the cost of a very basic, unfinished, 2-room house is about 15,000 br$, while the cost to rent it would be about br$ 500/month.  homes in rocinha are in high demand, and there is always a waiting list for occupancy. 
 
unlike other less developed favelas in the metropolitan area, rocinha is quite advanced, with banks, a post office, health centers, gyms, law offices, public schools, shops, markets, bars, show-houses, fast-food, internet cafés, tour guides, and as of lately even pousadas.   in fact, more pousadas have been announced by the government to be built in laboriaux, the highest part of the hill.

rocinha has free wi-fi internet, 'radio rocinha' a local radio station, and even the museu da rocinha  (museum of rocinha)  dedicated to the history of the neighborhood and its struggle for development and integration.