Money at Rio de Janeiro Galeão (Tom Jobim) International (GIG)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Rio de Janeiro, Brazil.
Rio de Janeiro uses the BRL (R$). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly BRL 25–160. Card accepted; Pix is common but tourist-hostile.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Rio de Janeiro Galeão (Tom Jobim) International (GIG)?
Brazil uses the BRL (R$). Airport ATMs dispense BRL directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from GIG to the city cost?
Expected fare on the GIG → Copacabana route is roughly BRL 25–160. Around BRL 220+ is already high, and BRL 300+ unofficial is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at GIG?
Not expected. Drivers in Brazil don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at GIG?
Card accepted; Pix is common but tourist-hostile. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of BRL notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at GIG?
Only if you need $10–20 of BRL to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.