Currency & Payment

The Dominican Republic uses the Dominican peso (DOP, RD$), divided into 100 centavos. At resorts, hotels and tourist areas, US dollars are also widely accepted, but you usually get better value paying in pesos. Carry some cash for markets, small shops and tips outside the main tourist zones.

You can exchange money at the airport, banks and licensed exchange offices (casa de cambio). US dollars are the easiest currency to exchange and usually get the best rate; euros are also accepted but rates may be less favourable. Bank and city rates are generally better than the airport, so change only what you need on arrival.

Cards are widely accepted at resorts, hotels, larger stores and tourist areas, with Visa and Mastercard the most common and Amex fairly usable. Away from tourist zones, in local markets and small shops, cash is king. Carry some pesos as a backup and tell your bank you are travelling.

ATMs (cajeros) are plentiful in cities and resort areas, run by banks such as Banco Popular, Banreservas, Banco BHD and Scotiabank. For safety, use machines inside banks, malls or hotels and during daylight. Watch out for foreign-card fees and always decline home-currency conversion (DCC) to get the better rate.

Mobile and contactless payment is growing at resorts, hotels and in cities, where Apple Pay and Google Pay work at many card terminals. Away from tourist areas, though, cash still dominates day-to-day life. Rely on contactless cards plus a cash reserve for markets, taxis and small vendors.

Restaurants usually add a 10% legal service charge to the bill, and it is customary to leave around 10% more on top for good service. Small tips are also appreciated for hotel staff, guides and drivers. Tipping helps supplement local wages, so carry small cash for it.

Prices vary a lot in the Dominican Republic. Resorts, imported goods and tourist restaurants can be pricey, while local eateries (comedores), markets and street food are cheap. You can save by eating where locals do, using shared transport, and paying in pesos rather than dollars.

The Dominican Republic applies a value-added tax called ITBIS, currently 18%, on most goods and services. Unlike some countries, there is generally no widely available tourist VAT-refund scheme, so the tax you pay is not usually recoverable. Factor ITBIS into your budget, as it may be added to displayed prices.