Cost of Living in Brazil

[Golfingworld]

I find it hard to believe that whilst all the major hotels in natal meet to discuss the vicious downturn in tourism the airport turns down an offer of another inbound tourist flight...no sense to this at all. The issue is simple to my mind...greed....prices have risen too high in natal area and some prices are now no different to Europe partly due to exchange rates but mainly as local prices have risen too much and whether you like it or not an italian meal for €60 is better in italy than Brazil.....much as brasil is exotic it is only exotic when it is cheap.....when it ceases to be cheap people go elsewhere where quality and value is better such as Dominican Republic or Mexico where hotels are mnuch better. The flights then follow this demand...not the other way round..as for fligh costs to brazil...a huge huge rip off.......until this stops there wont be any boom and many more developments will go bust! Just you wait and see.

[Sao P]

Originally Posted by Golfingworld

I find it hard to believe that whilst all the major hotels in natal meet to discuss the vicious downturn in tourism the airport turns down an offer of another inbound tourist flight...no sense to this at all. The issue is simple to my mind...greed....prices have risen too high in natal area and some prices are now no different to Europe partly due to exchange rates but mainly as local prices have risen too much and whether you like it or not an italian meal for €60 is better in italy than Brazil.....much as brasil is exotic it is only exotic when it is cheap.....when it ceases to be cheap people go elsewhere where quality and value is better such as Dominican Republic or Mexico where hotels are mnuch better. The flights then follow this demand...not the other way round..as for fligh costs to brazil...a huge huge rip off.......until this stops there wont be any boom and many more developments will go bust! Just you wait and see.

Thats the one of the top 3 reasons why I moved to Brasil, is becuase it was cheap. May as well go live in the Med countries if prices reach EU levels. Cheaper plane tickets, and you´ll have better security too !

[JMBroad]

What is the same price as Europe?

Although I haven't been back in the last 3 months, two of my colleagues have visited Natal since then and I've heard no reports of the cost of life being the same as anywhere in Europe. Another two of my colleagues are flying to Rio tomorrow. Should I'll go warn them that the cost of living will be comparable to Lisbon, Paris, Berlin or London?

[Golfingworld]

Meal prices in Pipa and some restaurants in natal are not far off Europe, wine is far more expensive! Hotel prices asked in Pipa during December where the same or higher (approx GBP£60 per night) to better accomodation in Europe. Car hire here is more expansive than Spain or Portugal, petrol the same or more. Taxis generally cheaper, a bottle of beer maybe 25% cheaper as I said wine prices a scandal. This place is nowhere near as cheap as people think and it is a bit like the USAit is all the add ons....a few Reis here and there as tips etc. It is certainly not as cheap now as it was 1/5 years ago and I would guess Rio/SP are no cheaper than most other world cities. The only difference is that yes if you go a few blocks back there are local prices like there is in the property market but most gringo tourists don't want to sit in a mud hut to save a few pennies. If you go to a supermarket anything electrical is double the Uk cost as is anything such as cosmetics soaps etc etc.......the only things cheaper are fruit fish and meat...even drinks..certainly soft drinks are the same or more expensive than the UK..how do I know it's my business! Coca Cola for example wholesale cost is 10% more expensive than the UK...and nmore expensive than local beer but with no duty on it! So Mr Broad, just more of your "assumptions" which look too much on the bright side as it suits your mission!

[jamphi24]

You can't compare Pipa to the rest of Brazil. The place is tiny and very popular!! Its a basic demand and supply graph, high demand, low supply = high prices!! But they are not that high, I stayed in a hotel there in december which cost R$90 for three of us per night!! And other hotels where similar prices. And of course there are expensive restaurants in Natal, but an expensive restaurant in Natal is the same price as a cheap restaurant in Europe. Beer was like R$1.50 a bottle? Thats not anywhere near Europe prices.
Car Hire was R$45 a day, I wouldn't call that expensive? Petrol was way cheaper. Was just over r$1.4 per litre compared to over EUR1.5 in europe.
Wine I will agree with you is sh*t and overpriced but that is because hardly anyone drinks it in Brazil.
I don't think anywhere is a cheap as it was five years ago? Its called inflation.
I have never been to Rio or SP so I can't comment on them.
Would disagree with you on the cosmetics and electrical goods. I would say they are about the same price.
Soft drinks I didn't find more expensive unless you are comparing the price of a can in a multipack from asda to the price they charge in an expensive restaurant in Natal. Wholesale cost may be more expensive but that is probably due to demand. Brazilians don't really like coke. Hardly saw anyone drinking the stuff out there and there are much cheaper local brands to buy instead. Why would anyone buy coke when there is Guarana is beyond me anyway
If you go to a pub here a pint of beer is the same price as a pint of coke too.

[robh]

Couldn't have said it better myself jamphi24.

[RalphJ]

Originally Posted by jamphi24

Petrol was way cheaper. Was just over r$1.4 per litre compared to over EUR1.5 in europe.

Wow....how many years ago was that? Gasoline has been well over 2 reais per litre for years in all of Brazil. Today, and for quite some time now, it's at 2.60 reais per litre, or more than 6 dollars per gallon, twice the price as in the U.S.

[Golfingworld]

Not much but an interesting discussion all the same..especially from someone who thinks that electrical goods in Brazil are "more or less" the same price as The UK and that Brazilians don't really like Coca Cola! And no you cannot compare Natal or Pipa with the rest of brazil, but I am not I am comparing it to UK and Europe and in my view it is not that cheap here for day to day living costs......brand names in clothes, sunglasses, shoes or anything well known is waymore expensive than UK for sure. Medicnines anti biotics etc....same or more expensive.....the list is endless....another fallacy that Brazil is so cheap...in fact property is one of the few areas where prices are cheap.

[RalphJ]

Originally Posted by Golfingworld

Not much but an interesting discussion all the same..especially from someone who thinks that electrical goods in Brazil are "more or less" the same price as The UK and that Brazilians don't really like Coca Cola! And no you cannot compare Natal or Pipa with the rest of brazil, but I am not I am comparing it to UK and Europe and in my view it is not that cheap here for day to day living costs......brand names in clothes, sunglasses, shoes or anything well known is waymore expensive than UK for sure. Medicnines anti biotics etc....same or more expensive.....the list is endless....another fallacy that Brazil is so cheap...in fact property is one of the few areas where prices are cheap.

I know it's off topic but pertinent to the last several posts. Life in Brazil is not cheap, matter of fact, when one weighs the cost/benefit, value in products and services, my life in the U.S. was quite a bit cheaper than here in Brazil. IF the same quality of product or service is even available here, it's normally more expensive.

[totallyproperty]

Hi All,
Have created this new thread out of the flight one.