Brazil - Money
Currency & Money
Real/Reais (BRL; symbol R$) = 100 centavos. Banknotes are in denominations of R$200, 100, 50, 20, 10, 5, and 2. Coins are in denominations of R$1 and 50, 25, 10, 5, and 1 centavo (though the 1 centavo coin is rarely used).
Credit cards are widely accepted in Brazil, particularly in cities, tourist areas, hotels, restaurants, and large shops. Visa and Mastercard are the most commonly accepted, while American Express and Diners Club may have more limited acceptance in smaller establishments or rural areas.
Street vendors, and local markets may only accept cash or PIX (Brazil's instant payment system).
ATMs (known as "caixas eletrônicos") are widely available in cities and towns. However, some ATMs close at night for security reasons. Also, international withdrawals may be subject to fees, and some ATMs may have lower withdrawal limits for foreign cards.
There are no restrictions on bringing foreign currency into Brazil, but amounts exceeding R$10,000 (or the equivalent in other currencies) must be declared to customs upon arrival and upon leaving Brazil.
The Brazilian real (BRL) is not widely exchanged outside Brazil, so it's best to exchange any leftover reais before leaving the country.
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