Guia para Mônaco: fatos interessantes

To introduce yourself as a resident of Monaco welcomes an association like no other place in the world. If you say you’re from New York, for example, or Paris, or even Hong Kong, people will not instantly assume you’re wealthier than most. But to utter “I live in Monaco” is a statement like no other because, indeed, Monaco is a place like no other.

In Monaco, the second-smallest country in the world, real estate prices are now as much as €53,000 per m2 — €5 million can buy you a small apartment of roughly 1000 square feet / 100m2 — making it the most expensive real estate on the planet. And if the sky-high real estate costs weren’t enough to convince you, one quick stroll down any one of its windy streets means pedestrians will be walking past a bevy of custom Lamborghinis, McLarens, and Ferraris (all driving the 31 miles per hour typical speed limit throughout Monaco).

Much of what makes Monaco such a desirable locale is well known: the legendary hotels, the Cote d’Azur climate, and –of course– its unique tax benefits for the ultrarich. But what it’s really known for is its wealth. It is so wealthy that it doesn’t even measure poverty rates. There are no homeless or poor people. In fact, to live comfortably in Monaco, you’ll either need a hefty trust fund or an income of at least €250,000 per adult.

Monte Carlo o bairro mais chamativo e famoso de Mônaco está repleto de hotéis cinco estrelas superluxuosos supercarros exóticos, sofisticado boutiques de designers, and the famous Cassino de Monte Carlo.

With this Monaco and Monte-Carlo travel guide, Iconic Riviera will give you a sneak-peek of the opulent lifestyle the Principality offers, as told by a resident of Monaco. This is just one of several Monaco guides on Iconic Riviera.

Monaco: The Essentials

Tamanho: Com apenas 200 hectares, é o segundo menor país do mundo (perdendo apenas para o Vaticano). Tem apenas dois quilômetros quadrados. É aproximadamente do tamanho do Central Park de Nova York. É dez vezes maior que o Museu do Louvre, três vezes maior que o National Mall em Washington, D.C., um terço do tamanho de um distrito parisiense médio ou apenas um quarto dos jardins do Castelo de Versalhes.

Currency: The currency is the same as the rest of the European Union, the Euro €. Like the rest of Europe, Monaco also has robust social programs, including housing subsidies for the Monegasque citizens, free education, and affordable healthcare.

Language: French is the official language, but most people understand and speak English, many as native speakers — and many also speak Italian and Russian. It’s helpful to know French (especially if you need to visit the hospital, where many receptionists refuse to speak English), but you can get along without it.

Citizenship

Because of the lucrative subsidies and benefits that you get when you become a citizen, it’s extremely rare to be granted citizenship, even after living in Monaco for many decades. Monégasques were born Monégasques. It’s the blood line that matters. Of course, there are exceptions, for example, you can ask for Monégasque citizenship after 10 years of being married to a Monégasque (but you almost certainly won’t receive it, and you’ll need to give up your other citizenships if you do). Or if you’re a celebrity or you’ve done something muito special for the principality, the Prince might consider offering it to you as a special favor.

That’s why most of the people who live in Monaco are citizens of other countries while also being residents of Monaco…

Who Lives in Monaco

Para ser residente em Mônaco, você precisa alugar um apartamento (o aluguel começa em cerca de € 5.000 por mês para o menor valor exigido) e comprovar que possui pelo menos € 500.000 (por residente) em uma conta bancária em Mônaco. A maioria dos apartamentos confortáveis tem preços a partir de € 10.000 por mês, e alguns apartamentos podem chegar a € 300 trilhões por mês. Para comprar, espere pagar cerca de € 50.000 por m².

More ultra-high-net-worth individuals have chosen to make Monaco their home, by population density, than anywhere else on Earth, with one in 39 homeowners being classed as a UHNWI (“ultra high net worth” — meaning they have a minimum of $30 million in liquid money in a bank account).

The high cost of living is balanced out by the fact that residents save money by not paying any tax on their personal income. American and French citizens can’t benefit from this (unless they renounce their citizenship and have an alternate passport), as both countries tax their citizens even while residing in Monaco.

A população de Mônaco é de cerca de 38.000 habitantes e está crescendo (aqui estão os últimos relatórios estatísticos). Moradores se mudaram para cá de outros 140 países. Em Mônaco, cerca de um quarto da população é francesa (a maioria famílias francesas que se estabeleceram em Mônaco antes de outubro de 1957; novos residentes franceses são obrigados a pagar imposto de renda francês), pouco menos de um quarto são italianos e quase 8% são britânicos.

Despite there being a local Russian-language magazine and Russian being the predominant language you hear on the streets of Monaco, the census says that only 12.5% of the population are Russian passport holders. However, since most wealthy Russians swapped their Russian passport for that of Cyprus (or other countries) before moving to Monaco, the actual percentage of Russian-born residents is much higher.

The average life expectancy for the people of Monaco is 89.5 – the longest life expectancy in the world.

Apenas 22% da população são monagesques (cidadãos de Mônaco) e os 78% restantes são "residentes" de Mônaco. A idade média dos monegascos é de 44,4 anos, e quase 14% dos cidadãos têm mais de 75 anos. Em 2021, o Principado contava com 9.573 monegascos, dos quais 8.980 viviam em Mônaco e 593 no exterior.

Aqui estão os dados do último Monaco census:

Lack of Female Inclusivity in the Workplace

Despite its efforts to modernize, Monaco is still behind the times on the gender equality front. Monaco is still a deeply patriarchal place, and the laws reflect that — including an outdated, ages-old rule dictates that it is the Prince’s son (not his daughter) who must take the throne.

In Monaco, women make 20% less income than men do, for the same work. Regarding the 531 government roles filled in 2022, 158 went to women and 373 went to men. 

De acordo com IMSEE, only 28% of Monaco’s corporate governors are female, only 29% of senior roles at limited liability companies are held by women, and at public limited companies, only 1 in 5 (22%) people in charge is female. Women represent only 19% of those employed in the financial and insurance industries, and 21% in information and communication jobs.  

Monaco’s Neighborhoods

Before we go any further in this travel guide, we will explain the difference between Monaco and Monte-Carlo. Many seem to confuse one with the other. Consequently, several hotels that are not in Monte-Carlo still use the words ‘Monte Carlo’ in their name, so be careful to check a map before booking, or you may end up walking 30 minutes to Monte-Carlo from your ‘Monte Carlo’ hotel!

Mônaco is the country or city-state. Whereas, Monte-Carlo is one of the neighborhoods within. There are nine other neighborhoods within the city-state. The most well-known is Monte Carlo, where the casino is located. Also famous is Monaco-Ville with its other name Le Rocher (The Rock) which is the oldest area and houses the Palace and Monaco’s jail. La Condamine is a popular area known for the main port (Port Hercule), which has a large event space used for the Grande Prêmio de Mônaco e a Show de iates de Mônaco. Larvotto is where the beach and many fantastic restaurants are located. Then there is Fontvieille (where you’ll land if you arrive by helicopter), which is the newest residential area partially reclaimed from the sea — and where the local police and firefighters live. The other areas are mostly just residential and not attractive to tourists.

Getting Around in Monaco

Monaco is at the foot of the Alps mountain range e é muito íngreme. Locomover-se em Mônaco pode ser uma experiência frustrante devido à falta de Uber (sim, eu sei — é uma frustração para muitos turistas e moradores). Felizmente, há muitos estacionamentos claramente sinalizados. Mas cuidado — se você tiver um veículo grande, pode não caber em alguns deles.

Locals know where all the (somewhat hidden) elevators are, so they can walk places quickly, but if you don’t, then you’ll likely be getting some good uphill exercise in order to get to your destination by foot. Here’s a guide to getting around in Monaco (and where the elevators are!)

How Monaco is Governed

The Monaco government is what’s called a ‘Unitary Parliamentary Constitutional Monarchy’. It is an independent City-State (Monaco is not part of France). A hereditary constitutional monarchy sets the Head of the State, and the Sovereign Prince is the head of the government. The Consultative Constitutional Assemblies assist in governing. H.S.H. Prince Albert II reigns as the current monarch.

Mônaco é membro pleno com direito a voto das Nações Unidas e faz parte de treze organizações da ONU, como a UNESCO e a OMS. O Tratado Franco-Monegasco de 1861 reconheceu oficialmente Mônaco como um estado soberano.

Apesar da independência de Mônaco e de sua política externa independente, sua defesa é responsabilidade da França. No entanto, Mônaco mantém duas pequenas unidades militares.

Mônaco é predominantemente católico romano. É também a religião oficial. Ainda assim, a Constituição garante a liberdade de culto. O lema é "Deo Juvante". Em inglês, significa "Com a ajuda de Deus".

Safety and the Monaco Police

Monaco has the largest police force and police presence in the world, on both a per-capita and per-area basis. With nation-wide video surveillance, three police stations, and one police officer per 73 residents, Monaco has safety standards so strict that it is known as the safest square mile in the world. Compare that to NYC, one of the USA’s most policed and safest cities, which has one officer per 233 residents.

Os 519 policiais são cuidadosamente selecionados na força policial francesa e devem passar por um programa adicional de treinamento intensivo de dois anos para servir em Mônaco. É uma posição muito desejável, pois recebem um salário alto e um apartamento gratuito à beira-mar em Fontvieille, Mônaco.

The Monaco police don’t mess around: the rules are extremely strict and the court system in Monaco almost always pronounces maximum sentences. So behave yourself!

Mônaco possui um sistema de videovigilância 24 horas que abrange toda a superfície do Principado, incluindo a maioria dos saguões de edifícios residenciais, um sistema de transmissão digno dos melhores exércitos do mundo e a possibilidade de bloquear todos os acessos de entrada e saída do Principado em poucos minutos. E não podemos nos esquecer das equipes de vigilância dentro do Cassino e em todos os estabelecimentos de jogos de azar e hotéis.

Isso funciona bem para residentes e turistas, pois você não precisará se preocupar com o roubo de sua pulseira de diamantes ou bolsa de grife ou com o desaparecimento de seu filho. Se o seu filho se perder, a polícia poderá rastreá-lo com rastreamento de vídeo de reconhecimento facial e encontrá-lo em questão de minutos.

Confira nosso guide to Monaco’s jail!

Documentary: An Insider Look at Monaco

Durante um ano, as câmeras deste documentário acompanharam o Príncipe em suas atividades diárias como chefe de Estado e família, nos bastidores dos palácios principescos e no exterior. Você verá seu escritório pessoal no topo de uma das torres do palácio, os aposentos mais reservados onde ele sempre se encontra com a família, eventos esportivos em galas beneficentes de prestígio, obrigações políticas e paixões pessoais, em Mônaco ou no exterior, com o governante de Mônaco compartilhando pela primeira vez sua vida pública e privada.

A Visual Overview of Monaco

SBM has created an tour virtual interativo of Monaco. It’s a fun way to virtually ‘walk’ around Monaco and tour inside some of the landmark buildings, hotels and casinos.

More Travel Guides to Monaco and Monte-Carlo

Like art? To find the art in the Principality, check out this travel guide to Monaco’s art scene.

The Principality has many beautiful parks and gardens perfect with picturesque and Instagram-worthy views. See this guide to Monaco’s parks for more.

And, are you curious how billionaires live a life of luxury in Monte Carlo? Take a look at this billionaire-life travel guide.

For the best shopping experiences, see this guide to Monaco’s shopping centers.

Wondering about the royal family? Check out our guide to the history of Monaco.

We’ve also created a complete guide to the Monte Carlo Casino e the Opera House.

Este é um mapa muito útil de MônacoVocê pode filtrar o mapa para mostrar os banheiros públicos, bicicletários, bebedouros, parques para cães, dispensadores de gel e muito mais mais próximos! A seção de estacionamento permite que você verifique a disponibilidade de vagas em tempo real por estacionamento.

And check Iconic Riviera regularly as we add more travel guides every week!

Important Monaco Contacts