Debit or credit abroad: when each one wins (the real math)
Credit pays 3.5% IOF (Brazilian foreign exchange tax), debit pays 1.1% — but that calculation alone decides nothing. Bank spread, foreign ATM fee, revolving credit interest, and hidden benefits (travel insurance, points, fraud dispute) change the result. This guide does the real math, compares a R$ 500 withdrawal against a R$ 500 credit purchase, and shows which scenario each wins. No magic formula. Just numbers.
Curadoria Voyspark · May 15
Are 'No-IOF' Brazilian Credit Cards Worth It? The Math Nubank Ultravioleta, BTG and Sicredi Won't Show You
A no-IOF credit card looks like the holy grail of international spending for Brazilians. It isn't. Once you isolate the FX spread, the 'zero IOF' offers from Nubank Ultravioleta, BTG Cashback IOF Zero and Sicredi become expensive marketing. We ran the numbers line by line — who wins, who loses, and in which scenario.
Curadoria Voyspark · May 15
The 3.5% IOF tax isn't your enemy: the hidden 6% spread your Brazilian bank charges on every overseas purchase
As of May 2026, the IOF on international card purchases in Brazil is 3.5%, not 6.38%. That outdated number became folklore. Meanwhile, banks charge you a 4-6% spread on top of the wholesale dollar rate — a piece that doesn't even appear by name on your bill. This guide shows the real formula, compares eight cards and global accounts with the final effective exchange rate, and explains why a "no-IOF card" sometimes costs more than a regular one.
Curadoria Voyspark · May 15
3 artigos em #iof