Shocking Truth about Living in Rio De Janeiro Brazil for 3 Months The Good The Bad The Ugly

Feb 9, 2024 • By Leonidas K. • 6 min read

Brazil Travel

My First Impressions of Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

Like many people around the world, my impression of Brazil has been largely shaped by pop culture portrayals of beautiful beaches, colorful carnivals, hot weather, and beautiful people. My first real introduction to Brazilian culture was actually through video games and music back in the 1990s, which painted an idyllic, tropical paradise. It wasn’t until 2015 when a friend told me of his dream to live in Rio de Janeiro that I finally decided it was time to experience Brazil for myself.

After nearly 20 years of propaganda, it was time to see the real Rio. Right before my trip, I spent three months learning Brazilian Portuguese. However, I quickly realized that the Carioca dialect spoken in Rio sounds completely different from the Portuguese I had learned using Pimsleur Portuguese audio recordings. I could barely understand anything when I arrived! But that’s all part of the adventure of traveling.

Arriving for Carnival

I initially came to Rio de Janeiro for the world-famous Carnival celebrations. As you’d expect, everything was extremely expensive, with hostel beds going for $30-40 per night. The city was flooded with over 500,000 visitors from around Brazil and the world. The beaches and streets were packed shoulder-to-shoulder with costumed partygoers, turning the city into one big drunken Halloween party.

While there were some fun aspects, I have to admit the Carnival experience was a bit underwhelming compared to similar festivals back home in Toronto. I had envisioned elaborate floats, dancers in feathers and bikinis. Aside from a few scattered street parties called “blocos”, most of the ‘propaganda’ Carnival happens in an isolated stadium-like venue, away from the packed streets. The rest felt like one big bar crawl lacking in music.

But I still enjoyed taking in the madness of half a million people flooding the streets!

Settling In

After Carnival, rental prices normalized, and I got an Airbnb apartment in the lively beach neighborhood of Copacabana. This is definitely the best place to stay in Rio (more on that later)! My first month in Rio cost around $2,000-2,500 between my flight, accommodations, food, and entertainment. Rent averages $700-1,000 per month.

I advise negotiating the price and not committing for more than a week upfront in case you want to find something better. I made the mistake of renting an apartment above a night-club. But luckily, I negotiated for staying only 2-weeks in case something was off. In this case, my floor shaking from the obnoxious bass was enough to not renew my reservation.

Top Sights and Activities

There is no shortage of things to experience in Rio!

Christ the Redeemer (Cristo Redentor) – The iconic 130ft tall statue of Jesus overlooking the city. Make sure to go on a clear day for the best views. Despite staying in Rio for 4 months, I only went up here once, because it literally gets packed every time.

Sugarloaf Mountain (Pão de Açúcar) – Ride a cable car up this prominent peak for postcard views of Rio. In this case, I probably went up here 2-3 times. There are 2 hills. You can run up the first one if you enjoy fitness, but the second one requires paying the cable ride.

Santa Teresa Neighborhood – Wander charming cobblestone streets and visit the unique “Escadaria Selarón”, a colorful tiled stairway. Continue hiking uphill and look for the cafe with the amazing viewpoint of central and Downtown Rio de Janeiro.

Downtown Rio – The central downtown area to see the classical architecture and historic aqueducts. On the one hand it’s charming, on the other hand, it’s a bit rustic and run-down. Be mindful of petty thefts.

Lapa Neighborhood – Funny enough, I only went here once (usually sticking to my neighborhood of Copacabana). during the day, it’s a nice rustic district to walk through with the giant arches, while at night it becomes a giant party zone with traditional brazilian music.

Dois Irmaos Hill – Literally “Two Brothers” hill. This is a challenging 30-40 minute hike through a favela with an incredible panorama. I hiked up here at least 3 times. To get here you take a bus from Rio, then a motorcycle ride up the hill for just $1-2, then a big sweaty hike to the top. Highly, highly recommend.

Museum of Tomorrow – This spaceship-like building in downtown showcases humanity’s global challenges including climate change, deforestation, pollution and more. They also host a variety of street vendor festivals in front.

Pedra do Sal – Outdoor drum festivities and samba dancing. I came here with my date one night. It’s charming, and takes you back to a very familial and colonial time in Brazilian history.

Paragliding – Towards Barra da Tijuca, you can jump off a cliff and see that side of Rio like a bird

Beaches – Rio is famous for its multiple long beaches, including Copacabana and Ipanema. It can take you literally 2 hours to walk the entire thing from start to finish. The beach body culture is awesome to see also.

Botanical Garden of Rio de Janeiro (Jardim Botânico) – This is a fun day trip featuring a massive Brazilian garden first built by a rich patriot of Brazil. It’s a nice date spot and ideal for some beautiful photos.

Why Copacabana is the Best Area to Stay

If you’re looking to soak up Rio’s paradise charm, Copacabana combines the energy of a downtown with idyllic beach culture. You have tons of restaurants, bars, shops, gyms, and transportation right outside your door, plus you’re just steps from the ocean! It was perfect for me as a solo traveler wanting to easily meet friends and have quick access to Rio’s attractions.

While I personally thought Copacabana was the best district to be in, several friends have told me that Ipanema is where the real fun is at. Ultimately, you will make your own adventure wherever you stay.

Final Impressions

While parts of the Carnival experience left me wanting more, Rio de Janeiro absolutely lived up to its reputation as an exciting, beautiful megacity with endless things to offer. The Carioca culture and vibe won me over through and through. From adventures hiking to hilltop vistas, to relaxing beach days, to enjoying caipirinhas at a new bar on Copacabana beach every night, Rio sucked me into its propaganda and adventure.

Eventually, my adventures would take me to living in the Brazilian city of Curitiba (the mini Sao-Paulo) for 2 months.