Depending on where you live, though, a minimum wage sallary is not a realistic measure of poor people's income. Living in São Paulo for about 6 years now, I've yet to find someone who makes minimum wage. The janitor who cleans my building makes about twice that amount. I think minimum wage is more common in interior cities and in the northern states. And yes, the contrast between rich and poor is too high. We've thought about moving to Europe, but I think I'll miss the sun too much... I know it sounds silly, but I'm just about to leave São Paulo for its crappy weather, which isn't even that crappy (I can sunbathe in my living room during all winter).