- Currency Name
- East Caribbean Dollar
- Currency Local
- XCD
Updated July 2026 · Sources cited: travelwithhello.com, travelcurrencyguide.com
Good to know
Good to Know
- XCD is pegged to USD at a fixed rate of 2.70 to 1.00 since 1976, making budgeting straightforward.
- Withdraw cash from bank ATMs in St. John's rather than airport or resorts to minimize fees.
- Carry both XCD and small USD bills; USD widely accepted but change given in XCD at times less favorable than official peg.
- Markets and street food vendors are cash-only; bring small bills in local currency for best prices and authentic experience.
- Service charges of 10% are typically added to restaurant bills automatically; only tip additional 5-10% if service was exceptional.
- Confirm currency when quoted a price ('EC or US dollars?') and again before handing over payment to avoid the common '$XX dollars' ambiguity scam.
- Visa and Mastercard are most widely accepted; American Express has high processing fees for merchants and limited acceptance.
- Beach bars, water taxis, and the Sunday market in St. John's operate on cash-only basis.
- Agree on taxi fare and currency upfront; rates are government-fixed and not metered.
ATM Info
- Fees
- EC$10
- Availability
- Plentiful in St. John's, Jolly Harbour, and English Harbour
- Recommendation
- Withdraw in XCD for best local value; avoid airport and resort ATMs which charge higher fees
- Fee Note
- Local banks may charge 10-15 XCD per withdrawal; vary by bank
Networks
- Plus (Visa)
- Cirrus (Mastercard)
Currency Name
East Caribbean Dollar
Tipping Norms
- Taxis
- 10-15% of fare; agree on fare and currency before journey
- Tour Guides
- 5-10 USD per person for half-day or full-day excursions
- Bars And Bartenders
- 10% of bill
Hotels
- Bellhops Per Bag
- $1.00
- Housekeeping Per Day
- EC$2.00
- Housekeeping Per Day USD Alt
- $2.00
- Note
- Tips 2-5 USD per day for housekeeping is standard
Restaurants
- Automatic Service Charge
- 10% automatically added in most establishments
- Tip If No Service Charge
- 10-15%
Additional Tip If Exceptional
- Amount Percent
- 5-10% on top of service charge
Currency Local
XCD
Card Acceptance
- Contactless
- Slowly gaining traction in modern supermarkets; not guaranteed
- Major Locations
- Hotels, high-end restaurants, resorts, car rentals, grocery stores, supermarkets
- American Express
- Accepted primarily at larger resorts only
- Note
- USD also widely accepted at tourist venues but change given in XCD; confirm currency on receipt before paying
Accepted Types
- Visa
- Mastercard
Digital Payments
- Paypal
- Limited acceptance; not recommended for day-to-day purchases
- WeChat Alipay
- Not common for tourists
- Apple Pay Google Pay
- Emerging but not widely accepted; modern supermarkets only
Cash Required For
Cash Required For
- Beach bars and vendors
- Water taxis
- Sunday market in St. John's
- Street food vendors (doubles, local food)
- Most local restaurants
- Local markets and small vendors
Payment Method Warnings
- USD In Xcd Zones
- Paying USD in local markets may result in unfavorable exchange rates; withdraw XCD for better value
- Bank Fraud Alerts
- Notify your bank before traveling; Caribbean charges may trigger fraud blocks; use specific country name 'Antigua and Barbuda' not just 'Caribbean'
- Unlicensed Guides
- Avoid unlicensed guides at popular sites like Nelson's Dockyard; use official tour operators only
- Currency Ambiguity
- Both XCD and USD use '$' symbol; always confirm which currency is being quoted ('Is that EC or US?')
- Dynamic Currency Conversion
- At ATM or card terminal, choose XCD (local currency) for better rates; avoid merchant's dynamic conversion offers
Banking
- Setup For Non Residents
- Specific setup processes and costs not documented in available sources; recommend contacting banks directly for account opening requirements, documentation, and fees
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 St. John's
Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.