Based on the stats page of the Blog, there is interest in learning what the Cost of Living is in Brazil.
What I have added here is a general reference….very general! In cities such as São Paulo, Rio, Belo Horizonte the cost of living will be higher - double or more. There could be places in the NE in the interior that perhaps would/could be half what is noted in the graphic. (click image to enlarge)
The problem isn’t so much the cost of living, but the ability to earn the money to pay it!
When I first came to Brazil in 1964, I earned about US$50 a month as a Peace Corps Volunteer. That allowed me to rent a room, usually included meals, paid for laundry, travel to the capital and covered my pool hall bill. Every town in the interior had a bar with a pool table. Like A&W drive-ins in the States back in the 50s and 60s. It was were all the guys met….no girls entered or very rarely. The bars were opened faced to the street; not like the dark, smelling of cigarette smoke ones in the US or Europe.
For a single person living in a small town in the interior, I lived ok. Today to do the same, I would guess you would need US$400, but you must remember we were backed up by the US Government…health care was covered, vacation pay and big brother there to step in if you became a homeless gringo.
UPDATES:
30 May 08
The US$ continues to weaken against the Brazilian Real. Click here to check May index.
17 Feb 08
We are talking after taxes here. Taxes are confusing and complicated here. If you are on a straight salary, perhaps less so. If you own your company or are self-employed, I would suggest that an account help you with your first filing.
6 Jan 08
As the graph shows, a married couple will need at least US$2,000 per month to live what most would consider a ‘normal’ life. But on this, you would not be able to save much. I’ve read the 85% of Brazilians have no cash reserve. You would be part of the 85%.
Too really live comfortably here you will need US$3,000 to 5,000 per month depending on the city unless you live in the interior in a city of 200,000 or so, in which, case I would “guess” you would need 30% less.
