In the individual regions there are hardly any differences in prices between urban and rural areas. But there is a very large north-south divide (south more expensive). Only the regions around the cities of Recife, Fortaleza and Salvador in the north are a bit more expensive than the rest of the northeast.
You need around € 1,732.87 in Sao Paulo to maintain the same standard of living that you could have in Berlin with € 3,700.00 (assuming you rent in both cities).
- Consumer prices in Sao Paulo are 49.97% lower than in Berlin (excluding rent)
- Consumer prices including rent in Sao Paulo are 53.17% lower than in Berlin
- Rental prices in Sao Paulo are 60.44% lower than in Berlin
- Restaurant prices in Sao Paulo are 51.47% lower than in Berlin
- Food prices in Sao Paulo are 51.29% lower than in Berlin
- The local purchasing power in Sao Paulo is 62.51% lower than in Berlin
Average cost of living in Rio de Janeiro (from 08/2019 – 07/2020)
| Restaurant | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Food, price w. restaurant | 4.38 | 2.43 – 7.30 |
| Middle class, 3 courses for 2 people. | 19.48 | 12.99-40.58 |
| Local beer, 0.5 l | 1.30 | 0.65-1.95 |
| Imported beer, 0.33 l | 2.42 | 2.62-3.25 |
| cappuccino | 1.10 | 0.65-2.00 |
| Coca / Pepsi (0.33 l) | 0.88 | 0.81-1.14 |
| Water (0.33 l) | 0.52 | 0.32-0.81 |
| Food | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Milk (1 L) | 0.61 | 0.49-0.65 |
| White bread (500g) | 1.01 | 0.65-1.62 |
| Rice (white), (1kg) | 0.65 | 0.53-0.81 |
| Eggs (12) | 1.18 | 0.65 – 1.91 |
| Local cheese (1kg) | 5.27 | 2.43-8.12 |
| Chicken breast fillet (1kg) | 1.99 | 1.39-2.43 |
| Beef (1kg) | 4.55 | 3.25 – 7.30 |
| Apples (1kg) | 1.33 | 0.65-1.79 |
| Bananas (1kg) | 0.84 | 0.49-1.38 |
| Oranges (1kg) | 0.74 | 0.32-1.46 |
| Tomatoes (1kg) | 1.01 | 0.57-1.62 |
| Potatoes (1kg) | 0.86 | 0.49-1.13 |
| Onions (1kg) | 0.83 | 0.57-1.14 |
| Lettuce (1 head) | 0.47 | 0.32-0.81 |
| Water (1.5 l) | 0.45 | 0.32-0.81 |
| Bottle of wine (middle class) | 5.84 | 4.06-9.74 |
| Local beer (0.5 l) | 0.89 | 0.49-1.30 |
| Imported beer (0.33 l) | 1.75 | 0.97-2.60 |
Average costs for local transport, utilities, clothing, leisure, education of Rio de Janeiro (from 08/2019 – 07/2020)
| Mode of Transport | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| One-time ticket | 0.68 | 0.66-0.78 |
| Monthly pass | 30.03 | 19.48-39.44 |
| Taxi base amount | 0.96 | 0.81-1.12 |
| Taxi 1 km | 0.49 | 0.42 – 1.12 |
| Ancillary housing costs | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| for 85 sqm apartment (electricity, water, garbage, etc. | 79.10 | 48.70-172.47 |
| 1 minute prepaid mobile tariff | 0.23 | 0.08-0.32 |
| Internet (60 Mbps or more, unlimited data, cable / ADSL) | 19.30 | 16.07-32.46 |
| Clothes, shoes | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Jeans (Levis 501 or similar) | 31.57 | 16.23-53.57 |
| Summer dress (Zara, H&M,… | 30.31 | 16.23-56.81 |
| Nike sports shoes, middle class | 52.27 | 32.46-81.16 |
| Leather business shoes | 46.57 | 24.35-64.93 |
| leisure time | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Fitness center, month / adult | 19.69 | 11.36-40.58 |
| Tennis, 1 hour on weekends | 15.75 | 9.74-19.48 |
| a movie ticket | 5.68 | 4.55 – 7.79 |
| training | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Preschool / Kindergarten, private, whole day, monthly per child | 317.01 | 162.32-486.97 |
| International primary school per year and child | 6,774.25 | 3,895.77 – 11,687.31 |
Average rental prices / purchase and salaries of Rio de Janeiro (from 08/2019 – 07/2020)
| Monthly rental price | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) in the city center | 289.59 | 194.79-405.81 |
| Apartment (1 bedroom) outside the center | 194.03 | 129.86-292.18 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) in the city center | 561.97 | 454.51-811.62 |
| Apartment (3 bedrooms) outside the center | 407.28 | 292.18-649.29 |
| Purchase price of apartments | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Price per square meter for an apartment in the city – purchase | 1,626.40 | 1,055.10 – 2,434.86 |
| Price per square meter – apartment outside the center – purchase | 1,062.54 | 811.62-1,542.08 |
| wages | Ø € Price | € Price from / to |
| Average monthly salary (after taxes) | 310.10 | – |
Average rental price (in euros) Sao Paulo (from 06/2019 – 07/2020)
1-room apartment in the city center: 350 €
1-room apartment outside the city center: 240 €
3-room apartment in the city center: 720 €
3 -Bedroom apartment outside the city center: 480 €
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Emigration and living in Brazil – conclusion
Only those who have a sufficiently high pension or corresponding assets can immigrate to Brazil in a very uncomplicated manner and live comfortably, unless one has appropriate family relationships or is requested or employed by a Brazilian company. Advantages are: Lots of forest, low cost of living (LHK-I 62.9), German is still spoken in some areas, low population density. You should have at least a basic knowledge of Portuguese or be able to learn it.
Labor market, vacancies, jobs, health insurance
If you want to start your own business in Brazil, you should have your concept checked by a start-up center beforehand. If it agrees, it has a good chance of success. The top tax rate is currently 27.5%. Corporate taxes are 15%.
If you want to work, buy or trade in Brazil, you must have a so-called CPF (comparable to our tax card). You can apply for this at the nearest Prefeitura (local authority). Every owner of a CPF number must submit a tax return using this number. Professions that are particularly sought after in Brazil are: technicians, engineers, building contractors, scientists. In the tourism industry, international hotel chains along the Atlantic coast like to hire workers with European language skills.
Please note, however, that the Brazilian authorities now only issue a visa or work permit if you have an employment contract. Often the employer has to prove that no local labor is available. And: If you want to work in Brazil, you should definitely be able to speak Portuguese, although Portuguese in Brazil differs in some words and in dialect from that in Portugal.
Brazil has a state health insurance system that all citizens of Brazil can use free of charge. However, only the most basic services are covered by the state health insurance. It therefore makes sense to take out private health insurance or to use long-term travel insurance.
In the northeast of Brazil (near Recife) is the Brazilian “Silicon Valley”. Mostly Dutch industry is located here. Companies like Unilever, Philips and others like to hire German engineers or scientists. In the greater São Paulo area and in Maranhao is the space center of the Brazilians, where you can work in the aerospace industry. The German-Brazilian Chamber of Commerce and Industry helps with the placement of jobs and can provide addresses of companies in Brazil.
German-language jobs for emigrants, which can also be carried out in Brazil, are available on the Osourced portal. Native speakers in particular are in great demand. The employers come mainly from Germany and DACH. The wages are usually below the German level but above the local level in Brazil. Emigrants with German language skills benefit from a locally above-average wage with low cost of living at the same time (geo-arbitrage). Tip: Emigrants can still apply for a job in Germany. With a job offer, emigrating is much easier.
- Job exchange with job offers: de
Homeschooling, homeschooling, free learning
An increasingly popular alternative to normal school attendance is homeschooling (home tuition or home tuition) or free learning (unschooling). The Supreme Court of Brazil has not yet issued a statement on homeschooling so there is still no legalization. But since 2019 there is a new project through which homeschooling can be legalized in the country.
