CLB-Cost of Living Brazil: Broadband

 
This is a translation of an article from FolhaOnline, the Internet version of the newspaper, Folha de São Paulo. 
Broadband in Brazil is Expensive and Not Always Fast
GAVROCHE FUKUMA
colaboração para a Folha de S.Paulo
Brazil is among the ten countries with the highest number of broadband users in the world.  In the last quarter of 2008, it placed [...]

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CLB: February 2009

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Items in RED where not checked since the last CLB in Sept 08.
Prices vary greatly in Brazil from region to region, city to city and within cities.
These prices were taken from a supermarket in Goiânia and the national supermarket Pão de Acuçar. Pão de Acuçar is a national [...]

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CLB: Walmart Online

 
 
Love them or hate them, seems they are everywhere.
Compare prices between Walmart Brazil and Walmart USA or in you country.
LINKS:
> Walmart Brazil Online

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CLB: Crisis Puts Brazil’s Middle-Class Dreams On Hold

By Stuart Grudgings
RIO DE JANEIRO, Nov 13 (Reuters) – With big drops in auto sales, worker layoffs and scarce credit, signs are growing that the financial crisis is hurting Brazil’s middle class, whose ascent in recent years symbolized the economy’s boom.
From forests of new condominium towers on the beach-side outskirts of Rio de Janeiro [...]

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ECON STUFF: Credit Tightening In Brazil

Despite what President Lula says (Crisis? Talk to Bush.) credit has started tightening up here in Brazil.
Car loans have been reduced from a maximum of 72 to 60 months.  Personal consumer credit has reduced pay-back time from 36 to 24 months and the interest rate on personal bank loans has risen from 7.35% to 7.39% [...]

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CLB: 29 Sept 08

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Due to the meltdown in the USA today, the US$ to Real rate jumped to 1 US$ = R$ 1.96.  Friday the rate was R$ 1.85
There are only a few changes in Real prices (gasoline, ethanol, TV cable, Broadband).   I haven’t checked on the prices of other items, but the big [...]

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CLB: 13 Sept 08 – US$ Rebounds

The US$ made a comeback of sorts this last week. It reached 1.82 at one point but has settled in at 1.78. The Gurus had been talking about a 1.70 dollar by the end of the year. One never knows, it may drop to that by the end of the year [...]

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CARS: Comparing Cost of New Cars

The PT Cruiser in Brazil will cost about R$62,000 (US$ 38,000).  It is imported, which increases its cost.

The same model in the USA will cost about US$ 17,000.
If you earn the monthly minimum wage in Brazil, R$ 415 (US$256), it will take you about 149 months to pay off the car, or 12.44 years.
This [...]

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CLB: Dollar Up; Inflation Down

The Real rate to the US$ reached 1.56 about 10 days ago. The rate closed today (18 Aug) at 1.639. The good news (for those earning in US$) is the gurus say the US$ will be at 1.70 by the end of December 08 and maybe 2.00 by December 09. [...]

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ECON STUFF: More Taxes – Liquors and Wine

The Federal Government, effective 1 Oct, will increase the tax on whiskey, cachaça, vodka and wine, which will add about 5% to the final price to the consumber. Grim!
In January, the tax on beer will be adjusted (raised).   Even grimmer!
Where does the money go?

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ECON STUFF: Taxes By Product

Taxes are hidden here.   That is to say, the price of a product does not state the percentage you are paying in taxes.  State sales taxes run from 17% on up…depends on the State and the product.  On top of State sales taxes (ICMS) are other taxes most of which are caluclated one on top [...]

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CLB: July 08

The monthly budget has been updated and the format changed.  Food prices are creeping up and farm land prices have been exploding.   Interest rates are expected to increase, which will put continuing pressure on the US$.

I added “prices for single items”.
Click on the image for full view

LINKS:
> Reuters Article: Brazil’s Middle Class Dreams on Credit
[...]

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CLB: R$ should be SR$ Super Real

Today (30 May 2008) the US$ hit 1.628 to the Brazilian Real. The lowest US$ to R$ since January 1999.
I ATMd R$1,000 the day before yesterday (exchange was 1.67) which cost me US$598. I checked my accounts and on 8 May 07 the same R$1,000 cost me US$493.00. [...]

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CLB: May 2008

Here is the list of prices for May 2008. These prices will only give you an idea of what the cost of living will be.
Raised the cost of rent for an apartment to R$1,000. Probably closer to the average price of a three-bedroom, unfurnished apartment in most cities.

19 May 2008: US$ 1.648 [...]

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EDUCATION: International Schools in Brazil

Families moving to Brazil will be interested in checking out the availability of International Schools around the country.

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