Cost of living in Brazil in 2024

I've kept pretty detailed averages, in various categories.  We're a two person household, with frequent visitors.  So we likely average 3 people over the course of the year.

Food

• Groceries average R$2,800 month. That includes hygiene, cleaning supplies, dog food etc.
• Restaurants: I don't eat out much, but a prato executivo is about R$25-35 depending on the meat choice. High end places usually cost us R$150-200 for two.

Leisure

• Gym membership: R$500 for the year (I took advantage of a black Friday special, but it's normally R$750/year)
• BJJ classes: R$200/month
• Streaming services: Netflix is R$39/month.  Amazon prime + Paramount+: I believe $14.9 + R$19.99/month
• Other leisure activity is generally free (beach, walking etc..)

Medical

• Health insurance (Santa Catarina, Unimed) for M43 and F45 it costs us R$1,817/month

Mobile/internet

• Two mobile lines (Vivo): $176/month for both
• Internet is about R$129/month

Utilities/Housing

• Electric was right at $3,300 for all of last year, so right about R$275/month
• We don't rent but do have condo fees, which are R$1,362/month
• Property taxes were about R$4,300 for this year

Transport

• We have a car we barely use. We may fill up gas once every three months for about R$220
• Uber around town is usually in the R$9-R$12 range per trip

We live in Northeastern Brazil in a complex my wife created which has three separate houses in a village of about 2,500.

Groceries:

    About 500 Reis a month total. (for my house)

Housing:

    I  built my house for about $20k cash and owe nothing to anybody.

         FYI (My father built our house in the USA, his father built churches for a living

         and my younger brother is an extremely successful Real Estate Developer

         in San Francisco.

         Except for my first house with my wife in the USA, our family builds

         and pay`s cash for everything - no debt).

Transportation:

     I bought my wife a  two year old car when we arrived for cash. I am not sure what she ended up paying but I gave her $20k and I am sure she only used a portion of it.  Usually we fill up for about R$100. We have a Man Friday that drives us where we need to go. My wife tips him so it varies.

Electricity / Internet:

    I pay for the complex and it is about 800-1,000 Reis a month. They are combined.

Caretakers: We have two and my wife and I split the costs. I pay (monthly) $700 Reis for one, she pays for the other. (We live with my 97year old Brazilian Stepmother, my wife's mentally challenged uncle and our live-in caretaker and her kids who have their own house in the complex).

Streaming:

I have Express VPN and ALL my channels are from America. (Disney+, Hulu, ESPN+, Apple TV, Paramount +, Amazon Prime Video, Peacock and NFL) Only because Hulu is charging $77 for it's Hulu Live+ package of Disney, ESPN+ and HULU Live does my cost go up to over $100. I also have the NewsON App which connects me to 175 American TV Newscasts across the country (at least one in each state). I also have the NFL Sunday Ticket Pkg.

Leisure - We have a pool in front of my house and live 20minutes from Jericoacoara is I want more water.

Medical - There is an extensive thread where that question was asked and I detailed the costs for all my operations since I was here.

Roddie in Retirement

Hello @BRBC and @roddiesho

Thank you so much for these detailed posts.

Members will surely benefit from your inputs !

All the best

Bhavna

City: Rio de Janeiro

Barrio: Copacabana

Stats reflect a two person household

Groceries: R$1,400 month. We have 4 supermarkets within walking distance of our apt. A good PF or comida sem balanca is R$17-25 max. Eating out varies widely, but, we tend to hit one of our favorite places every weekend and that costs R$250-300 for a couple of appetizers, 2 main courses, and 4-6 chopp each.

Leisure: it's Copacabana, which means it is a free show anywhere you go. We hit the beach daily for an 8-10 KM walk.

Internet: R$175 a month for 2 cellphones with 95 gigs of data and a wifi router at home. We use the internet to source all our programming and do not pay streaming services.

Apartment costs : We have a 40 M2 high rise apartment 4 blocks from the beach and a block from the metro and a PF battalion. Electricity is R$200 a month if we use AC at night to sleep. Condo fees are R$700, but, we're paying a special assessment for a few more months as we renovated our garage and lobby common areas. It's currently R$1,200 until June.....when it goes back down. We have doormen 24 hours a day. IPTU is R$1,100 a year.

It's paid for, FMV is roughly R$500K today.

Medical: We pay out of pocket privately or use SUS. Cost of tests and medical appointments depends on who you deal with.

Vehicles: Gas is between R$4.80 and 6.00 depending where you go. We have a 10 year old FIAT. Garage is included in condo fees, but, we should sell our car as we rarely use it, and rent the garage for R$500 a month.

Misc: My barber charges R$40 for a hot towel straight razor shave. A haircut is R$35.......it can be had for less if you shop around. A mani-pedi is R$50.......

@Gasparzinho 777

Thank you very much @Gasparzinho 777

Your valuable inputs are most appreciated

Bhavna

Santo Andre-SP

In Brazilian Reais.

1.Housing.  We own it.  My second home is vacant. about 199 m2 or 2100 sf 3BR-2BA 1Pkg. Asking R$ 3,500. Above average neighborhood.  We are footing the bill on property taxes.

2.Broadband. I cut off Cable. Used to pay R$ 450 a month for Cable, Broadband, Two wireless lines.  Now figure into R$ 250 a month.

3.Groceries.  Anywhere from R$ 1500 to R$ 1800 a month for a party of two.

4.Fuel., Seldom pull the beater from the driveway. Figure about R$ 150-200 a month.

5.Health Care. Santo Andre, and the whole ABC is in the top 5% percentile as for quality of health care, private and public.  With the exception of an emergency here, or choice of better care, it's free.  On my domicile, I am about max,, 5 miles from a half dozen hospitals. 

6.Electricity. About R$ 120-R$ 150 per month per domicile. No AC. Older buildings do not need AC.

7.Water- Running wild lately @ R$ 150 per month. 

8.Entertainment. None. I do not go out unless I need.   

I came across this site by chance and want to help  a friend look after a child ( 1/12 years old) in middle  part of Brazil.  Its  Gionia ( if I spelt that correctly. What would one spend on general foood and baby items for say one month please. Accommodation is taken care of so its just food and clothing.

Thank you