Destination: Brazil
LONELY PLANET'S OFFICIAL GUIDEBOOK INFORMATION
Money & costs
The devaluation of the Brazilian real in 1999 made Brazil cheaper for foreign travelers than it had been for a long, long time. Although Brazil is one of South America's most expensive countries, it's still cheaper than North America or Europe, and it should remain so for the foreseeable future.
Many items in Brazil are cheap by European or North American standards: food, clothing, hotel accommodations, bus travel. Car rental and national flights cost about the same as in Europe or the US (although ongoing price wars have made them more economical in recent years), while electronics and film generally cost more.
If you're frugal, you can travel on about US$30 to US$40 a day - paying as little as US$12 for accommodations, US$8 for food and drink, plus bus travel, admission to sights and the occasional entertainment. If you just plan to lie on a beach for a month, eating rice, beans and fish every day, you can probably scrape by on US$20 a day. If you stay in reasonably comfortable hotels, eat in nicer restaurants, go out most nights and book the occasional rental car or guided excursion, you'll probably spend US$100 a day. Those who can swing it can enjoy five-star accommodations, decadent meals and top-notch service (whether in jungle lodges in the Amazon or islands off the coast) with all the extras for US$300 a day and up.
Bear in mind that during the December-to-February holiday season accommodations costs generally increase by around 25% to 30%.
Brazil is not among the kinder destinations for solo travelers. If you share rooms and meals with someone else, you can shave maybe 20% off the above budgets.
HOW MUCH?
Admission to samba club in Rio US$2 to US$7
Flight from Rio to Salvador (one way) US$145
Double room in a comfy pousada in Jericoacoara US$30
Bus ride from Rio to Ouro Preto US$13
Three-day jungle excursion from Manaus US$150
Liter of gas (petrol) US$0.65
Liter of bottled water US$0.40
Pint of chope (draft beer) US$0.90
Souvenir T-shirt US$6
Freshly squeezed suco (juice) US$1
Lonely Planet recommends World Nomads Travel insurance
