A Russian Travel Blogger Sets the Record Straight on Life in Brazil

A Russian travel blogger has been debunking common myths about Brazil and other South American countries, starting with a simple truth: summer doesn’t last all year on the continent. Writing on his Telegram channel, Dos cervezas, por favor, the blogger says he keeps seeing romanticized posts from influencers based in Southeast Asia who dream of moving to Brazil or its neighbors—but often have unrealistic expectations.

“Somehow people believe that because Latin America has a lot of poverty, everything here is practically free—rent, food, you name it. That’s just not true,” he writes. “Living here is much more expensive than in Southeast Asia, and traveling costs more too.” He points out that the same amount of money goes much further in Thailand than in Brazil. Rental apartments are often lower quality, and hotels that advertise themselves as five-star frequently deliver rude service.

The blogger also shares his experience with healthcare: the best doctor he saw was a Russian expat. As for residency, he notes that many Russians consider Brazil because they’re tired of visa runs. Latin American countries don’t require those, but getting a local passport is no walk in the park. “No country here hands out passports left and right. You need a reason—at the very least, having a child. At most, a university degree,” he says.

Earlier, a Russian woman described giving birth in Brazil as a shockingly positive experience compared to Russia, adding that newborns receive citizenship within two months, and parents qualify for it after one year.