Money in Brazil: currency, ATMs, cards and tipping

Brazil's currency is the real (plural: reais), written R$ and coded BRL. One real divides into 100 centavos. Notes run from R$2 up to R$200, and coins from 5 centavos to R$1; the R$1 note is no longer issued, so expect a coin.

The rate moves, and it has moved a lot over the past decade. As a planning figure for 2026, budget about R$5–5.8 per US dollar — check the rate the week you leave, because a 10% swing changes what a two-week trip costs in dollars. The parent cost pages on this site are quoted in US dollars for that reason.

You do not need to buy reais before you fly. Airports give the worst rates of your trip; a bank ATM or a card payment on arrival is usually cheaper. If you do want cash in hand, change a small amount at home and do the rest in Brazil.

Cards are the default. Visa and Mastercard are accepted almost everywhere, including small beach kiosks, and tap-to-pay is normal. American Express is patchier outside hotels and big restaurants. Contactless works on the Rio and São Paulo metro too.

When a card machine asks whether you want to be charged in reais or in your home currency, choose reais. That conversion is done at a rate set by the machine's operator, not your bank, and it usually costs you more.

Cash still earns its place. Carry R$100–200 in small notes: tips, street food, beach vendors, rural pousadas and some taxis. Breaking a R$100 note at a tiny padaria can be awkward, so keep R$10, R$20 and R$50 notes.

Locals mostly pay by Pix, an instant bank transfer by QR code that is free and works day and night. A Pix key normally requires a Brazilian tax number (CPF), so most visitors cannot open one. Several travel apps now let foreigners pay Pix QR codes from a foreign balance — check which ones work before you rely on it; your card will work anyway.

If you are staying a while, a prepaid Brazilian account or a multi-currency travel card loaded with reais cuts ATM fees. For a short trip, your normal card plus a little cash is enough.

ATMs are common in cities and at airports, but foreign-card withdrawals carry two costs: a Brazilian operator fee, often around R$20–30 per withdrawal — check — plus whatever your own bank charges. Withdraw larger amounts less often rather than small amounts repeatedly.

Banco do Brasil, Bradesco, Itaú and Santander machines generally take foreign cards; some smaller banks and stand-alone machines in shops do not. Not every machine is loaded with R$100 notes, so take what it offers rather than insisting on a round number.

Use machines inside bank branches, shopping malls, airports or supermarkets, in daylight, and avoid street-corner ATMs at night. Cover the keypad, keep your card in sight, and do not accept help from a stranger. Card skimming and card-swapping at machines are the main risks, not street robbery. Carry a second card separately from the first, and save your bank's international number offline.

Brazil is a tipping country, but the rules are simpler than in the US. Restaurants add a 10% service charge (taxa de serviço) to the bill, usually printed as "serviço" or "10%". It is technically optional, and you can ask for it to be removed if service was poor, but almost everyone pays it. If it is already on the bill, you do not need to add more.

If no service charge appears, leave about 10% in cash. Bars work the same way: a 10% charge on the tab, or round up. For a coffee or a beer at a counter, rounding up to the next real is fine.

Taxis and ride apps: nothing required. Round up to the next real for a taxi, or add a small tip in the app if the driver helped with bags. Hotel housekeeping: R$5–10 per night. Porters and bellhops: R$5–10 per bag. Tour guides: R$20–50 per person for a half day, more for a full day or a private guide. Beach vendors, delivery riders and barbers: R$2–5 or round up.

Do not tip in dollars. Reais are what people can spend, and a dollar note is a chore to exchange. Keep a few R$5 and R$10 notes for this.

Prices in Brazil are quoted in reais, and the parent cost pages here are in US dollars because the rate moves. For a working figure, a backpacker day runs about US$42–95, mid-range US$110–220 and comfort US$300–690, per person, sharing a room — 2026 estimate. Rio and São Paulo sit at the top of those bands; the Northeast is cheaper.

Two things change a budget more than exchange rates. First, Carnival and New Year in Rio: hotel prices multiply, and the same room can cost several times the normal rate. Second, Amazon and Pantanal lodges, which are sold as all-inclusive packages and priced separately from daily costs.

A few habits save money and hassle. Eat the per-kilo buffet (comida a quilo) at lunch, when it is cheapest and freshest. Use the metro in Rio and São Paulo instead of taxis at peak times. Buy attraction tickets online where a timed slot exists, such as Christ the Redeemer's train. And keep your receipts if you might claim tax back — Brazil's tax-free scheme for foreign visitors has been discussed for years, so check the current status before counting on it.

Tell your bank and card issuers you are travelling, and check the foreign transaction fee on each card. A card with no foreign fee saves roughly 3% on everything you buy. Save your bank's international phone number and your card numbers somewhere offline, in case a card is lost or blocked.

Carry a second card kept separately from your main one, and a small amount of US dollars or euros as an emergency backup — not for daily spending. Photograph your passport and cards and store the images in a password-protected app.

If you plan to use a travel eSIM, sort it before you fly so you have data on arrival for maps and ride apps. And check the visa rules for your passport before you book, since entry requirements differ by nationality.