Real Estate
Compared to many Western countries, the real estate in Brazil is priced reasonably and Brazilian real estate laws protect both foreign and local owners. Foreign nationals can buy property in Brazil.
Property process, taxes and maintenance costs are low. Expats need to have a CPF number (a social security number) for taxation purposes. Realtors registered under Conselho Federal de Corretores de Imoveis or COFECI can help you find the most suitable property.
Housing in big cities like Rio de Janeiro can be expensive; it can cost R$5,192 (or USD$2,900) monthly rent for a one bedroom apartment, while in São Paulo rental for an apartment ranges from R$700 to R$2,000 (USD$400-$1150). Renting an apartment will require you to pay property taxes, utility bills and a maintenance fee.
Utilities
Prices for an internet connection are expensive and the price varies depending on the speed. Dial up connection costs around R$30 monthly, while faster speeds like broadband range from R$50 to R$70.
Monthly utilities normally cost about R$40 including cable television but electricity will depend on usage (average monthly cost - R$150).
Contracts for apartments may include the cost of electricity, gas and water in the monthly rent.
Food
Per month, you should allocate R$450 for food. However, dining in a restaurant costs from R$5 to R$50. A service charge of 10% is added on to your bill. A loaf of bread costs R$1.50, 5 kilograms of rice R$17.00, 1 kilogram of potatoes R$2.48 and a dozen eggs can be bought for R$5.89.
A 1.5 liter of bottled water costs R$2.50 and beers cost between R$1 and R$5.
Transportation
The cities have a variety of public transportation methods available for all residents. A metered taxi costs R$3.50 per kilometer and a one-way bus ride is R$2.30.
In Brazil, millions of residents use flex-fuel cars that run on either gasoline or ethanol (or a mixture of both). A recent report by Reuters stated a liter of ethanol costs R$1.50 (or US$3.26 per gallon) in Sao Paulo. It is more costly in some states due to a higher level of sales tax, which has resulted in some drivers switching back to gasoline.
Tax
Brazil has one of the highest tax rates in the world. Income tax rates are progressive from 7.5% to as high as 27.5% depending on income. For an annual income of over R$240,000 or USD$110,000 a 10% surtax is levied. Any income generated in Brazil or overseas is subject to taxation, unless a Double Taxation Treaty is in place between Brazil and your home country. All income tax returns are filed in April. The 2009 corporate tax is 34%.
For the affluent employees in Brazil, the annual income is around 180,000 Brazilian Real to 1 million Real, while middle-working class has an annual income of R$18,000 to R$180,000.
More Expat Resources
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