About currency

The Brazilian currency is called Real ("R$"). The exchange rate is about US$1 = R$ 2,10. Here we have bills and coins as expected and is preferable to always carry changed money.

You can check the Real exchange rate daily below.

Keep track of the R$/US$ exchange rate

Changing money

The best currency to bring to Brazil is American dollars.

You can change your money or travel checks directly in bank. In the university campus banks are located near the "praça do relógio" square (see in the map section). There you can go to Banespa/Santander (changes travelers and bills - minimun change $100,00 pays better for travelers checks); other bank like HSBC, Real change only travelers checks. The banks here in Brazil open at 10AM and close at 4PM, but the money exchange is only done from 11AM to 15PM.

Inside the Eldorado Shopping Mall (near the hotel) you can change your money too: in the basement floor you can find a private exchange bureau. There's no tax to change your money in banks neither on exchange houses. Don't pay for that !

One Hundred Real bill

It's not usual to use this large bill to pay things in Brazil. Don't show it around here, it's best for you to change these bills as you would change a R$ 100 dollar bill. Give preference to R$ 10 and R$ 20 bills.

Bills and Coins

Here is a list of the bills and coins, the second series coins are the most used coins, but both are valid.

Bills
1 Real Bill		2 Real Bill
5 Real Bill		10 Real Bill
10 Real Plastic Bill (500 years aniversary edition)		20 Real Bill
100 Real Bill (Very Rare, not usual)		50 Real Bill

Coins (First Series)
1 Cent			5 Cent			10 Cent
25 Cent			50 Cent			1 Real

Coins (Second Series)
1 Cent			5 Cent			10 Cent
25 Cent			50 Cent			1 Real