Money & Payments in St. Moritz (2026)

Good to know

Good to Know

Avoid dynamic currency conversion (DCC) at ATMs and card terminals—always choose to pay in CHF. Home bank rates are better than ATM conversion rates.
St. Moritz is a high-end resort destination; even casual meals and accommodations are expensive. Budget accordingly when planning cash withdrawals.
Mobile payments (Apple Pay, Google Pay) work seamlessly at most point-of-sale terminals in St. Moritz.
Euro is accepted at many tourist establishments and ski resorts, but change will be given in CHF. Use CHF for the best exchange rate.
Despite Switzerland's reputation as a global banking hub, the Swiss population still uses significant amounts of cash, particularly for tipping and small purchases.
For longer stays or remote mountain activities, withdraw cash in larger towns before heading into the Alps.
Most Swiss banks do not charge ATM fees to foreign cardholders, but some privately-operated machines (e.g., at hotels or mountain venues) may charge CHF 2–5 or more.

Currency Info

Currency Code: CHF
Local Currency: CHF (Swiss franc)
Currency Symbol Local: Fr. or CHF

Coin Denominations

Francs (5 Centimes)
Amount
0.05
Francs (10 Centimes)
Amount
0.1
Francs (20 Centimes)
Amount
0.2
Francs (50 Centimes)
Amount
0.5
Franc
Amount
1
Francs
Amount
2
Francs
Amount
5

Banknote Denominations

10
20
50
100
200
1000

Banking

Timeline For Opening: Digital banks: 10–30 minutes online; traditional banks: 1–2 weeks in-person or by post

Account Opening

Difficulty For Nomads: Moderately restrictive as a non-resident but feasible with digital banks and neobanks
Resident Vs Nonresident: Residents enjoy standard fees; non-residents incur additional compliance surcharges (CHF 10–30/month or CHF 90–450/year depending on bank) due to Automatic Exchange of Information (AEOI) requirements

ATM Withdrawals

Abroad Minimum: CHF 5.00
Other Swiss ATM: CHF 2.00
Own Network Swiss: Free or minimal cost

Credit Debit Cards

Debit Card: Usually free or low-cost (up to CHF 20)
Credit Card Annual Fee: CHF 75

Document Requirements

Valid ID/passport
Proof of Swiss address (or for some digital banks, proof of foreign address)
Proof of income or employment contract
FATCA form if US taxpayer

Account Maintenance Costs

Premium Resident: CHF 15
Standard Resident: CHF 5.00

International Transfer Fees

Sepa EUR: Usually low-cost or free for residents
USD EUR Outside Europe: CHF 35
Typical range CHF 20–50

Recommended Banks For Nomads

Yuh (PostFinance + Swissquote Partnership)
Features
Neobank, accepts non-residents, multi-currency (CHF, EUR, USD), free or low-cost, full English app, online account opening
Minimum Deposit
None specified
Accepts Nonresidents
Yes
Dukascopy
Features
FINMA-regulated online bank, no minimum deposit, multi-currency account, free Visa debit card, popular for non-resident expats
Accepts Nonresidents
Yes
PostFinance
Features
Government-backed institution, mandated to serve all legal residents, strong digital focus, competitive pricing, multilingual support
Non Resident Fee
CHF 25
Accepts Nonresidents With Restrictions
Yes
UBS
Features
Switzerland's largest bank, extensive international network, launched 'key4 banking Pure' (no-fee package) in 2025, wealth management services
Non Resident Surcharge Yearly
CHF 375
Accepts Nonresidents With Restrictions
Yes

Tipping

General Guidance: Tipping is optional in Switzerland. Service charges are included in bills. Tipping is a genuine expression of appreciation, not an obligation.

Taxis

Standard Practice: No tip is expected. Rounding up to the nearest franc is customary for short trips. For longer journeys (e.g., airport pickup), CHF 2–5 or 5% of fare is appreciated.

Hotels

Bellhop Per Bag: CHF 1.50
Housekeeping Per Night: CHF 1.50

Other Services

Spa Massage: Round up to nearest franc or 5 francs, or 5–15% if very satisfied.
Hairdresser Stylists: 5–15% of invoice amount if satisfied.

Restaurants And Bars

Phrase To Use: Say 'stimmt so' when handing over payment to indicate 'keep the change.'
Payment Method: Cash tips are preferred and go directly to staff. Swiss card terminals sometimes allow tip entry, but cash is more reliable. State the total you wish to pay before card processing if tipping by card.
Standard Practice: Round up the bill to the nearest franc (typically 5-10% for good service).

Ski Instruction And Mountain Services

Mountain Restaurant Staff: CHF 3.00
Ski Instructors Group Lessons: CHF 15
Ski Instructors Private Lessons: CHF 35
Chalet Staff Per Person Per Week: CHF 75

Cash Needs

Is Cash Necessary: Cash is useful but not essential in St. Moritz and urban areas. Cards work almost everywhere. Cash remains important for: small vendors and mountain huts, public toilets (typically CHF 1), vending machines in older locations, and as emergency backup.
Where To Withdraw: ATMs are readily available throughout St. Moritz and Switzerland. ATMs are called 'Bancomats' locally. They are found near train stations, in city centers, and at shopping areas.

ATM Details

ATM Operator Fees: Bank-owned ATMs in Switzerland do not charge fees to foreign cardholders. However, some privately-operated ATMs may charge surcharges (typically CHF 2–5 or more).
Foreign Bank Fees: Fees primarily come from your home bank, not from Swiss ATMs. Major Swiss banks do not charge ATM access fees to foreign card users.
Currency Dispensed: ATMs dispense CHF (Swiss francs). Some also offer EUR.
Dynamic Currency Conversion Warning: When prompted at the ATM, always select 'Debit in CHF' or decline currency conversion. Accepting conversion to your home currency incurs unfavorable exchange rates and extra fees.

Withdrawal Limits

Typical Per Transaction: 1000
Typical Per Transaction Currency: CHF

Card Acceptance

Cards To Avoid: Discover cards are not accepted in Switzerland. American Express has limited acceptance and may face restrictions.
Widely Accepted: Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted throughout St. Moritz and Switzerland. American Express has more limited acceptance, particularly in smaller shops.
Contactless Payments: Contactless payments and mobile wallets (Apple Pay, Google Pay, Samsung Pay) are widely supported in urban areas and increasingly common.
Chip Card Recommendation: Chip-enabled cards are advisable for payment security.

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. Moritz

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.

Money & Payments in St. Moritz