Yet in the summer of 2024, Boris and his wife, Maria Jesus, took a leap. They moved from the United States to Brazil, pioneering a young family’s adventure of radical transformation and discovery. Boris, who comes from Bolivia, wanted a new beginning in Rio de Janeiro. He wanted to distance himself from the financial stresses that had oppressed him back in the U.S.
Boris, a retired U.S. serviceman, was suddenly confronted with the rising cost of living in the United States. He described his previous situation, stating, “I really couldn’t afford my mortgage payments and my utilities anymore.” He was living off a tax-free disability benefit from the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA), which was his only income. Financial burdens followed him, preventing him from being able to provide for himself.
When Boris moved to Brazil, his cost of living plummeted. He’s saving about $1,000 a month in rent from where he used to live in the States. “I think my money could go a lot longer living overseas,” he reflected. Fruits, vegetables, and raw ingredients are abundant and cheap there, making his food costs pretty flexible. Now he spends half as much on groceries and has cut his shopping trips substantially.
We probably do our main grocery shopping two or three times a month here,” Boris said. I was going nearly every day in the States because my wife doesn’t like freezing meat. She likes stuff fresh.
Even with this financial relief, the transition to life in Brazil has come with other challenges. Boris’s Portuguese is better, though still inaccurate. “Like a tourist I don’t want to go insane,” he said, reflecting one desire for his travel to be more behind the scenes and not just surface level like a traditional tourist.
Boris had never felt in danger in Brazil but he knew that this is the prospect of urbanity. “The unfortunate part of the city is that there is poverty,” he acknowledged. His keen sense of the local socio-economic landscape is a testament to this ongoing quest for understanding of the community that became his home by choice.
As Boris adjusts to his new life in Brazil, he learns to love the beautiful game of Brazilian soccer. He especially loves to attend games for Flamengo, one of the country’s biggest and loudest clubs. This passion for his new local culture has deepened his touristy experience and allowed him to make connections with area residents.
Boris and Maria have been married for 28 years and share three sons, including Andrew, who at 24 works remotely. This setup lets Andrew spend extended time with his parents in Brazil, while continuing to do his work from the US. So Boris takes a trip back to the U.S. each year. He takes time to reconnect with family and friends, maintaining the ties that bind him even from half a world away.
Boris is happy with his new life in Brazil. He doesn’t see any incentive to come back to the U.S. for good, given the persistent financial worries that prompted their move in the first place. “It feels comfortable no longer feeling and dealing with the financial burdens I had in the US,” he stated.
Like Boris, we’re looking forward to what’s next! He’s intending to apply for Brazilian permanent residency in the coming year, pledging himself to this new adventure. His choice to move reflects an increasing pattern. An increasing number of people are reaching for financial stability and improved quality of life outside their home countries.
