By Anna Kaiser, Contributing Reporter
RIO DE JANEIRO, BRAZIL – While many who come to Rio seek out accommodations along the iconic Zona Sul (South Zone) beach neighborhoods, not everyone can afford the rising prices alone. Continuing our 2013 coverage of rental prices in Rio, we are updating our 2011 report on roommate options, traditionally popular with younger expatriates, students and travelers.
While R$1,500 will scarcely afford a studio space in most of Zona Sul, renting a single room in an apartment opens many options for nice rooms in great locations.
There are several websites to find roommates in Rio, one of the most popular is roommate finder website, EasyQuarto (although in Portuguese).
Another recent option is Airbnb, a website used internationally to rent rooms for short and longer periods of time. Most Airbnb rooms are for shorter-term, but some hosts will negotiate a monthly price for the room.
Located adjacent to Ipanema along the beach, Leblon is one of the most exclusive neighborhoods in the city and is Rio’s hub for fine dining and luxury shopping. One of the most expensive neighborhoods in Latin America, finding affordability in Leblon can be difficult to come by.
Example: This small room in Leblon is R$1,350 a month with two other roommates. The apartment appears nice and is well-located, several blocks from both the beach and Lagoa, and has amenities like WiFi and a washing machine.
Arguably Rio’s most iconic neighborhood, Ipanema lives up to its famed reputation, residing along the shores of the beautiful Ipanema beach and packed with some of Rio’s most popular bars and restaurants.
Example: This room in Ipanema, at R$1,300, is in a four-bedroom, two bathroom apartment with living room, kitchen, washing machine and internet. It is located several blocks from the beach and close to General Osório Plaza, a nice open space and hub for public transportation.
Copacabana is an expansive neighborhood lying on 4 km of beach. Larger buildings and fewer trendy bars and restaurants make Copacabana less chic than Leblon or Ipanema, meaning this neighborhood is easier on a budget. It is however set to host part of the 2016 Olympic games and is going through a revitalization phase.
Example: This room is R$1,500 and located on Miguel Lemos in Copacabana, very close to the Cantagalo Metro stop. There appears to be nice furniture and a large bed and the renter takes both long term and short term tenants.
Botafogo is considered one of Rio’s most up and coming neighborhoods due to its trendy restaurants and declaration as the center of Rio’s start-up scene. The neighborhood boasts Botafogo beach, Shopping Rio Sul and Shopping Botafogo, and some of Rio’s newest and upmarket restaurants.
Example: This apartment in Botafogo is R$1,200 and near the beach and close to Urca. With proximity to the Federal University of Rio de Janeiro and many of Rio’s startup tech companies, this location is ideal for students and professionals. The apartment has a nice living room, kitchen, washing machine and closet space.
Located north of Botafogo, Laranjeiras’ popularity seems to be ever-increasing. With nice open spaces like the Largo do Machado Plaza and Plaza São Salvador and lower prices than the beach neighborhoods, Laranjeiras is a popular and hip hang out place for the younger and more sociable crowds.
Example: This well-decorated two-bedroom, two bathroom apartment has a room available for R$1,300. There is a view of the Christ, garage space, Internet, and cable TV.