Living in Rio de Janeiro
Cost of living, quality of life and tips for living in Rio
Rio de Janeiro is awesome. Living in Rio means quality of life. It is one of the few cities in the world that combines modern infrastructure, businesses, and beautiful beaches. With pleasant temperatures throughout the year, living in Rio de Janeiro is certainly a great option.
The lifestyle in Rio de Janeiro is marked by fun, optimism and good mood. Cariocas (nickname of Rio’s inhabitants) are nice people and very charismatic. Life in Rio is intense and dynamic, yet relaxing. In this edition of our travel blog will give some useful tips for those who have considered living in Rio de Janeiro:
Rio de Janeiro safety
Safety in Rio de Janeiro has shown great progress. The development of the city led the immigration of millions who failed to find their opportunities and settled on the outskirts of the city, better known as “favelas.” The favelas are part of life in Rio de Janeiro. From a very luxurious apartment, you can always look through the window to a nearby favela.
The favelas of Rio de Janeiro were popular for their crime rates, where violence was imposed by drug cartels. Today this has changed. The government has implemented a security project named UPP. The UPPs are Units of Peacekeeping Police, which remain inside the favelas. As a result, the inhabitants of the favelas can now enjoy a normal and secure life. The favela’s infrastructure has been improved, while progress in education and employment are positive signs of a better quality of life in Rio.
However, those living in Rio must take certain precautions. The following are some safety tips already incorporated in the carioca’s routine:
- Driving at night with closed windows
- Do not stop at traffic lights at night
- Taking care of your belongings all the time
- Do not drive sparsely populated areas at night (e.g. the city center)
People around the world are still choosing Rio de Janeiro as their home, showing that it is not necessary to be Brazilian to enjoy this beautiful city.
Working in Rio de Janeiro
Rio de Janeiro is the second largest economy in Brazil. However, Rio is the most representative city regarding Brazilian lifestyle, often acting as the image of Brazil to the world. Major companies have established their headquarters in Rio, and a comprehensive system of colleges and universities generates high competitiveness.
Everybody can find their opportunity in the emerging Rio de Janeiro. The city is getting prepared for the upcoming World Cup in 2014 and the 2016 Olympic Games, thus the labor market demand skilled people every day especially for infrastructure and services industries. The competition for skilled jobs is high. Most companies ask higher education and in many cases a postgraduate specialization. The highest paid sectors in Rio de Janeiro are finance, international trade, banking, legal services and consulting. Tourism in Rio de Janeiro is also a very important industry and NGOs play an important role. Minimum wages in general can cover the costs of a good quality of life in Rio. While the minimum wage is around $R 600 (Brazilian reais), it is reasonable to find wages over $R 1500 per month.
The work environment in Rio de Janeiro is relaxing. After a hard day, the beach breaks are the best reward. Years ago, business activity and companies were concentrated in the city downtown (Avenida Presidente Vargas, Rio Branco, etc) but currently several companies have settled in Barra da Tijuca, in clusters of 8-10 business buildings, with lot of green, gourmet areas and open places.
Study in Rio de Janeiro
Study in Rio de Janeiro is affordable. The FIES program of the Brazilian government provides loans founding up to 100% of some careers in private universities of Rio. In many cases, repayment begins after graduation. This program is funded by the Caixa Economica Federal. If you’re planning to live in Rio we recommend studying in the prestigious universities of Rio, which are highly valued by national and international companies.
Some of the leading universities in Rio de Janeiro are the Universidad Estatal de Río de Janeiro (UERJ),), Fundación Getúlio Vargas(FGV), Universidad Federal de Río de Janeiro (UFRJ), Pontificia Universidad Católica de Río de Janeiro (PUC-Rio, Instituto Militar de Ingeniería (IME ), Universidad de Río de Janeiro (UNIRIO); Universidad Estácio de Sá (UNESA).
Transport in Rio de Janeiro
The traffic in Rio de Janeiro is one of the greatest challenges for the authorities. There are affordable loans for buying cars into 48, 60 or even 72 monthly payments, therefore, the vast majority of people living in Rio have a car. A popular car costs between $R 23,000 to $R 31,000 (0Km).
During peak hours (usually from 9:00 to 18:00 approx.) Rio’s streets become a hell, with long traffic jams that cause delays of several hours. If you plan to drive in Rio de Janeiro, you can get easily to any corner of the city taking some fast roads that are clearly identified on maps such as “Linha Amarela”, “Linha vermelha” and “Avenida Brasil”. Car hiring facilities are widely provided and you can manage easily driving in Rio de Janeiro without knowing the city as there is a good signage.
During week-days we recommend using the subway that has comprehensive network. A single ticket of the Rio’s Metro costs R $ 2.80. Buses are cheaper but suffer the same problem as cars, the traffic. Therefore, when living in Rio who will have to lose several hours a day “getting around”. A smart choice is to take with you entertainment material such as books, games or music players.
Accommodation in Rio de Janeiro – Rentals in Rio de Janeiro
The first issue to resolve when planning to live in Rio is your home. Rio de Janeiro is divided in 4 areas: North, West, South and Central. Each area has fancy neighborhoods and other neighborhoods not so elegant. Prices can vary depending the location and amenities.
The city center of Rio de Janeiro is basically a commercial/non-residential area, thus people living in Rio do not use to stay in the city center. However, you can find very cheap prices that could be attractive.
To the north there are some of the cariocas’ favourite neighborhoods. Tijuca, Maracanã, Meier, among others. A standard flat with 2 bedrooms, 1 bathroom, living room, kitchen, garage, etc, costs from $R 1,000 a month.
The southern area of Rio presents the popular neighborhoods of Ipanema, Leblon and Copacabana, among others. Copacabana is cheaper to live, finding rentals from $R 1500, while living in Ipanema or Leblon can cost between $R 2000 – 4000 per month. These prices represent economic flats.
In the western area, rentals range from $R 1500 to $R 3000 per month with bills included. Some distinguish neighborhoods are Barra da Tijuca, Recreio Jacarepagua.
Rio de Janeiro Entertainment
The beaches of Rio de Janeiro are undoubtedly one of the greatest privileges enjoyed by its residents. A popular meeting point is the Posto 9 in Ipanema or Coqueirão located on Joana Angelica Street. Other cool beaches of Rio de Janeiro are Praia do Pepe in Barra da Tijuca, Grumari, Prainha and Arpoador, the surfer’s paradise.
Rio de Janeiro’s lifestyle is dynamic, and nightlife is not the exception. Clubs and bars of electronic music, Brazilian music, samba, funk, etc, are open from Monday to Monday with various proposals for endless entertainment.
At night, Cariocas leave their cars at home and prefer to take taxis due to the “Lei Seca”. This law allows policemen to stop drivers and check their alcohol grade, and if limits are exceeded, driver’s license will be removed, a penalty fare will be charged and the car will be confiscated.
A ticket for a top nightclub in Rio de Janeiro can cost from $R 60 to $R 120 and a drink or cocktail from $R 30 to $R 40. A Red Label Whisky bottle costs about $R 280 inside Rio’s clubs. International DJs perform frequently at electronic music festivals and gigs in Rio de Janeiro. Thousands of people attend to these massive festivals and tickets should be more expensive.
If you are doing tourism in Rio de Janeiro, you can check for some traditional tours and activities to do. Check some of the most popular Tours in Rio de Janeiro.
Cost of Living in Rio de Janeiro
Rentals in Rio de Janeiro vary according to location and amenities as mentioned above. Perhaps one of the cheapest options are the shared rooms. In areas such as Copacabana, Ipanema and Barra da Tijuca you can find shared rooms from $R 500 – $R 800 per month including bills.
The costs of meals in Rio are variable, but lunch can cost between $R 15-20. The food in Rio de Janeiro is natural, fresh and affordable.
Regarding health services in Rio de Janeiro, contracting private health care services costs between $R 140 and $R 230 per month. The public health services are currently slightly saturated.
Lifestyle in Rio de Janeiro
The lifestyle of the cariocas is unique. Working days are hard, but once finished… what could be better than going to the beach with friends and relax with caipirinhas or cold beers?
People are very casual. Living in Rio means being able to go down to the beach with sandals and swimsuit, then go to the mall, and then with the same outfit to a good restaurant. However, at night people go out produced and well dressed.
Cariocas are known in Brazil for its “marra”, this means the way they look, walk, talk and their personality. Women show spectacular bodies, giving evidence of a perfect care. Gyms are full of capacity throughout the year.
People who live in Rio, no matter their nationality, are friendly and keep good mood. This positive vibe spreads throughout the society’s daily life. In Rio de Janeiro, football and carnival are sacred. Any event related to these passions will be welcomed in Rio de Janeiro and will prevail over political and economic issues.
All the information mentioned above is based on experiences of residents that collaborate with our tourism blog. We hope these material could be useful for your living in Rio de Janeiro plan. Contact us for further information about tourism in Rio de Janeiro.
Note: Today the dollar exchange rate with the Brazilian real is: 1 U.S. dollar = approximately 1,68 R$.
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