Brazil is expensive!

People (in this thread) who disagree are most likely investors that are locked in or bought and are justifing their situation, and the thought of traveling and investing in another area of Latin America is just to much a hassle for them. Money, time and 'starting over' comes to mind.

Not only from an Ex Pat perspective but also from a Brazilian perspective. You can live much cheaper in other south and central American countries--I know because I have experience in this area. The same $ you buy in Natal, Recife or Fortaleza (nice 2/2 Flat the beach), you could easily buy in Punta Cana DR-on the Beach, maybe even bigger, the Pacific side of Costa Rica (no violence Whatsoever), Colombia's caribbean coastal cities of Cartagena, Barranquilla, Playa Blanco, and some small islands in the Caribbean the public has no idea about.

Euro people love northeast Brazil because they don't know any better. They did not travel enough to know other options/areas in Latin America. I know about Beach front property right now that is equal/nicer/cheaper than any city in NE Brazil-but that information costs me big $ to find out. Traveling, getting screwed, robbed, assaulted, scammed, building relationships, knowing the right people, etc.

I've easily spent over $100,000 in travel expenses to know what I know now.

Sorry, I won't divulge my iinfo here--my consulting fees are $75 hourly.