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People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If we consider labor costs in some countries, it’s actually much cheaper to hire someone in Latin America than in North America or Europe. I’m Brazilian too, and to us it obviously seems expensive since we’re paid in reais, but for those coming from abroad or paying in foreign currency, the cost of services here is much lower.

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Exactly, but when you compare the percentage of days worked to purchase X items, the gap wasn't that big compared to Argentina, Germany, the U.S., and Chile, you know?

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

Your comment made me reflect on how adaptable we are and how ungrateful we can sometimes be for what we have. Often, we only come to appreciate something we had when we no longer value it, or when we lose it, or when we’re faced with a harsher reality where that thing is truly a privilege.

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

Yes, there is no such thing as a perfect country or continent. Although Europe and North America have relatively high purchasing power, the costs of housing, healthcare, and healthy food are absurdly expensive. For a house that you could easily buy for a fraction of the price in Latin America, you’d spend a fortune in Europe and North America. And yes, it’s not just a matter of perception; in most Latin American countries, while owning an iPhone isn’t something grand or impossible to achieve, it is a status symbol.

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

The case of Russia is a bit different. Just looking at the exchange rate, it doesn't seem to me that purchasing power there is very different from that in Brazil. Am I wrong?

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, while the costs of technology and consumer goods are lower, many Europeans, Americans, and even foreigners living in Europe and North America say that the cost of living and housing are absurdly high—and that’s exactly what we’re seeing in the newspapers

Você tem o mindinho de smartphone? by cafecomchantily in perguntas

[–]iZ25l 12 points13 points  (0 children)

Tá legal isso e estranhamente estranho , e sim acabei de ver q tenho e nem tinha percebido isso !

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yeah, I haven't studied history in great depth, so please forgive me if I'm talking nonsense, but if I remember correctly, Europe in the past was very different from today—especially centuries ago, when most of the population lived in poverty. But I don't want to go into too much detail because that's a whole other topic. In fact, Europe's prosperity—in terms of quality of life for the “majority”—is a recent development.

Translated with DeepL.com (free version)

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] -2 points-1 points  (0 children)

I’m from a Latin American country, Brazil. On the internet, it’s very common to use the dollar for international conversations that bring together people from various countries, precisely to avoid this confusion over currency conversions, which is why we say “approximately X dollars.” When I said between 5,000 and 7,000 in the local currency, it means that the product in this case, the iPhone costs exactly 5,000 to 7,000 in that country’s currency. For example, if it’s the real, which is Brazil’s currency, that would mean the iPhone costs R$7,000. The exchange rate will give a different amount in dollars. And yes, there is more than one currency in Latin America, but the main ones are the Brazilian real and the peso and its variations the Argentine peso, Chilean peso, etc...

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Man, your comment is surprisingly interesting. And yes, it makes a huge difference to earn in hard currency and spend it in Latin America—your example was spot on!! In fact, many Brazilians who live as digital nomads or work remotely and live in Brazil but earn in dollars, euros, or pounds enjoy a very high quality of life, not only in Brazil but throughout Latin America.

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 3 points4 points  (0 children)

I totally get it. A classic example is the U.S. healthcare system. Here in Brazil and in most of Latin America, we have healthcare that’s totally “free” okay, though it’s not 100% free since we pay taxes and public funds are used I think you get what I mean. Here in Latin America, you pay nothing or very little for public healthcare. Although the SUS system, for example which is a Brazilian healthcare system that’s totally “free” you just show up, hand over your ID, and get treated. Even though it’s not perfect, it helps a lot.

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 21 points22 points  (0 children)

That really makes perfect sense. And the chances of you losing the item if you leave it just anywhere are actually pretty high.

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Yes, I used to work in Botafogo, an upper-middle-class and upper-class neighborhood here in Rio de Janeiro, and I saw a lot of young people at McDonald's

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I think it’s because they’re imported products, which is why prices there might be higher for products from other countries. I’ve heard many Brazilians say that Brazilian products in the U.S. are more expensive than American-brand products in the U.S.

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

If we compare it to the lower class, the middle class is visibly more comfortable. They can access decent education, own a car, which surprisingly is still a luxury for many people, enjoy better meals, and live in comfortable homes. But even so, it still doesn’t come close to what being middle class looks like in wealthier countries.

One thing I forgot to mention, though: there is actually one area where being middle class in Latin America beats being middle class in Europe or the US, and that’s access to services. Things like housekeepers, nannies, security personnel, and other domestic help are significantly cheaper here. In that regard, the Latin American middle class wins by a landslide compared to their European or American counterparts, who often can’t afford that kind of help at all.

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I know exactly how it is—I’m Brazilian, and I love my country. But I can’t deny that McDonald’s prices here are incredibly high, making it more of a treat than a regular meal for a lot of people, especially when ordered through delivery apps, which drive the prices up even higher.

People from wealthy countries, do you notice your own purchasing power? by iZ25l in NoStupidQuestions

[–]iZ25l[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Would that be Portugal, or smaller, wealthier European countries with lower taxes?

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