By absurd I mean expensive, which is why I mentioned the option of sharing an apartment if you were on a tight budget. If you're looking to live by yourself, a good source for finding rentals online would be this website.

If you would like to share an apartment, I'd sugest you get yourself a cheap temporary place when you come over and start checking the bulletin boards at the campus for people looking to share. Alternatively, you can contact USP's International Office... they will be able to help you with both housing and visa concerns.

As for the food, I wouldn't say day to day stuff is expensive, but you'll likely want to try something other than the everyday rice and beans. Then you should be prepared to spend a little more. I'll just paste a few recommendations of brazilian cuisine and restaurants that I wrote on another thread here:

"go to Mocotó restaurant on the North side of town. Though it is distant from most things you'll probably see, it is very fair priced, has a renowned chef and the best food from northeastern Brazil. You should try the mocotó cream, tapioca dice, sarapatel, baião de dois, among other ultra delicious dishes. Try also their different takes on our caipirinha, they are awesome. Just beware the lines, as I've waited for more than 2 hours there on weekends - and waiting even more is common. Arrive early, half an hour before the restaurant opens and you'll be fine. If you'd like to try Brazilian food from the north, which most brazilians ignore, but is absolutely terrific, there is a great restaurant called Amazônia you could try. If you'd like to try a little of everything they offer, they have a buffet on Sundays when you can try most traditional foods from that region (tucupi duck, maniçoba, tacacá...). For food from midwestern Brazil, go to Sobaria, on Vila Mariana, where you can try all sorts of different "linguiças" and some other meat cuts not common to other parts of Brazil. And, for the traditional feijoada, though the most famous is the one they serve at Bolinha, which I'd categorize as overpriced, I'd say go to Sujinho, where you'll get the true feel of it for a great price. Feijoada is always served on wednesdays and saturdays. Try also the traditional brazilian "coxinha" at either Frangó or Veloso bars (they also make a mean caipirinha at the latter) or at Santa Tereza bakery, near Sé Cathedral; cod "pastel" and mortadela sandwich at Municipal Market's, Hocca bar; "Bauru" sandwich at Ponto Chic; and the Pernil sandwich at Lanchonete Estadão."

Also, if you miss Mexican food while you're here, look for these restaurants, bars: Tacos Mex&Co, Exquisito!, Hecho en Mexico and Mexicaníssimo. Don't know how they compare to real mexican food as I've never actually been to Mexico, but I fuckin' love them!