Quote from richie90:
Our questions are ... where in Brazil is a really nice/safe place to live and trade during the day ? Rio, Salvador etc?
We would like to stay near the beaches( for the babes of course). What are the Internet connections options (is DSL available and the prices? ) Apartments (2 bedrooms) rental prices? Used car prices?
In general what is the cost of living there and what kind of expenses to expect. Can we survive comfortably on $3k-$4k usd per month? I speak spanish/english and my friend only speaks english. We both intend to learn/study portuguese when we get there.
Please give us suggestions and opinions on this adventure.
Thanks
I have been living in Brazil from 3 years and I am trading from here. First, I really think it is a good suggestion for you to check out the country and if you like it before you move here.
There are a lot of stories about everything and don't believe all you hear e.g. the country may have a potential in 10 years and if you leave your car in the street it would be picked clean of parts. These are not objective views and just subjective points of view!However, violence is a everyday concern and the country is of course different from U.S and European standards. It is a 3rd world country with nearly half of the 170 million population living near starvation. I suggest you to read a Lonely Planet guide or some other country giudes before you go here. They are probably more balanced and gives you a better understanding before coming here.
Anyway, some suggestions and answers to your questions. I would suggest you to stay in Rio de Janeiro. Other choices would be Salvador, Recife or Natal but of course this is a personal taste. DSL exists in all these places and expect to pay about 40 dollar per month for 256 and the double for 512. However, you will need a local tax number to sign up for the service (or use your landlord if he does it for you). A good 2 bedroom apartment in any place you can probably get for about 500 dollar per month but expect to pay the double-quadruple for a nice front beach apartment. Of course this varies for the places. You can easily get by with about 1000-1300 dollar here including living and food, gas etc as this is cheap. With 3-5 k you will live a very good life! Insurance is another issue and important for the health care, but you will def. need to bring it from the U.S. A second hand Chevrolet Vectra would cost you about 10-15000 dollar.
Quote from Nana Trader:
Some questions:
1-Is it nessecerry to hire/buy car, and if it's economic compare
to using taxi always? Is toursim attraction is spreaded all
over differnet places?
2-since you are planing for long term stay, you sould be
getting accomadation at a real bargin price? what the
price for 3-4**** stars hotel in or near downtown on
monthly bases?
3-will you be cooking yourself or eating outside all the
time? what's the price for drinks and food like?
4-what is the best time to visit Brazil? Also when is the
carnival?
5-Is brazil safe enough to be walking late evening near
the entertainment district?
6-Is it nesseccry to speak Porchogees or Spanish langugge
to pick up sexy chiks?
Thanks for any advice and apologize for adding more questions
Answers:
1. Go with taxi in the beginning. Driving in the big cities here is really boring and different in the beginning, and can be dangerous. In São Paulo, it is estimated that about 5000 hi-jackings of cars (together with the driver) is done every year. Learn and then get a car. Taxis are cheap and cost like 3-4 dollar per 10 km.
2. 3-4 star hotel or apartment hotel about 500-750 dollar per month if you stay long term and negotiate price.
3. Eaiting outside is cheap. A BigMac is about 2.5 dollar. A beer about 0.6 dollar.
4. Anytime, but depends definitely on where you are going. Brazil is HUGE. Take a look at the map and compare it to the U.S. In winter-time the temperature between south and north can be something like 40 degrees celsius.
5. I would say safe if you have experience from other 3rd world countries but tourists are easy targets and robbed and killed. This happens all the time. Dress down, don't wear expensive jewellery, watches etc and mix in with the locals in terms of clothes etc. And learn the language!!!
6. No, it is not necessary to speak Portuguese, but if you want anything else but prostitutes it is definitely a pre-req!
Take care and have fun!