BRL Currency Converter: Reais to Dollars, Euros & Pounds
Quick answer
Brazil's currency is the real (R$, plural reais). As of July 2026, US$1 ≈ R$5.40, €1 ≈ R$5.85 and £1 ≈ R$6.85. Use the converter below for quick estimates, but pay in Rio with a no-FX-fee card wherever you can — cards settle near the mid-market rate, while airport exchange desks give the worst. Carry only R$100–200 cash for tips and small vendors.
Rio is far cheaper than most first-timers expect once you stop converting at the airport counter. This converter uses indicative mid-market rates so you can sanity-check prices on the fly — is that R$180 dinner a splurge or a steal? Below the tool we explain how to actually get that rate on the ground.
BRL Currency Converter
$100 USD =
R$540
BRL
Indicative rate: 1 USD ≈ R$5.40 (mid-market, July 2026). Rates move daily — check a live rate before exchanging. Cards charge close to this; airport exchange desks are far worse.
How to get the best rate in Rio
- Pay by card, in reais. Visa and Mastercard settle within a fraction of a percent of mid-market. Always decline the "pay in your home currency" (DCC) offer at machines and ATMs.
- Use a no-FX-fee card. Wise, Revolut or a good travel card avoid the 2–4% foreign-transaction fee that ordinary bank cards charge.
- Withdraw from bank ATMs, not standalone ones. Banco24Horas, Bradesco and Santander are reliable; avoid the euro/dollar-branded machines in tourist areas that quote in your home currency.
- Skip the airport câmbio. Exchange desks and hotels bake in 8–12% spreads. Change only a taxi fare's worth if you land with no reais.
- Learn Pix. Brazil's instant-payment system is free and everywhere — the fastest way to pay and split bills. See our Pix for tourists guide.
Sort your data before you land
Skip the R$-priced airport SIM stalls and the roaming fees. An eSIM activates the moment you land at GIG, so you can call an Uber, check the live exchange rate and use Pix from minute one.
Get an eSIM for BrazilLinks may earn us a commission at no extra cost to you. This supports PlanRio.
What things cost in Rio (2026)
| Item | Price (R$) | ≈ USD |
|---|---|---|
| Chopp (draft beer) | R$10–15 | $2–3 |
| Per-kilo (quilo) lunch | R$45–70 | $8–13 |
| Boteco dinner + drink | R$70–100 | $13–19 |
| Uber across Zona Sul | R$15–30 | $3–6 |
| Metro single ride | R$7.90 | $1.50 |
| Coconut on the beach | R$8–12 | $1.50–2.20 |
| Christ the Redeemer ticket | R$100–130 | $18–24 |
Frequently asked questions
What is the exchange rate for Brazilian reais in 2026?
As of July 2026, US$1 buys roughly R$5.40, €1 buys about R$5.85, and £1 buys about R$6.85 at the mid-market rate. The real moves daily, so treat these as ballpark figures — use the converter above for quick estimates and check a live rate (Wise or Google) before exchanging large amounts.
Should I bring cash to Rio or use a card?
Use a card for almost everything. Rio is highly card-friendly — restaurants, bars, taxis, kiosks and even beach vendors take contactless. A no-FX-fee card (Wise, Revolut, or a good travel card) charges close to the mid-market rate. Carry a small amount of cash (R$100–200) for tips, flanelinhas and the rare cash-only boteco, and use Pix if your bank supports it.
Where do I get the best exchange rate in Rio?
The best rate is your card's network rate (Visa/Mastercard settle near mid-market). Withdrawing reais from a bank ATM (Banco24Horas, Bradesco, Santander) with a low-fee card is second best. The worst rates are at airport exchange desks (casas de câmbio) and hotels — avoid changing more than a taxi fare's worth there.
Should I pay in reais or my home currency (dollars/euros)?
Always choose reais. When a card machine or ATM offers to charge you in your home currency ('dynamic currency conversion'), decline it — it bakes in a markup of 3–7%. Paying in R$ lets your own bank do the conversion at a far better rate.
How much is a meal, taxi or beer in Rio in dollars?
Rough 2026 conversions: a per-kilo lunch is R$45–70 (US$8–13), a boteco dinner with a beer R$70–100 (US$13–19), a chopp (draft beer) R$10–15 (US$2–3), a South Zone Uber ride R$15–30 (US$3–6), and a beach coconut R$8–12 (US$1.50–2.20).
What is Pix and can tourists use it?
Pix is Brazil's instant bank-transfer system — free, immediate, and accepted almost everywhere via QR code. Tourists can use it if they have a Brazilian account or certain international apps (Wise now supports Pix in Brazil). It's the fastest way to pay and split bills with locals. See our Pix guide for the setup.