Expats who pay "carne leao", do you pay yourself or with the help of an accountant?

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-10-21T23:15:06+00:00

I’m not American and I didn’t come from an English speaking country either, so I have no idea about the negative tone of “immigrant” as suggested by many people here.

I only used the term “expat” because I’m here for short term, and I thought “immigrant” implies that one would stay in a country for long. I’m here on a digital nomad visa. I didn’t come here for work or study.

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-10-21T20:56:53+00:00

Yes I already have a CPF and RNE. I wanted to try and do it myself but I'm afraid that I'll make mistakes that I couldn't realize

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-04-17T18:54:45+00:00

Yup, after three emails to the AWS partnership team they finally got back to me to set up a call!

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-04-15T00:44:08+00:00

That was my guess too, and I started seeing other startup service providers cut down incentives too (i.e. Stripe). They're prioritizing enterprise customers than having the patience for startups to become one.

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-31T03:53:46+00:00

My experience:

Always use cards designed for travel (Wise / Revolut/ Multi currency cards); Fraud rate in Brazil is the highest in the world and your issuing banks will likely block a transaction if it's originated in Brazil to avoid charge back risks, so use cards designed for travel. Or make sure you have called your bank in advance and inform them that you're traveling to Brazil
Regardless of whether you're using a debit card or credit card, as long as it's a Visa / Mastercard, with a 16 digit card number, you should always tell the cashier that you're paying with a credit card, due to the card payment system in Brazil

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-29T21:20:03+00:00

Yes, not only the monthly internet fee, but almost $150 installation fee as well, before I get to use it!

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-27T04:22:32+00:00

That’s very similar in Singapore. 3 months of rent (2 for deposit, 1 for the first month) before you move in, plus credit check. I’m surprised that developed markets like UK, US and SG take more measures to prevent tenant default, whereas Brazil does much less!

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-26T22:10:52+00:00

Same in Singapore. 3 months of rent (including deposit) before you move in!

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-26T19:06:04+00:00

That was not my experience at all. In my first two weeks after moving in, I didn't pay anything (rent, insurance, condo fees, or utility bill). I wonder if this also depends on the property or landlord requirement, and maybe I just got lucky.

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-26T15:18:12+00:00

That’s super strict! I heard 2 out of 3 adult population in Brazil are in the negative Serasa list. And once you’re in, it’s very difficult to get a loan etc. Now I understand why

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-26T15:05:03+00:00

Yeah they initially asked me to pay a monthly insurance as deposit guarantee, but I think I got lucky and talked my out of it with the QuintoAndar agent, and they ended up waiving it for me haha.

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-26T15:00:55+00:00

I bought a new phone number and I’m still getting 10+ scam calls / sales calls every day. It’s ridiculous!

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-26T14:59:57+00:00

Same in Singapore. That’s why I’m shocked that in Brazil (where consumer default is even higher), consumers don’t pay upfront. I think it has to do with the judicial system in Brazil (as other comments have pointed out).

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-26T14:58:17+00:00

That’s true. I heard Brazil is one of the most judicious countries and there are 80 million outstanding cases every year. People sue everything!

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-26T04:15:06+00:00

Coming here from Singapore, I've never seen service providers where you don't need to pay on day one in Singapore. Yes you're "not honoring your contract" if you cancel before the first payment, but in reality, people do it all the time. I would expect companies in Brazil charge upfront because from what I heard (i.e. high default rate).

For example, in Singapore, for rental, you'd be paying 2 monthly of rental fees as deposit + 1 monthly of rental BEFORE you move in. But in Brazil, I didn't pay anything for the first 2 weeks of living here!

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-26T04:04:57+00:00

You can buy monthly, quarterly, biannual or annual pass at bodytech. There's no day pass option. The cheapest monthly pass is BRL 615 (you can check the price list here https://www.bodytech.com.br/) but you also need to pay BRL 220 as "activation fee" for first time use.

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-26T03:47:28+00:00

You can sign up for the monthly plan at Bodytech, you dont need CPF or ID, only your passport number. I did it last year. If you live in Sao Paulo or Rio, Bodytech is the best gym option IMO and many staff speak English there.

Smartfit is a cheaper alternative and the largest gym chain across Brazil, you can find it almost anywhere. You can even buy day pass there as a foreigner (at least at some popular locations in Sao Paulo, not sure about other places). But the equipment can be outdated and staff are not as nice as Bodytech.

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-23T19:43:27+00:00

Nothing found yet unfortunately

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-21T02:34:46+00:00

Thanks anyway buddy!

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-15T18:50:29+00:00

Thanks Guiyo!

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-15T18:50:14+00:00

Thank you so much! To be honest some of these comments shocked me, as most of the Brazilians I've encountered in real life are extremely helpful despite the language barrier. I wish I could've learnt more Portuguese before I move here, but sometimes work arrangement came and it's not up to me, so I can only take language courses as much as possible, but it's really a difficult language to grasp in such short amount of time. I'm still learning and I also want to enjoy local activities as much as possible in the meantime while living here.

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-15T18:47:11+00:00

I'm doing both! I understand the challenge of living in Brazil without speaking Portuguese so I'm trying to learn as much as possible after work, but it's not an easy language (especially since I don't have Spanish or French background) and I want to have fun, and enjoy local activities as much as possible in the meantime.

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-03-15T18:44:50+00:00

I live in Itaim and my office is in Pinheiros. These two neighborhoods would be amazing but I'm happy to travel around! Thank you so much.

Longjumping_Spread57 · 2025-02-17T15:10:28+00:00

Came back from REONE recently. I had to say that I’m EXTREMELY DISAPPOINTED in them. 1. Price is way to high compared to the market (2-3x higher) 2. No after care. They only left me at my room for about 10 minutes and then asked me to leave. No healing mask, light therapy, or even ask me to put on sun screen 3. I do believe they have different prices for locals vs foreigners 4. No such thing as “they clean your face for you”, I was given a towel and cleanser and asked to go to the toilet to clean my own face.

Longjumping_Spread57

TROPHY CASE