Brazil Travel Money Guide
Brazil is increasingly card-based but cash still matters for street food, markets, and small towns.
Capital: Brasília · Currency: Brazilian Real (BRL)
Paying by card
Visa and Mastercard widely accepted. Pix (instant local payment) dominates but isn't easily accessible to tourists.
Cash and ATMs
Use Banco do Brasil, Itaú, or Bradesco ATMs inside branches during daylight. Avoid street ATMs at night.
Tipping
10% service charge usually included. Round up for good service.
Scams to avoid
Be cautious in Rio and São Paulo at night. Use rideshare instead of street taxis. Don't display valuables on beaches.
What BRL amounts are worth
| BRL | USD | EUR | GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 10 BRL | 1.92 | 1.69 | 1.45 |
| 50 BRL | 9.59 | 8.45 | 7.24 |
| 100 BRL | 19.19 | 16.90 | 14.49 |
| 500 BRL | 95.94 | 84.49 | 72.43 |
Rates are European Central Bank reference rates for 29 Sept 2026 (published each working day around 16:00 CET; the UAE dirham uses its official US-dollar peg of 3.6725). The live converter loads the latest rate when the page opens.
Over the 30 days of ECB data to 29 Sept 2026, one US dollar bought 0.92% more BRL and one euro 1.58% fewer.
Before you go
- When a card terminal or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, decline and pay in BRL; the conversion it offers usually includes a wide margin.
- Tell your bank you are travelling and carry two cards on different networks in case one is declined.
- Check your card's foreign transaction fee and put it in the budget converter's fee field.
Budget the trip with the travel budget converter, see all BRL rates, or browse more country guides.