Prices, Apartments styles, Beaches, Parties, Buffets, Safety
This is the most informative article should you want to visit or travel to Rio de Janeiro!
I will explain living in 3 parts of zona sul comparing prices, apartments, beaches, food, and safety.
This is what I can tell you after living in Rio for over a year.
For the nightlife, you should watch this video below:
APARTMENTS
Apartment monthly rental prices in USD as of 2020. Note that prices fluctuate based on
season and during the pandemic, the prices were the lowest in over a decade.
Prices are more than double during carnival!
Copacabana $400+
Ipanema $700+
Leblon $1100+
These are Airbnb prices that include all costs, internet, electricity. Although, utility prices are higher
in Ipanema and more in Leblon, some Airbnb hosts will charge separately for electricity.
They were designed in the 60s to reduce the heat but still allow sunlight into the apartment
but not all apartments get sunlight. There are plenty apartments with window views of your neighbors and
permanemtly shaded concrete gardens.
Let me give you an apartment tour. The low end apartments may have disfunctional kitchens and vintage
electrical wiring so running a microwave and air conditioner simulataneously is a no no.
Here’s an apartment tour in Ipanema, the previous were in Copacabana.
This is one of the nicer apartments I rented.
Now RESTAURANTS
I’m not a restaurant connoseuir but I do love buffets to keep me thin.
Lunch prices are the cheapest meal at 12-20 reals in Copacabana unless you think breakfast pastry is a meal.
In fact many kiosks are open for lunch only between 11am-3pm.
For buffets you have the luxury chain Fogo de Chao in Botafogo, I didn’t eat there.
Carretao pronounced Carretao in Copacabana and Ipanema. Prices vary here too. They offer coupons on their website.
Another strange thing about restaurants in Rio is a service fee which exists sometimes even in the same restaurant.
One day I was charged 10%, another day 15%. A brazilian explained to me that there’s no strict standard
for restaurants so it may depend on the manager, time of day, season, if you were friendly to the staff or not.
In Ipanema there are two buffets, Frontera and Fazendola. Those are excellent.
Now here’s the
BIGGEST DAMN TIP TO GET FROM THIS VIDEO, are you still watching?
-Don’t expect to be looked after by a waiter without calling their attention.
I thought this was strange at first but then I noticed all the locals would call the waiter first.
Even it’s at a buffet. If you need water, if you need sauce , ketchupeeee as they call it.
Wave your hand and say “moso” for male waiters and “mosa” for female waiters.
You might notice the bad reviews of a restaurant on google maps, then you look at the reviewer’s name and it’s not Brazilian.
They should have watched this video first.
Also not every buffet is a all-you can eat buffet but a pay by the kilo buffet.
All the unlimited buffets are open after 6pm! Except for ONE! It’s called DECK by POSTO 4.
I needed to find one that’s open for lunch and it costs around 30 reals
But my actual favorite is Fazendola because they have a sushi buffet for about 75 reals and no service fee!
Check out this lucious beautiful sushi. Oooh yeah!
Alternatively you can order their pizza buffet at the same place for a lower price.
I never ate in Leblon, I only got drinks. You’re definitely going to pay more there and I only noticed one buffet.
Here’s kicker! Availability, in Copacabana, since it’s traditionally more touristic,
the restaurants and kiosks have longer hours and a higher quantity of them.
You’ll have a place to eat within 1-2 blocks, but forget about that in Ipanema and Leblon.
Should it matter? if you like to walk then yes. If you prefer to order by delivery than it won’t matter to you.
If you need more specific pricing for food, watch my grocery store video!
BEACHES
Now let’s talk about the glorious beaches. You have choices.
This is Copacabana. Some people will say it’s for the elderly or families but it’s still a beach.
You have sports, food, live music, bikinis, even beached whales! Watch my other videos of this poor baby
whale stranded.
Other than that, not much is missing. Most likely where you will chill will be decided by your friends.
Leblon is the hotspot. Your Brazilian girl will want to go there especially if she is with her friends.
But you be the boss and tell her you will take here wherever you want to go.
Leblon is not perfect. Look there’s a beach rescue going on. I don’t know what happened, but the life guards
and a helicopter were circling around for half an hour in Leblon.
Leblon is not without problems. You still get some trouble sprinkled in. Here’s one of them riding on a scooter
and bumpbed into a women.
I did notice that more Brazilians speak English in Leblon.
With wealth comes intellect and there are many smart ones.
You see this? You see this beautiful sight of nature! That’s the most glorious sunset in South America.
You will find the most amount of people at Arpoador, at the end of Ipanema.
This is the spot! You are in the middle of all the beaches and have the best views.
It’s the spot for surfers and athletic people that like to exercise outside.
Check out my 360 degree video of this spot.
Arpoador hands down, has the best views and is the most coveted place.
People hang out here all day and all night and look there’s a free out door gym!
Anywhere between Post 8 and 12 is ideal for single travelers.
POSTO 9 is known for the LBGTQ crowd if that’s your thing.
To see more beaches, click LIKE and write me a comment!
NOW ABOUT SAFETY
Since the pandemic, police has increased their presence in zona sul more than before.
This includes the regular city police as well as military police.
This is where I have a difference of opinion even from the locals. Safety is similar in all parts of
zona sul which means the most important part is you being cautious. It depends how you dress, how you walk and talk.
The locals will say Copacabana is more dangerous than Leblon but that’s probably because
there are more homeless people and favelas in Copacabana. I’ve seen thieves run in all three parts.
None of them bothered me besides asking for some change.
In fact, I had a six foot tall european friend, get assaulted in Ipanema.
While I was laying down in Ipanema beach, one guy came close to taking one of my sandals.
He even asked if he could have one sandal, YES, just one sandal. huh
Laying down in Copacabana beach, I was practically invisible, nobody bothered me there.
A Peruvian girl that has spent a few years in Copacabana also agreed.
There’s more noise in Copacabana, but that’s due to the amount of commerce there.
More offices, more shops and food stores. Therefore more people walking around.
Remember all this information is available in my how-to book. The link is in the About section of this channel.
To Summarize for you:
Choose Leblon for the best and fanciest crowd, more English-speaking Brazilians and cleaner beaches.
Choose Ipanema for high quality places, less noise, above average prices and to be in the middle of zona sul.
Choose Copacabana for a more authenticity, wider beaches, diverse crowds and more family beach goers.