$500 or 500$?

In the US it would be $500. Can't speak for any others.

I think my friend has misled me.

When writing currency amounts the location of the symbol varies by currency. Many currencies in the English-speaking world and Latin America place it before the amount (e.g., R$50,00). The usage of many European countries, such as France, Germany, and the Scandinavian countries, is to place the symbol after the amount 20,50€.

The decimal separator also follows local countries' standards. Commas (e.g. 5,00€) or decimal points e.g. £5.00 are common separators used. Rarely the currency symbol is in the decimal separator position (the Cape Verdean escudo e.g. 20$00).

Thanks, centrox, for the detailed reply.

Thank you.

Here S'not, Lay, per Rog above
Awful pun yes

Thanks, centrox - I learned something new today.

Europe was even more diverse before the euro. I have seen, in France, handwritten shop signs e.g. on fruit and vegetables where the F went between the franc figure and the centimes e.g. "5 F 50 le kilo", and in Italy the lira symbol (either an ordinary upper case L or a curly L a bit like a British pound sign, but with 2 cross bars ₤) before, and after the amount, and in the middle as well. Often very neatly and elaborately done. The lira was around 2,500 to the UK pound at its end, and one got a funny feeling looking at a bill in a café momentarily thinking that a cup of coffee and a cake was what?!! Ten grand?!!!

Not only but also, if you are talking dollars you would clarify which currency eg. USD500, FJD500, NZD500.

Sounds like the café next to the leaning tower. One Euro to use the bog even if you were a customer. Never felt so fleeced anywhere else.