Money in Brazil: a practical guide for tourists

At a glance

The Brazilian real: notes and coins

The money in Brazil is the real, written BRL in banking and plural reais in everyday speech. Banco Central do Brasil issues the current banknotes, called the second family of the real, with notes of 2, 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. A 200 note joined them on 2 September 2020. Coins come in 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 centavos and 1 real.

Banco Central lists the features to check on a note. Hold it against the light and you should see a watermark with the animal figure and the value. The 10, 20, 50 and 100 notes also have a security thread that shows the value. On the 50 and 100 there is a holographic strip that alternates the value with the word REAIS when you tilt the note, and on the 10 and 20 the number changes from blue to green. The legend “República Federativa do Brasil” is printed in relief, so you can feel it with your fingers.

Cards: where they work

The Government of Canada travel advice (updated 14 October 2026) says credit and debit cards are widely accepted in cities, restaurants and stores, and less so in rural areas and informal markets. For a trip that stays in Rio de Janeiro, a card covers most of the day. For a beach town, a market or a day trip into the countryside, carry some cash as well.

The U.S. State Department advises carrying fewer cards and keeping an eye on your card when you pay. Before you fly, tell your bank where you are going and check what it charges abroad.

ATMs and changing money

Canadian advice notes that Canadian bank cards usually work in Brazilian ATMs and that ATMs are scarce in rural areas. The U.S. State Department recommends using machines inside a secure facility, such as an airport, a hospital, a bank or a government building, and avoiding machines in quiet or unfamiliar places.

At RIOgaleão, Rio’s international airport, the official services page lists two exchange desks and 24-hour ATMs. That is enough for the first taxi or snack, and your hotel can point you to a bank branch later. The Canadian page also warns that some currencies, Canadian dollars among them, are hard to exchange in Brazil. US dollars and euros are the usual choice if you want to change cash.

Pix: why visitors usually skip it

Pix is the instant payment system created by Banco Central do Brasil. It reached full operation on 16 November 2020, works at any hour on any day and moves money in seconds. People pay with a key (phone number, e-mail, CPF tax number or a random key) or by scanning a QR code, and you will see Pix QR codes at street stalls, taxis and small shops.

The catch for tourists: the payer sends a Pix from a checking, savings or prepaid payment account at an institution that takes part in the system. Without such an account in Brazil, plan to pay by card or in cash. Where a seller asks for Pix, ask whether a card works too.

Bringing cash into Brazil

Receita Federal requires every traveler who enters Brazil with cash above the limit set by Receita Federal (in any currency) to fill in the Declaração Eletrônica de Bens de Viajantes (e-DBV) and present it at customs before leaving the customs area. The rule covers banknotes in any currency; checks and traveler’s checks are not counted. The form is online at the Receita Federal site.

Tips and service charge

Restaurant bills in Brazil often include a service charge. Law 13.419 of 2017 says that a charge added by the business as service counts as a tip and goes to the staff. The law does not say that you must pay it, so if you have a question about the line on your bill, ask the waiter.

Before you travel: a short money checklist

• Tell your bank your travel dates and check its foreign card and ATM fees.
• Take two cards from different banks and keep them in different places.
• Withdraw at ATMs in airports, banks or shopping centers.
• Keep some small notes for markets, beach kiosks and tips.
• If you carry cash above the limit set by Receita Federal, fill in the e-DBV.
• Check entry requirements on official websites.

For what else to bring, see our Brazil packing list; for staying online, our guide to a Brazil SIM card or eSIM.

What to tell us in your request

• Your dates and the cities you want to see
• How many people are traveling, and the ages of any children
• Whether you need an airport transfer, a driver or a guide who speaks your language
• The kind of trip: beaches, nature, culture, nightlife, a celebration
• Anything we should plan around, such as mobility or diet

How we help

Vela Brasil plans private trips in Rio and across Brazil. We book the private driver, the guide and the transfers, build the day plan and stay your single contact for the whole trip. Terms and payment are set out in the proposal; you pay nothing before you confirm. Tours, transfers and boats can be cancelled without charge up to 48 hours before, multi-day tours up to 14 days before. For a full route, see our Brazil itinerary for two weeks.