Currency & Payment
Exchange rates fluctuate daily. Check current rates locally.
Local Currency Overview
Currency type, banknotes, and coin denominations
The currency is the US dollar (US$, USD). Notes run $1–$100 (all the same size and green) and coins are the penny, nickel, dime and quarter. Carry small bills for tips and small vendors, but cards are accepted almost everywhere.
- Currency
- US dollar (US$, USD)
- Notes
- $1 to $100
- Small bills
- Handy for tips
- The $1 bill and quarters are useful for tips and machines
Currency Exchange Tips
Best places and methods to exchange money
You rarely need to exchange cash if your card works internationally. Withdrawing dollars from a bank ATM usually beats airport or hotel exchange desks. Avoid currency kiosks with poor rates, and tell your bank you are travelling to prevent card blocks.
- Best rate
- Bank ATM withdrawal
- Avoid
- Airport/hotel exchange
- Tell bank
- Avoid card blocks
- Check foreign transaction fees on your home card first
Credit Card Acceptance
Card brand availability and usage tips
Cards are accepted almost everywhere, from taxis to tiny shops, and contactless (tap) is common. Visa and Mastercard work universally; Amex is widely but not universally accepted. Some machines (like gas pumps) ask for a US ZIP code — pay inside with a cashier if your card is rejected.
- Acceptance
- Almost everywhere
- Networks
- Visa/Mastercard universal
- ZIP prompt
- Pay inside if rejected
- Restaurants often bring the bill for you to add a tip and sign
ATM Usage
How to withdraw cash and associated fees
ATMs are everywhere. Use machines at major banks for lower fees; standalone ATMs in bars and shops charge high surcharges (often $3–5) on top of your bank's fees. If the ATM offers to charge in your home currency (DCC), decline and choose US dollars for a better rate.
- Prefer
- Major bank ATMs
- Watch
- Standalone ATM surcharges
- DCC
- Decline; pay in USD
- Cover the keypad when entering your PIN
Mobile & Digital Payments
Digital payment services available locally
Apple Pay and Google Pay work anywhere that takes contactless cards, which is most places. Peer-to-peer apps like Venmo, Zelle and Cash App are popular but usually need a US bank account, so visitors should rely on tap-to-pay cards and phone wallets instead.
- Works
- Apple Pay / Google Pay
- P2P apps
- Venmo/Zelle need US bank
- Visitors
- Use tap-to-pay cards
- Add your card to a phone wallet before you travel
Tipping Culture
Expected tipping amounts and etiquette
Tipping is expected, not optional, because service staff rely on it. Standard is 15–20% in restaurants, ~$1–2 per drink at bars, 15–20% for taxis/rides, and a few dollars for hotel housekeeping and bellhops. Card machines often suggest tip amounts at checkout.
- Restaurants
- 15–20%
- Taxis/rides
- 15–20%
- Bars/hotel
- Per drink / a few dollars
- Check if a service charge is already added to large-party bills
Price Guide
Average costs for meals, transport, and accommodation
The USA is generally expensive, and big cities like New York and San Francisco are among the priciest. Remember the sticker price is before tax and tip, so a meal shown at $20 can cost around $25 after both. A casual meal often runs $15–25 and a coffee $4–6.
- Casual meal
- $15–25 (+ tax/tip)
- Coffee
- $4–6
- Note
- Tax + tip on top of tags
- Prices vary widely by state and city; treat as rough guidance
The USA has no national VAT and no nationwide tourist tax refund like Europe or Asia. Instead, each state sets its own sales tax added at checkout. A few states (like Texas and Louisiana) run limited refund schemes for visitors at specific stores/airports; most do not.
- National refund
- None (no VAT system)
- Sales tax
- Set by each state
- Limited
- e.g. Texas, Louisiana
- Do not expect airport VAT refunds as in Europe