Places that DON'T celebrate Carnival

There are two things going on during that time that make it difficult to "escape". There are places like Salvador, Rio and Recife, and smaller places like the Colonial town of Ouro Preto, that have a Carnaval celebration. And there is every other possible vacation destination in Brazil, particularly those along the coast, where Brazilians go to spend their vacation time relaxing and partying during the Carnaval period.
I'd be very surprised if popular coastal Natal had regular prices for Carnaval. There've been postings about visitors who thought they were getting some published rate, but ended up without a place to stay or paying the holiday rate when the property finally realized.
And Salvador right after Carnaval does not "get back to normal". That IMO is probably the worst times to be in the city, since it has been 'vandalized' by the hordes and takes awhile to recover, most of the music that makes the place is on hiatus, and most local cultural activities that make the city what it is, as well.
If you can find housing in Salvador for as cheap as U$50/ night during Carnaval, I'd sure do it if I were you. Btw there's no need to pay for 'entrance to street parties', whatever that means. If you are describing buying an abada/T-shirt to follow one band/singer on a certain trio eletrico truck(s) as it follows one of the routes, it's not a requirement to participate or enjoy the Carnaval routes and music in Salvador. Just stay in the pipoca as we often do; it's free.
In conclusion, IMO you'd have to find some small, boring, dusty little village in the interior to avoid Carnaval in Brazil, someplace where you might have trouble staying awake, let alone keeping yourself amused, and even then, maybe you wouldn't avoid Carnaval entirely. Good luck and bah humbug to you.

Curitiba, famously, does not have a carnaval (well actually it does but it's pretty low key). Rather you than me though.

Pretty much anywhere on the coast will be busy and more expensive than usual because carnaval is also a time when people holiday.

I don't think you've quite understood how carnaval works in most places. I'm not sure what you mean by paying for street parties. You can pay to join a bloco in Salvador or you can watch it from a camarote but equally you can just watch it from the street for free, it's called going pipoca. The only substantial increases in expenses will be accommodation. Rio's blocos are essentially free entertainment, leaving aside what you consume in terms of alcohol but even that's optional. Same is true in most cities.

If you really can't afford or abide the idea of carnaval, then head inland. Where you go depends on how far you are prepared to travel. If you want suggestions indicate how far you will travel from where and where you need or wish to return to.

It doesn't help you as you will be in the north but ... Sao Paulo whilst having a Carnaval really is empty. Everyone leaves. No business is being done. I went to visit a mate a week before I started a new job, which happened to be the week of carnaval and we were to stay in SP as he didnt want to party either. At last minute we rented a car and stayed in a friends house in Rio. Was amazing and fortunately affordable.

SP was quiettttttt.

Be great to hear what you end up doing.

The basic question - where can one go to avoid carnaval - is interesting. I have friends, well educated, travelled, and moderately wealthy, in Vitória ES with whom I've been staying de vez em quando over several years. They detest carnaval, and consider Rio de Janeiro a place to stay away from at any time. Their circle of Brazilian friends seems to share that opinion. I've never been in Brazil for Carnaval, but I'll see what carnival-free places they can tell me of. The social position of the family I visit, doesn't appear to be a factor. A taxi driver in Rio de Janeiro gave me a non-stop anti-carnival rant while taking me to the airport. The sympathetic comments I made when he stopped to for breath, got me a sizeable cut on the fare.

Try Blumenau in southern Brazil.

Coincidence. A son of my friends in Vitória lives in Blumenau, so they'll definitely know about that place.

Yes, by all means try Blumenau. See what the world would have looked like had the Germans won the war. Long way to travel from the north east.

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