Rio de Janeiro: Money & Costs

• Currency

  Name

  Brazilian Real

  Symbol

  R$

  One real is made up of 100 centavos. Banknotes are easy to distinguish from each other, as they come in different colors. There's a green one-real note, a blue two, a purple five, a pink 10, a yellow 20, a brown 50 and a blue 100.

  There are currently two different coin sets in circulation, one plain and one ornate. Their denominations are one, five, 10, 25, and 50 centavos, and one real (as well as the one real note).

• Changing Your Money

  Changing cash and travelers checks is simple - there are cambios in all but the tiniest towns. It's worth having enough cash to tide you over the weekend, when finding an open change bureau, even in big cities, can be difficult. When buying cash, ask for lots of small bills as change is often unavailable for small transactions.

  Banks have slower, more bureaucratic exchange procedures but on the whole give better rates (an exception being Banco do Brasil which charges an exorbitant commission for every travelers check transaction).

  You'll usually get a 1% or 2% better exchange rate for cash than for travelers checks. Checks, of course, have the advantage of being replaceable if lost or stolen. Both cash and travelers checks should be in US dollars, and Amex is easily the most recognized traveler's check.

• Money Tips

  Bargaining for hotel rooms should become second nature - always ask for a better price. You should also haggle in markets and unmetered taxis.

• Sample Price Guide

  litre of petrol

  R$ 1.70

  small bottle of water

  R$ 1.00

  glass of chope (draft beer)

  R$ 2.00

  internet access per hour

  R$ 4.00-10.00

  can of coke

  R$ 1.50

  metro ticket

  R$ 2.20

  pair of Havaiana flip-flops

  US$ 5.25

  coffee

  R$ 0.50-1.00

  lunch

  R$ 10.00

  admission to football match

  R$ 12.00-30.00

  admission to samba club

  R$ 15.00

  Average Room Prices
  Low	Mid	High
  R$0-150	R$150-300	R$300+
  Average Meal Prices
  Low	Mid	High	Deluxe
  US$1-5	US$6-10	US$11-35	US$36+

• Tipping

  Most service workers get tipped 10%, and as people in these services make the minimum wage - which is not enough to live on - you can be sure they need the money. In restaurants the service charge is usually included in the bill and is mandatory; when it is not included in the bill, it's customary to leave a 10% tip. If a waiter is friendly and helpful, you can give more.

  There are many other places where tipping is not expected but is a welcome gesture. The people at local juice stands, bars, coffee corners, and street and beach vendors are all tipped on occasion. Parking assistants receive no wages and are dependent on tips, usually about a dollar. Gas-station attendants, shoe shiners and barbers are also frequently tipped. Taxi drivers are not usually tipped, but it is common to round up the fare.

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