This might be a bit of a long post, so, I'll try to organize it as best as I can. Been away from Brasil for 6 months, and just came back Friday from a 6 week trip there getting prepped for the final move in August. Thought it might be interesting to document the things I noticed while I was away…….
INFLATION
Well, it's not like it was 20 years ago, but, it's still not bad either. I have 4 supermarkets and a weekly street fair within 3 blocks of my apartment in Copacabana, so, I just hit each one of them and grab what ever I need where it is the cheapest. You gotta do a bit of footwork, but, it's not out of control. Monthly groceries for two in Rio are about $250 CAD, versus $800 back in Canada.
………….waiting for the first Brasilian national to come here and post “but you earn in dollars Gringo”……….heh
For example, Copa is the south zone tourist area…….yet within a block's walk you can find prices of a 300-330 ml caneca of cold chopp ranging from between R$6 to R$15 so, you have to look around……….great PF's are still <R$20……….the new trend is “comida sem balanca”……….a buffet self service restaurant without a scale, and a fixed price……..for example, a plate piled high and your choice of one meat is R$15-17 and two pieces is $19……..
I spent a week in Cabo Frio and it was cheaper there, and I also spent 2 weeks in Petropolis/Itaipava where it was even less expensive (Itaipava excepted, of course).
Clothing is hit and miss. Many places are overpriced now, yet some are very cheap. You gotta walk, a lot.
Gas and vehicles are getting up there approaching Canadian levels, but, depending where you live, you don't need a car. I don't know why we still have one parked in our garage. UBER is still dirt cheap.
STYLE
Pineapple heads are everywhere. The latest trend in hair fashion from the “communidades” since Ronaldo Fenomeno did his triangle back in the 2002 World Cup is the “Cabeca Abacaxi” hair dye and cut. Not for me, but kudos to those who can pull it off I guess.
Plastic surgery stores in shopping malls are the new thing too. A “Turbo Bum Bum” (yes, that is what the advertising in the window called it) can be had for R$2,500…..a liqui preco from R$6,000………………..plastic popazudas and botox lips are everywhere, looks horrible IMHO as it is mainly on the 60+ crowd in Barra de Tijuca. Kinda like old men in skinny jeans, right ?
Victor Hugo is out of business…..the Brasilian LV copycat has finally died and Lojas Americanas is on life suport. H Stern is still around, god only knows why. Taco is a ripoff now………yet, the malls are full.
I still buy most of my stuff from camelos on the street.
BUSINESS ECONOMY
Last trip in June Rio Sul Mall in Botafogo had 24 empty storefronts. This trip it had only 7……….maybe the pension fund or whoever owns it finally came out of the ether and lowered the rents, or, things are improving a lot.
One thing I love is the almost TOTAL LACK OF G7/EU franchised chain stores. Lots of one off and smaller businesses exist.
It's Tuesday night at 730 PM and the restaurants and bars are bumping blocks off the beach where tourists don't go. A full house in 75% of them, with lines being the norm. Hhhmmmmmmmm.
The apparent effects of covid on the economy didn't seem to change the visual on the streets as most of the previously vacant stores are still empty, but everyone else is busy.
We priced out everything we need to equip our next apartment and it came to about 1/5 of what it costs up here in Canada. Still cheap by Brasilian standards too.
REAL ESTATE
There is a massive bubble bursting in Rio de Janeiro right now IMHO. Over speculation on rental properties in newer areas (especially using consorcios) and the larger expensive inheritances needing total renovation are clogging up established areas, which will bring about a correction.
It is still cheap though.
The trick is to buy from a corretor as they seem to have the lowest listing prices, versus private vendors. Was listening to a 60+ woman bitching to her friend about being unable to sell her apartment in Copacabana while eating at a comida a kilo. She was frustrated by the perceived lowball offers, and people pointing out all the cheap competition to her.
We decided not to buy a beach front place after living in Cabo Frio for a week, as we'll only go there occasionally, and it's better to stay in a pousada. Gonna sell our place in Itaipava (too many Expat5000 types live there KKKKKKKKK and it's simply hard to park between a bunch of blindado Range Rovers on the street) keep the flat in Copacabana, and buy another apartment in the downtown historic center of Petropolis instead. It's half the price of Copacabana/Barra or less.
CRIME AND SAFETY
There is nothing to see here. No issues for me personally. Didn't go to the breach in Copa for reveillon because I didn't want to stand in line for an hour to clear security.
