How to buy dollars for a trip to the US
Buying travel dollars the old way means the dólar turismo spread plus IOF. Here is how to get dollars for less and spend them in the US with no IOF.
The real cost of travel dollars
- Cash at a câmbio booth: the dólar turismo rate plus IOF on the purchase.
- Brazilian card abroad: 3.5% IOF plus a 2% to 5% FX markup on every swipe.
Convert at a fair rate with Ruvo
Spend with the card, no IOF
How much to convert
- Keep a little cash for tips and small vendors.
- Put everything else on the card, hotels, food, shopping, transport.
- Convert a bit more than you expect to spend, and keep the rest as dollars for next time.
A worked example
Cash versus card: what to take
ATMs in the US: what to know
Buying travel dollars: cost comparison
| Aspect | Ruvo | Câmbio booth | Brazilian card |
|---|---|---|---|
| IOF | 0% | 1.1% | 3.5% |
| Rate used | ~Commercial rate | Dólar turismo | Card rate + 2%–5% |
| Total extra cost | ~1% | ~2%–4% | ~5%–9% |
| Hold dollars ahead | Yes | No | No |
| Spend in the US | Yes, by card | Cash only | Yes, by card |
Yes. A booth charges the dólar turismo rate plus IOF. With Ruvo you convert at about 1% with 0% IOF, close to the real rate.
Mostly the card. In the US it spends from your dollar balance with 0% IOF and 0% spread. Keep a little cash for tips and small vendors.
Yes. You can convert reais to dollars ahead of time and hold the dollars, so a swing in the real before your trip does not catch you out.
Yes. Hotels and car rental companies usually place a pre-authorization hold on your balance, which releases when you check out or return the car. A physical card is easier for these situations than a virtual one — you can request one in the app before your trip.
You can use ATMs in the US to withdraw cash when you need it. ATM fees vary by machine and network. For most spending the card is better: no ATM fee, 0% IOF, 0% spread on dollar purchases. Keep ATM withdrawals for situations that are strictly cash-only.
Converting before the trip removes rate risk: you know the dollar cost is set, whatever happens to the real while you are away. Since holding dollars in your balance costs nothing, converting slightly more than you plan to spend and keeping any leftover is a natural approach.
