Electrical good (kitchen white goods) are a lot more expensive in Brazil.

Restaurants I don't think are more expensive - not for what you are getting. As I mentioned earlier on another thread, if you go to a restaurant which caters almost exclusively to tourists, like the ones the Buggy drivers stop at in Maracajaú or in Pipa, they are expensive compared to the rest of Brazil and can be comparable in price to "non-tourist" restaurants in Europe.

But if you go to a "Tourist" restaurant in Europe and then go to a "Tourist" restaurant in Brazil, the difference will be huge. Equally, if you go to a local restaurant in Brazil and compare it to a local restaurant in Europe, the price will normally favour Brazil.

A good example is Camaroes. Not a cheap restaurant by any means. But compare what you get there (quantity and quality), level of service, ambience, etc versus a restaurant in Europe and you'd end up paying double or triple in Europe for the same or less than you get in Camaroes. (Talking specifically about the one on Roberto Freire but assuming the others are comparable).

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Thanks Ralph, I have spent a year on here now being told by people sat in their armchairs either in Barcelona, Bologna, Bremen or Brum that I am off my trolley..and now we have another discussion I precipitated where they say I am mad! Thank goodness you are sane, local and upfront with your views like me and yes, I see it the same as you....Brazil is not as cheap as people like to think, it is certainly not as sophisticated as EU or USA and if you want a similar Gringo lifestyle then many of your home comforts will cost the same or a lot more....if you forgo these comforts then yes Brazil can be cheaper but I am not that keen on plastic chairs and tables and nor are many other Europeans or Americans just to save a few pennies on a beer!

Stay away from the imported goods, stick the local goods and you will save a fortune.

Drink local beer and local spirits, the locally made Smirnoff tastes the same as in the rest of the world, and costs a lot less than the imported. Be careful of some of the Cachaças (sugar cane rum) as some of them are lethal.

Stick to locally produced fresh food and you will also save a bundle.

If you are buying a place then usually it will come furnished or you have the option to have it furnished including all your whitegoods, so the price of furniture and whitegoods for most gringoes shouldn't be a problem

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Yes stay away from the life you are used to, let someone else decide that their furnishing tastes are better than yours, drive a car that is inferior to yours at home, eat lots of fruit, fish and meat and you too can live the cheap life you chose in the sun. If someone told you that back in your homeland you'd tell them where to go...so why is it acceptable in Brazil? The point is Brazil is cheap if you choose a different lifestyle to that you are used to..otherwise it isn't!

Very amusing.....

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The key is comparing apples to apples or seafood to seafood.

Spend a month in Brazil eating fresh fish and seafood and fresh meat, vegetables, fruit and everything else which is local, cheap and (in my opinion) delicious or spend a fortune buying an imported packet of microwaveable curry and chips and carte d'or ice cream.

Same thing applies to just about everything. You wouldn't go to France and expect the best deals on BMW nor to Germany and expect discounted Citroens. Or maybe you would, I know nothing about cars really but doesn't sound very logical.

I bought a fantastic pair of casual coconut leave trousers which are great for beach wear both in Brazil and Spain and they cost me 3.84 Euros. I wear them all the time when not working and 4 months on they are still in mint condition.

No, I wouldn't go to Brazil and buy Armani, or Gucci or Prada but then again in that heat I wouldn't want to wear an Armani suit - would you?

When in Rome, be British!?

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Haha got to admit that did make me laugh out loud. Whatever you do, if you are going to Brazil Don't eat lots of fresh fruit, meat and fish.

There may be a sense of humour lurking in there somewhere

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See what you miss when you ignore GW's posts.

Now I wonder why he didn't mention vegetables...

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I think I'll take him off ignore soon, especially if I'm missing gems like that

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Maybe you dont live here,but on a permanent basis it is very expensive now,I wouldnt mind its has 3rd rate restaurants,cinema tickets,cabs,hotels,supermarket stuff (except meat and chicken).Considering the very limited choice it is expensive and many people are leaving as they cannot make a decent living .