Cost of living in Brazil 2023

@abthree

Can't deny what you said isn't true. In fact I already did get tired of it, that's why I left.  Like I said, brazil is to visit or I guess retire in the north or the interior in a tiny cheap town{ the majority here have said this} or short term stays, to which I aim to do. Each his own but yeah, no interest in diving deep into Port or rodrigos world. I'll pass.

@StarkHorizon Unimed for 1000 reais? I was quoted 1600 for a very basic plan. Then again it must be due to my age.

@Kat2202

The rates definitely climb quite a bit with age depending on the coverage band you select. I'm in my early 30s, so that's why the rate is that low, for now. Gonna have to shell out more eventually.

11/06/23   @StarkHorizon Unimed for 1000 reais? I was quoted 1600 for a very basic plan. Then again it must be due to my age.
   

    -@Kat2202

Hi, Denise.  You're in the State of Rio, right?  You may be able to do better by shopping around, only talking to plans that have good reputations where you are.  You also may find a better rate for the same plan, or even a better plan, by going directly to the plan's sales office, and not to an agent.  Some plans reject new customers if they're over a certain age, so be aware of that.

Once you're over a certain age (60 or 65, I think)  the plans can no longer increase your rate because of increased age, and the only increase you'll be charged is the annual across-the-board increase that the government allows to the plan as a whole, so your increases will be more or less predictable.  Until then, you'll get that increase AND rise through higher price brackets by age.

@abthree HI Abthree. Thank you for the info. I'm not in Rio yet. Planning on moving next year.  I spoke to several agents and cheapest  quote was from Prevent Senior for 1560. 

I was told several companies limited/closed plans for seniors.

My mother used to have a great plan with Unimed-Estado do Rio but apparently, they no longer insure anyone over 60.
I may wait to shop around once settled and, meanwhile roll the dice on SUS (carencia and all). SUS is good if you know how to navigate it and have connections.

We have had next to no issues with SUS, in retrospect its been more beneficial than Canadas heathcare system.

Unimed. Man every year im paying more and more and more, @abthree is there a limit or cap that stops the amount they can increase annually ?

I agree with my numerous experiences with SUS as well.

Far better than the Canadian health care system.

Also, the parallel private pay system is very good and not expensive, relative to our income.

Canada could learn a lot from Brasil.

I have had a great expirience with SUS.  We have Unimed now.  My wife prefers to have coverage.  I'm 43 and she is 45 and the cost for the two of us is 1725/month.

With respect to SUS, here is an account of the most major situation I had treated by SUS:

https://www.expat.com/forum/viewtopic.php?id=1010207#5608385

I also had to get stiches on my thumb more recently at an UPA.  I was in and out in about 25-30 minutes total.

11/07/23   We have had next to no issues with SUS, in retrospect its been more beneficial than Canadas heathcare system.
Unimed. Man every year im paying more and more and more, @abthree is there a limit or cap that stops the amount they can increase annually ?
   

    -@Mikeflanagan

The plans are regulated by the Agência Nacional de Saúde Suplementar, ANS.  Here's their website, which is pretty informative:

https://www.gov.br/ans/pt-br

For increases, there are price points based on age up to a maximum, which I think is age 60.  The plans receive a maximum increase every year from ANS, which for my plan this year (Hapvida) was around 13%.  The details of the calculation are on the website.  All subscribers receive that increase; for someone who's arrived at the top age, that's the only increase.  Someone still rising through the price points moves up to the next one,  In our case, I'm currently paying R$1,150/mo;, which is 13% higher than last year.  My husband, who is much younger than I am, is paying R$422 for basically the same plan.  His annual increases are higher than mine because he's still rising through the price points, but of course they're rising from a much lower base.

The increases are based on actual experience, and can't exceed the approved amount.  I can recall at least one recent instance in which Hapvida raised rates higher than ANS finally allowed, and was forced to roll them back with a refund.  During the pandemic when non-covid availability was limited, our rates were actually reduced.

Plan quality is notoriously different by region, but if you're currently dissatisfied, you could check Hapvida out -- they're also big in the Northeast.

11/07/23    @abthree HI Abthree. Thank you for the info. I'm not in Rio yet. Planning on moving next year.  I spoke to several agents and cheapest  quote was from Prevent Senior for 1560. 
I was told several companies limited/closed plans for seniors.
My mother used to have a great plan with Unimed-Estado do Rio but apparently, they no longer insure anyone over 60.
I may wait to shop around once settled and, meanwhile roll the dice on SUS (carencia and all). SUS is good if you know how to navigate it and have connections. -@Kat2202

Shopping around is a great idea.  Meanwhile, you'll find a lot of useful information here:

https://www.gov.br/ans/pt-br

Cost of living..

it varies from the Postal Code/Zip Code. More affluent boroughs grocers charge more for grocery items, rendered services are more expensive. Even within a couple miles, there is a dramatic change on prices you can find, housing is more expensive.

If keep expenses low is your concern, then get down to live on places where expats are not easily found.

If you need to Joneses to advance your priorities, then you got to pay for it.  If not, then, you can make adjustments.

Sometimes, outside State Capitals,  on the Metropolitan Region, there are adjoining cities where you can get posh environs for a whole lot less.   My region of domicile is a living example of it.  Sao Paulo is an expensive city, so I live in the ABCD Region ( Santo Andre/Sao Bernardo/Sao Caetano/Diadema).   

I have, within reach, excelent health care, police is responsive to calls, streets are paved, public transportation, and I do not have to pull the car from the driveway to go errands or shopping. 

If I want fresh produce for less, I can go the next neighborhood over, and pay less for it. 

Now, for people living in coastal regions, you will be penalized for dealing with the high tourist season where  some items are priced according to the season.  Then, you can always move a little farther away from the coastal town, and inland, and yet be close enough to the beaches.   

And with that, you are graced with better health care infra-structure, less annoyance in dealing with hordes of weekenders.

Stop chasing the herd, I say.