[i_am_andy]

Yes I suspect they are. Rents are incredibly high in major cities. Having seen the size (&cost) of the rooms available for rent in london these containers look quite reasonable.

In the west we don't have favelas so while I think it would be a down-point, I don't think there would be such a strong negative connotation.

[beaconstudios]

we don't, but the image of favelas is pretty pervasive in popular culture eg movies.