South America

Money, cards and tipping in Brazil

Capital: BrasiliaPortuguese, Spanish, English, FrenchUpdated October 2026

BRLReal

Money in Brazil

Cards almost everywhere Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, even beach kiosks; Pix QR dominates but needs a Brazilian account. Carry small cash for vendors. US$1 ≈ R$5.22 (03 Oct 2026).

Key facts

Tipping: Restaurants and bars add an optional 10% service charge; nothing more is expected. Tipping taxi and ride-app drivers isn't customary.
ATMs: Banco24Horas, Bradesco and Banco do Brasil ATMs take foreign cards; expect a fee and low night-time limits.
Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay work at card terminals; Pix needs a Brazilian account or a Pix-enabled foreign wallet.
Price level: about 46% of US prices (World Bank PPP).

Cash or card, by place

Place	Cards	Notes
Rio de Janeiro	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere, even beach kiosks. Carry small notes for vendors and tips; Pix needs a Brazilian account.
São Paulo	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, including street food stalls and markets. Carry a little cash for small vendors.
Foz do Iguaçu	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless are accepted widely. Carry cash for buses, border bus fares and small snack stands; Argentina and Paraguay want pesos or guaraníes.
Florianópolis	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless nearly everywhere, even on beaches. Carry small cash for buses, market stalls and small bars.
Salvador	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work in most places; carry small cash for beach vendors, acarajé stalls and buses.
Jericoacoara	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards and Pix work in most pousadas and restaurants, but ATMs are scarce and can run empty. Bring cash for small stalls and tours.
Ilha Grande	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards and Pix work at most pousadas and restaurants in Abraão; bring cash because ATMs are limited and stalls on trails take only cash.
Paraty	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and Pix are accepted in most restaurants and pousadas; carry small cash for market stalls, taxis and boat deposits.
Búzios	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and Pix are accepted in nearly all restaurants and hotels; carry small cash for buses, kiosks and small taxi fares.
Fernando de Noronha	Mixed: cards and cash	Cards and Pix are accepted in most pousadas and restaurants; ATMs are limited, so bring some cash for small shops and beach vendors.
Recife	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; carry small cash for beach vendors, markets and buses.
Fortaleza	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; carry small cash for beach barracas, markets and buses.
Manaus	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and Pix are common in the city; carry small cash for port stalls, boat tips and some jungle lodges.
Pipa	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work in most restaurants and pousadas; carry cash for beach vendors, buggies and small stalls. ATMs run out on weekends.
Natal	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work in restaurants, hotels and most shops; carry a little cash for beach vendors, buggy tips and buses.
Maceió	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work in restaurants, hotels and most shops; keep a little cash for beach vendors, jangadas and the craft fair.
Belo Horizonte	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and Pix work almost everywhere; carry small cash for market stalls, street snacks and some botecos.
Brasília	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and Pix work almost everywhere; carry small cash for fairs, street vendors and some parking.
Itacaré	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and Pix widely accepted in town; carry small cash for beach vendors, mototaxis and stalls. ATMs sometimes run dry.
Morro de São Paulo	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and Pix work at most restaurants and pousadas; carry cash for porters, beach vendors and small kiosks. ATMs are few.
Chapada Diamantina	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and Pix work in Lençóis; carry cash for Capão, small trails, park fees and local guides. ATMs are scarce outside Lençóis.
Lençóis Maranhenses	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and Pix work in Barreirinhas hotels and agencies; carry cash for Atins, village restaurants, boat tips and small stalls.
Bonito	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and Pix work for agencies, hotels and restaurants; carry some cash for small stalls and park entrances.
Ouro Preto	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and Pix work in most places; carry cash for small shops, church entrances and mine tours.
Curitiba	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and Pix work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for fairs, small stalls and some buses.
Porto Alegre	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and Pix work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for the markets, fairs and small bars.
Belém	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work in restaurants and shops; carry small cash for Ver-o-Peso stalls, açaí vendors and river boats.
Balneário Camboriú	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, even beach kiosks; carry small cash for vendors.
Porto de Galinhas	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work in restaurants and shops; keep cash for rafts, beach vendors and local taxis.
Gramado	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, even in chocolate shops and cafés; keep a little cash for parking and small stalls.

Quick answers

Do you tip in Brazil?

Restaurants and bars add an optional 10% service charge; nothing more is expected. Tipping taxi and ride-app drivers isn't customary.

Is Brazil cashless?

Cards almost everywhere. Cards and contactless work almost everywhere, even beach kiosks; Pix QR dominates but needs a Brazilian account. Carry small cash for vendors.

What currency does Brazil use?

The Real (BRL). US$1 ≈ R$5.22 (03 Oct 2026).

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.