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Emigration isn't motivated by money alone. For instance, in the case of brain drain there's the strong feeling that some intellectual work is only recognized abroad.
> I understand your point about the hinterland being more enjoyable, after all, it is the norm of humanity to have access to large swaths of nature,
São Paulo's hinterland has more farmland than intact vegetation, it's still densely developed, but the result is pleasant. Even the large cities don't feel dystopic as they are finite.
> Here in Canada, urban sprawl has been causing much of the farmland to be gobbled up by suburban sprawl. Sure, you have more internal living space than an apartment, but the overall loss of space for the communities in the area is lost.
The land being gobbled up isn't just farmland, it's empty land. What's built over it almost always isn't a suburb (as a suburb must have a downtown) but farmland and small-medium cities.
> On a related note, have you heard of Dunbar's number? It might be of interest.
It shows smaller communities are happier. Hence farmers in Mato Grosso should have a happier life than slum dwellers in Rio de Janeiro.