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This also brings up a good question I forgot to ask. How easy is it to live without a car in Rio de Janiero and São Paulo? I am sure Florianopolis is much tougher.
Also is one city significantly cheaper than the other?
Thanks for all the advice eveyone I really appreciate it!
SP and RJ both have metro systems, that of SP is more extensive and still being expanded.
In most other cities they have lots of buses, Sorocaba is very much into cycling.
With a city such as SP, you will probably walk a lot more than you are used to in the US. The metro network is only so dense and if you don't like crowded buses, you either have to go by car or walk or even ride a bike, which can be a bit dangerous in some places.
Explore SP, Rio etc. on Google street view, it gives you a good impression of what those places are like.
I definitely like some pleasure first. I like cities where I can really enjoy myself in a variety of ways (nightlife, museums, festivals, food, outdoors, public spaces, shopping, etc.)
Probably I will be working very, very hard. At least in the beginning.
I can handle both fast and slow paced, but can only handle slow paced places if it is more of an outdoorsy type of city. Places like San Diego, Santa Barbara, Honolulu, Boulder (Colorado) I can handle because they might not offer fast paced type of life, but in terms of outdoor activties, there is plenty to do but still have plenty of things to do in the city.
I am not sure what you they consider gringo in Brazil but not sure if I am one. Was born in Puerto Rico and my first and last name are very Portuguese. My great great grandpa emigrated from Portugal to this side of the world. My sister actually went to Portugal, and everyone assumed she was Portuguese because of her first and last name.
How touristy is Rio, because in all honesty, I don't like to be around tourists unless I am on vacation. Here in Chicago, I literally get irritated by all the tourists getting in my way here as I walk to get lunch or something in downtown.
All I will say is that I work for a consulting company. They are looking to expand in China and South America. They brought me on board to eventually use me as an integral key player in developing business in South America. So more or less it will become my division one day, I hope so.
Rio is a VERY touristy city. It is not built just on tourism, but it is a big element. Americans and Europeans are common in Rio so you wont be anything special. Some people in Rio will try to become your friend to take advantage of you.
When I lived in Porto Alegre, which has over 1.5 million people, foreigners outside of SA were rare. I would easily become an instant hit wherever I went. People were genuinely excited to meet an American.
For sure Sao Paulo has many foreigners, but they spread out all over that huge city, while in Rio everyone pretty much goes to south Rio. For business purposes SP is better than Rio and more fast paced.
I havent been to Floripa but I imagine it is slow paced and while touristy the tourist are Brazilian.
Hey, get me a job at your place. Getting to travel anywhere you want in SA sounds awesome.
Also in Brasil you will be a gringo. A gringo is a foreigner, especially one not from Brasil.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Neuling
One of my friends lives in SP. She says traffic jams are getting worse, the city is just too crowded and big, and still spreading like cancer.
If I went to Brazil for business reasons, I might try Sorocaba, lots of companies there and not far from SP in case I needed to go there.
Campinas is a bit further inland, but a huge booming metro area, also with lots of companies being present.
Traffic is terrible in SP.
Quote:
Originally Posted by chikid
This also brings up a good question I forgot to ask. How easy is it to live without a car in Rio de Janiero and São Paulo? I am sure Florianopolis is much tougher.
Also is one city significantly cheaper than the other?
Thanks for all the advice eveyone I really appreciate it!
Brasil has a very good bus system. You can pretty much get anywhere if you dont mind taking a bus. SP has a rail system, and I believe Rio too but they are both limited in area.
Im not sure I would ever get a car in Brasil. They are insanely expensive and people drive like maniacs. Maybe in SP and Rio traffic is so congested you wont see it, but Brasilian drivers are very aggressive.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Tiger Beer
I didn't have a car in SP or RIO...I completely relied on buses and subways, and they were fine. Of course it's easier with a car, but no burden without one. Trains and buses go by far frequently enough somewhat similar to a northeastern city. Not like NYC with amazing transportation, but guessing maybe like Chicago, although I've never taken the trains in Chicago to really know for sure.
Significantly cheaper. Hmm...both Rio and SP are expensive. There is more money in SP which offsets that a bit. Probably any other city outside of those two will be quite a bit cheaper.
I was also thinking that if I were to go back, I'd try Belo Horizonte only because almost no tourists, all locals, and very business-minded like Sao Paulo, but much cheaper and a bit smaller. But at that time, I wasn't as crazy about beaches as I am now, so not so sure I'd do that now
Unlike with US cities, most high-rises in Brazil are residential, not offices. Thus the population density for Brazilian cities is quite high. And living in such a tower is not considered in any way negative like in the US.
Unlike with US cities, most high-rises in Brazil are residential, not offices. Thus the population density for Brazilian cities is quite high. And living in such a tower is not considered in any way negative like in the US.
I appreciate the recommendation for Campinas, but really I like to be in the center city and specifically international cities. Only reason I put Florianopolis in there is because it offers the alternative outdoor lifestyle that I would really enjoy, even though it is a much smaller and domestic city.
Live in Rio, you don't need a car here unless you live in Barra. Rio is touristy but only really touristy in a few parts. Brazil doesnt actually attract that many tourists compared to Argentina for example. You will be considered a gringo here because anyone who is not from Brazil is a gringo but that is not a big deal. SP you can get around without a car but are maybe more limited. Because of the oil industry boom Rio is almost as wealthy as SP now in regards to per capita GDP. That is not to say that it is as serious as SP but there is a ton of $$ around this city. I actually prefer SP but it is easier for me to make a living here in Rio than it would be in SP. I have been to Floripa three times. It is nice but it is not a big city. You would need a car there or at least a motorcycle. Sorry if this is disjointed, typing fast to go out in LAPA. LAPA, RJ - Lá Na Lapa - O portal da Lapa e do Centro do Rio de Janeiro
Rio is a VERY touristy city. It is not built just on tourism, but it is a big element. Americans and Europeans are common in Rio so you wont be anything special. Some people in Rio will try to become your friend to take advantage of you.
When I lived in Porto Alegre, which has over 1.5 million people, foreigners outside of SA were rare. I would easily become an instant hit wherever I went. People were genuinely excited to meet an American.
For sure Sao Paulo has many foreigners, but they spread out all over that huge city, while in Rio everyone pretty much goes to south Rio. For business purposes SP is better than Rio and more fast paced.
I havent been to Floripa but I imagine it is slow paced and while touristy the tourist are Brazilian.
Hey, get me a job at your place. Getting to travel anywhere you want in SA sounds awesome.
Also in Brasil you will be a gringo. A gringo is a foreigner, especially one not from Brasil.
Traffic is terrible in SP.
Brasil has a very good bus system. You can pretty much get anywhere if you dont mind taking a bus. SP has a rail system, and I believe Rio too but they are both limited in area.
Im not sure I would ever get a car in Brasil. They are insanely expensive and people drive like maniacs. Maybe in SP and Rio traffic is so congested you wont see it, but Brasilian drivers are very aggressive.
I recommend Curtiba or Porto Alegre.
Thanks for the advice I will definitely take into consideration everything you have said!
I didn't have a car in SP or RIO...I completely relied on buses and subways, and they were fine. Of course it's easier with a car, but no burden without one. Trains and buses go by far frequently enough somewhat similar to a northeastern city. Not like NYC with amazing transportation, but guessing maybe like Chicago, although I've never taken the trains in Chicago to really know for sure.
Significantly cheaper. Hmm...both Rio and SP are expensive. There is more money in SP which offsets that a bit. Probably any other city outside of those two will be quite a bit cheaper.
I was also thinking that if I were to go back, I'd try Belo Horizonte only because almost no tourists, all locals, and very business-minded like Sao Paulo, but much cheaper and a bit smaller. But at that time, I wasn't as crazy about beaches as I am now, so not so sure I'd do that now
Thanks for all the insight and advice. This has really helped me a lot!
Thanks for all the insight and advice. This has really helped me a lot!
I'm curious if you ever made it to Brazil! Would love to have an update!
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