Expert: Ken Rapoza Cruz - 8/10/2006

Question
Hi Ken,

Im a college student planing to study for one semester abroad in Sao Paulo. I need to discuss living costs with my parents. Can you give me information on housing possibilities for students, and their costs? Every day life costs? Basically anything you think can be usefull I will be extremely gratefull!

Answer
Hi Daniel.
Where are you studying? What college? Thats important for me to know.  SP is like LA.  You dont want to live too far away from your school.  Also, even tho SP -- or Sampa as we call it -- (I live here) -- is very rich, it is also a Third World country and there is danger and crime. That said, you ahve to pick your neighborhood wisely and that will mean you will have to spend more money to live well.  Dont skimp on that.  Trust me.  

I pay $950 a month for a 1,100 square foot apt in a very rich neighborhood.  Obvioiusly you dont need to live in an apt like this, or a neighborhood this nice.  But figure you will spend $700 a month on the LOW end and $950 on the high end.

When lookingn for apts, tell them you want to know the FULL rent, incl condo fee and IPTU (taxes).  They could try tricking you and tell you teh rent is like R$900 (about $460) and not tell you the condo fee for doorman and maintenance and swimming pool, etc, is another R$750.  You want to know what you will per month to live in that apartment.

I pay about $50 a month in electric. About $12 in gas. Another $65 for internet and cable (i have a two meg connection, but I have one off the low cost cable plans).

Today, 1USD = R$2.16.  Figure that is what it will be when you are here for six months and budget for that.  Actually, if you were smart, youd budget for a forex of 1USD = R$2.10.  Its fallen as low as R$2.05 in May.

I suspect it will remain between R$2.15 adn $2.25 over the next six months.

Figure food will cost you about $150 per month. I spend about double that, cuz I have a family.  And if fyouare going out to eat a lot instead of cooking it could be a bit more.  If you are eating pizza and mac n cheese and raman noodles and nutella sandwiches all day, it will be less..

Transport will cost you about $1 for the bus and $1 for the subway, one way.

Im traveling to the US tomorrow so you wont hear from me right away if you have more questions.

Just keep in mind these two things:

Live near your school.
Live in the nicest neighborhood possible near your school.

Sampa is not like the US.  There are  no real university towns where there are dorms and such.  Except near USP.  That's okay.  The neighborhoods are not all that splendid, but they are clean and safe enough.