Money & Payments in San Juan (2026)

Good to know

Good to Know

Puerto Rico uses the exact same US dollar as the mainland—no currency exchange needed for US travelers.
Despite widespread card acceptance, carrying $50–100 in small bills ($1, $5, $10) is recommended for street vendors, public transit, tipping, and small businesses.
Inform your card provider before traveling to Puerto Rico to avoid fraud holds, especially if you're an international traveler.
For ATM withdrawals, always select USD on the machine screen to avoid dynamic currency conversion markups.
Some restaurants in tourist areas (Old San Juan, Condado, Isla Verde) automatically add 10–18% service charge—always check your bill before tipping extra.
ATH (Automated Teller Hora) is the local name for ATMs; you'll see this term on signs throughout the city.
Avoid currency exchange desks at the airport—they charge high commissions. Use ATMs or exchange currency at your home bank before traveling.

ATM Info

Availability: ATMs (locally called ATH) are abundant throughout San Juan, found in shopping malls, gas stations, banks, Old San Juan every 2-3 blocks, and at Luis Muñoz Marín International Airport
Recommendations: Withdraw larger amounts ($100–200) less frequently to minimize fee frequency. Banco Popular ATMs are considered most reliable for foreign cards. Avoid dynamic currency conversion (DCC) – select USD on the ATM screen. Stick with bank-operated machines rather than independent ATMs.

Fees

Local Bank Surcharge: $3.00
Note: ATM fees typically range $3–5 per transaction from the local bank. Your home bank may charge additional foreign transaction fees. Banco Popular charges approximately $3 per transaction for foreign cards. Airport ATMs may charge higher fees ($4–5).

Currency

Symbol: $
Local Code: USD
Local Name: US Dollar

Tipping Norms

Bars: $1–2 per drink or 15–20% of tab
Taxis: 10–15% or round up to nearest dollar; not expected to be large
Tour Guides: $10–20 per person depending on tour length and quality
Valet Parking: $3–5
Note: Tipping follows US standards and is expected in most service settings, though not legally required. Cash is preferred for tips, especially in smaller establishments, though card tips are increasingly accepted at higher-end venues.

Hotels

Concierge: $5–10 depending on service level
Housekeeping: $2–5 per night (ideally left daily)
Bellhops Porters: $1–2 per bag

Restaurants

Sit Down: 15–20% of bill if service charge not already included; check bill as some restaurants (especially tourist-oriented) auto-add 10–18%
Casual Eateries: Not expected but spare change or $1–2 appreciated

Card Acceptance

Overview: Credit cards are the primary mode of payment in San Juan, widely accepted in urban centers, restaurants, hotels, shops, and tourist areas.
Digital Payments: Apple Pay and Google Pay are increasingly accepted at modern establishments, particularly in tourist zones and chain stores

Major Networks

Visa
Acceptance
Universal
Mastercard
Acceptance
Universal
American Express
Acceptance
Widely accepted but occasionally rejected at smaller businesses
Discover
Acceptance
Widely accepted but occasionally rejected at smaller businesses

Banking

Overview: Puerto Rico banking system similar to mainland US. Major banks include Banco Popular.
Banking Hours: 9:00 AM - 3:30 PM

Major Banks

Banco Popular de Puerto Rico

Account Opening

Status: Possible for foreign residents
Requirements: Valid ID required; specific requirements for non-residents need verification with individual banks
Note: US citizens and expats can access banking services. Detailed requirements vary by bank.

Foreign Exchange

Availability: Major banks offer foreign currency exchange
Fee Structure: Service charge: $10 for conversions up to $1,000 USD, or 1% for amounts exceeding $1,001 USD

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

More About San Juan

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.

Money & Payments in San Juan