Countries: Brazil vs. United Kingdom

Quick Verdict

The United Kingdom generally offers a more developed and stable environment with better healthcare and education systems, but at a higher cost of living. Brazil presents a more affordable lifestyle with a rich culture, but comes with challenges in crime, healthcare, and education quality. The best choice depends on individual priorities and risk tolerance.

Brazil offers a lower cost of living and a vibrant culture, but faces challenges in healthcare, education, and crime.
The United Kingdom offers a stable political environment, high-quality healthcare and education, and a strong business environment, but has a high cost of living and a relatively high crime rate.

Key features – Side-by-Side

Attribute	Brazil	United Kingdom
GDP per capita	$10,593 USD (estimated end of 2024), IMF estimates US$11,178 per inhabitant, Trading Economics expects $9775.00 USD by end of 2025	$49,463.86 in 2023, $45,936 for 2022, $52,637 in 2024, and an average of $31,927.70 from 1960 until 2024
Human Development Index (HDI)	0.786 (2023), ranked 84th out of 193 countries	0.946 in 2023
Political Stability	Mixed; some sources suggest a well-functioning business environment, while others note corruption and bribery	Stable democracy, 76.78% percentile rank in 2023, political stability index of 0.51 points in 2023
Healthcare System Quality	Public system (SUS) provides free, universal access but faces challenges (overcrowding, long wait times). Many opt for private health insurance	Publicly funded NHS, ranked best overall by the Commonwealth Fund in 2017
Education System Quality	Faces significant challenges; standards lag behind other Latin American countries, disparities between public and private institutions	High quality, rigorous National Curriculum, high standards, UK universities consistently rank high in global rankings
Environmental Performance Index (EPI)	Not available	Ranked 4th out of 180 countries in 2020
Cost of Living	Lower than in the UK and the USA; family of four: ~$1,875.6/month, single person: ~$529.7/month (excluding rent)	22nd most expensive country in the world, about 2.3% lower than in the United States
Internet Access and Speed	86.6% penetration (January 2024), median fixed broadband speed: 165.59 Mbit/s (July 2024)	Not available
Crime Rate	Above-average global levels of violent crime; homicide rate in 2024: 17.9 per 100,000 inhabitants	Approximately 80 crimes per 1,000 people in England and Wales in 2023, 84 per 1,000 people as of September 2024
Ease of Doing Business	Ranked 124th out of 190 economies in 2020	Ranked 8th globally by the World Bank in 2020
Cultural attractions and tourism	Popular tourist destination; Rio de Janeiro, S	—

Overall Comparison

UK: GDP per capita $49,463.86, HDI 0.946, Ease of Doing Business Rank 8. Brazil: GDP per capita $10,593, HDI 0.786, Ease of Doing Business Rank 124.

Pros and Cons

Brazil

Pros:

Diversified industrial base (oil & gas, food, automotive, mining, aerospace)
Attractive to foreign direct investment due to scientific and technological development
Rich cultural experience with diverse attractions and festivals
Lower cost of living compared to developed nations

Cons:

Corruption and bribery concerns
Challenges in public healthcare system (overcrowding, wait times)
Education system standards lag behind other countries
Above-average levels of violent crime
Bureaucracy and complex regulations hinder ease of doing business

United Kingdom

Pros:

High GDP per capita
High Human Development Index
Stable democracy
High-quality healthcare system
High-quality education system
Good Environmental Performance Index
Ease of doing business
Rich cultural attractions and tourism

Cons:

High cost of living
Crime rate of 84 per 1,000 people as of September 2024

User Experiences and Feedback

Brazil

What Users Love

Free, universal access to healthcare through SUS
Popular tourist destinations and cultural experiences

Common Complaints

Quality of public healthcare can vary, often overcrowded with long wait times
Education system faces challenges with standards below many other countries
Concerns about corruption and bribery affecting political climate
High levels of violent crime raise safety concerns
Bureaucracy, complex regulations, and a complicated tax system can pose challenges to starting and running a business

Value Perception

Cost of living is significantly lower than in many developed nations like the US and the UK.

User Recommendations

Average cost of living in Brazil is reportedly 71% less expensive than in the United States.

United Kingdom

What Users Love

Public healthcare is provided to all permanent residents, free at the point of need, funded by general taxation.
The UK education system is known for its high quality at all levels.
The UK is a stable democracy with a stable governance system.
The UK is considered one of the easiest places to start and run a business.
Popular tourist destinations include London, Edinburgh, Stonehenge, and the Lake District.

Common Complaints

The cost of living in the UK is high compared to other developed nations.
London is particularly expensive and frequently ranks among the top cities in terms of cost of living.
Overall crime rate in England and Wales was approximately 80 crimes per 1,000 people in 2023.

Value Perception

Major industries in the UK include manufacturing, information technology, and finance.
The UK has set ambitious targets to decarbonize power generation and cut CO2 emissions.
The UK generally has lower rates of violent crime compared to the U.S..
Smaller towns and rural areas tend to have lower crime rates.
Registering a business can be completed online quickly.