Quality of Life in Sao Paulo, Brazil

It's interesting to note that in decades past, Southern Brazil was considered a safe alternative to Rio and SP. I visited Porto Alegre in 2006 and found it to be a much calmer city than Sao Paulo. Unfortunately, things have deteriorated not only in Porto Alegre, but all over the state of Rio Grande Do Sul. Some say it's even more dangerous than Rio and SP now, or at the very least, just as dangerous. A real shame, as Southern Brazil is very unique with its own characteristics. Like someone else said, you're really not safe anywhere in Brazil anymore. Don't go there unless you really have to.

I lived in São Paulo for the past couple of years. I was disappointed with the city for a number of reasons. First, I didn't feel safe in São Paulo. You'll see that most homes and apartment building have electric fences and prison-style barbed wires. Some places even have watchtowers, exactly like prisons. Aesthetically speaking, this type of "decor" (never shown in real estate ads or architecture magazines) sends a clear message that São Paulo (and Brazil as a whole, because I saw the same prison-like security in other Brazilian cities too) is a very dangerous place to be. The pollution is terrible and the lack of decent parks astounding. The only one that comes to mind (Ibirapuera) is relatively small (compared to European and American parks) and very crowded. In my last visit, it was raining and the small river that runs through it had a broken sewer that made the water black and the air foul. The cost of living is similar to US and Europe, without the glamour or sophistication. You pay more for products and services of lower quality in settings that lack comfort and sophistication. I would pass up São Paulo. My fiancé still has family there and she wanted to be close to them. But after a couple of year and the economic chaos hitting Brazil at the moment, she realized that she had to let go of Brazil--and São Paulo. I'm glad we left. I have some good memories about the people I met, her family, some weekend at the beach, but for the most part, we are happy we left this ugly city behind. We lived in the Zona Sul, near Ibirapuera, considered to be one of the best neighborhoods of SP. I can't begin to imagine what life is like in the worst areas of the city if Zona Sul is the best they've got. Sorry if this sounds negative, but it is my honest opinion.