pros:
- Same beach lifestyle
- Affordable
- Close to João Pessoa, Recife and Maceió
Cons:
- Might become boring?
- Is it overly touristy compared to João Pessoa?
Belo Horizonte
Pros:
- Huge metro area with a much larger dating pool
- Probably more restaurants, nightlife, and events
Cons:
- No beach
- More expensive
- Fewer nearby weekend destinations
My biggest question is whether the larger dating pool in Belo Horizonte actually outweighs the beach lifestyle in João Pessoa or Natal.
Does BH have a noticeably better dating scene for someone looking for attractive, educated, active women, or does the healthier coastal lifestyle in João Pessoa and Natal make that assumption wrong?
For those who have actually been to these cities, which one would you choose, and why?
I'm especially interested in the beauty and quality of women + a fun, active lifestyle.