- \n
- Key facts about the Dominican currency<\/a>\n
- \n
- What types of money are currently in circulation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Where to exchange money for pesos<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What about bank cards and payment terminals?<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tips and hacks for travelers<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Currency and Money in the Dominican Republic<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s start with the essential information about the local money in the Dominican Republic: exchange rate, denominations, and a bit of history.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
![\"money](\"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/dominicana\/wp-content\/themes\/maktub\/assets\/images\/transparent.gif\")
All denominations of Dominican peso banknotes are shown here. The 2,000 peso note is not pictured\u2014it exists but is less common.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n Key Facts About Dominican Currency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- The official currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican Peso<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- As of mid-2025, the exchange rate is approximately 60 pesos per 1 US dollar<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- One Dominican peso (hereafter just “peso”) is divided into 100 centavos. However, centavos are no longer used in everyday transactions; the smallest coin in circulation is 1 peso.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Current denominations in use:<\/strong>\n
- \n
- Banknotes:<\/strong> 50, 100, 200, 500, 1,000, and 2,000 pesos.
The most useful denominations for daily use are the 50 and 100 peso bills. Small change is essential in this country.<\/li>\n\n\n\n- Coins:<\/strong> 1, 5, 10, and 25 pesos.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Price tags often show the peso as DOP<\/strong> or RD$<\/strong>, and sometimes just as $<\/strong>\u2014don\u2019t be alarmed, this is perfectly normal.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Prices at a major supermarket in Santo Domingo. Don\u2019t worry\u2014it\u2019s not $58 per kilo of peppers! It\u2019s 58 pesos per pound (note: weight is often listed in pounds, not kilograms).<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n What Currency Is in Use Today?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This part gets particularly interesting\u2014first, a bit of historical context.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- From 1905 to 1937<\/strong>, the US dollar<\/strong> was the sole official currency in the country.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Between 1937 and 1947<\/strong>, the government introduced the peso<\/strong> alongside the dollar, so both currencies were legal tender.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Since 1947<\/strong>, the Dominican peso<\/strong> has been the country\u2019s exclusive official currency.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
\n
Fun fact:<\/strong><\/p>\nFrom 1947 to 1961, the Dominican peso was an exact copy of the US dollar in terms of design. After 1961, the country introduced its own design, which\u2014with some updates\u2014is still in use today.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Because of this long-standing relationship with the US dollar, and due to inflation and the relative instability of the peso, US dollars are widely accepted throughout the Dominican Republic<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
In fact, locals often prefer dollars over pesos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Coins in the Dominican Republic:<\/strong> Photo shows 5 and 10 peso coins. Also in circulation: 1 and 25 peso coins.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n US dollars are accepted for:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Taxis<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hotels<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Restaurants<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Nearly all grocery stores (though it\u2019s best to double-check)<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tours and excursions<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Car rentals and toll roads. Read all about car rental and personal experience<\/a> at the link.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Gas stations<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Entrance fees to tourist attractions<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
In short:<\/strong> You can get by just fine using US dollars without ever exchanging them for pesos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Interesting fact:<\/strong><\/p>\nThe only place we were not<\/strong> able to pay in dollars was the entrance to Bah\u00eda de las \u00c1guilas National Park<\/a><\/em>\u2014they strictly required pesos. However, all other parks and municipal offices accepted dollars without issue. (See our guide to top attractions in the country.<\/a>)<\/em><\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n
Where to Exchange Currency<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
You can exchange money either at banks<\/strong> or private exchange offices<\/strong>, commonly found in tourist areas. Outside major tourist hubs, exchange rates tend to be fairly consistent.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Exchange counter at the airport. Avoid exchanging money here\u2014the rate is worse than in tourist zones.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n No commission fees<\/strong> are charged for currency exchange.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Important:<\/strong>
To exchange money at a bank<\/strong>, you must present your passport<\/strong>, and you\u2019ll receive a receipt. Keep this receipt<\/strong>\u2014you\u2019ll need it if you want to exchange pesos back into your original currency before leaving. Without it, they won\u2019t let you convert the remaining pesos.<\/p>\n\n\n\nThe most popular and reliable bank is Banco Popular Dominicana<\/strong> (blue logo), with branches in nearly every city. It’s safe and well-staffed, often with armed security on-site.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Private exchange offices<\/strong> don\u2019t require a passport, and the whole transaction takes about 30 seconds. Scams and fraud are rare in this sector.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n
Good to know:<\/strong><\/strong><\/p>\nYou can easily exchange US and Canadian dollars<\/strong>, and some Latin American currencies<\/strong>. Euros are not recommended<\/strong>\u2014they’re less commonly accepted and harder to exchange.<\/cite><\/blockquote>\n\n\n\n\n\n\n
Bank Cards, Payment Terminals, and ATMs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Let\u2019s start with ATMs.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Yes, ATMs are available<\/strong>, and you can withdraw cash. But it\u2019s strongly recommended to use ATMs attached to banks<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Why? Because card-skimming scams are not uncommon\u2014devices can be used to steal your PIN and card details.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
See our guide on tourist safety in the Dominican Republic.<\/a><\/em><\/p>\n\n\n\n
Card Payments and Terminals<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
Overall, the card situation is not ideal<\/strong>, but also not terrible<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
You can use your card<\/strong> to pay in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Major grocery stores (see our supermarket guide<\/a>)<\/em><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Car rental offices<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Gas stations<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Some restaurants and caf\u00e9s<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Larger hotels<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
You cannot use cards<\/strong> in:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Local markets<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Taxis<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- For tours and excursions<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Small shops and souvenir stands<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Currency and Money in the Dominican Republic: Tips & Travel Hacks<\/h2>\n\n\n\n
This section offers useful advice and smart travel tips that can help you save a little money and make your trip smoother.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBring Only US Dollars \u2014 Leave the Euros at Home<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Always fly to the Dominican Republic with US dollars<\/strong>. Do not<\/strong> bring euros. While you can<\/em> exchange them, the euro-to-peso exchange rate is often very unfavorable \u2014 and sometimes it\u2019s simply treated as equal to the dollar, which is a loss for you.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
When you pay in dollars, your change will always be given in pesos<\/strong>, and often at a less favorable rate<\/strong> than the official one.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nFor Small Purchases, Always Use Pesos<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s much more cost-effective<\/strong> to use pesos for small transactions, so keep some local cash on hand at all times.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
Currency Exchange Tip in Punta Cana:<\/strong> Just 500 meters from the beach, the exchange rate is fair for both dollars and euros \u2014 feel free to exchange your money there.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n But:<\/strong> Here\u2019s a photo taken the same day<\/em>, just on<\/em> the beach where there are more tourists. Notice that the dollar is exchanged at 54 pesos instead of 57<\/strong>, and euros are exchanged at the same rate as dollars<\/strong>. So stay alert and compare rates!<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nWatch Out for Short Change in Dollars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
It\u2019s common that if your change is less than 1 dollar<\/strong>, it simply won\u2019t be returned<\/strong> to you.
But when you pay in pesos, you\u2019ll get the exact change \u2014 down to the last peso<\/strong>.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nBring Small Denominations of US Dollars<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Before your trip, exchange a couple hundred dollars into small bills<\/strong> \u2014 $1s, $5s, and $10s.
This will come in handy for paying in cash, haggling on excursions, paying for taxis, and generally in many day-to-day situations.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAnd by the way \u2014 all US dollars are accepted<\/strong>, regardless of the year they were printed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nA Real Travel Story<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
This tip ties directly into our advice: always keep small peso bills for minor purchases. Here\u2019s our experience.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
We were driving to the airport. No pesos left in our pocket. The road is a toll road, and the toll is 60 pesos.
The exchange rate is 57 pesos per dollar.<\/p>\n\n\n\nAt the booth, I handed the attendant $1<\/strong>, and they signaled it wasn\u2019t enough. I handed another dollar.
In return, I got 30 pesos<\/strong> in change \u2014 instead of the correct 54 pesos. Arguing was pointless. If you want the fair rate, pay in pesos.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nCan You Take Pesos Out of the Country?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Officially<\/strong>, it\u2019s illegal to take Dominican pesos out of the country.
In practice<\/strong>, no one checks, and you\u2019ll have no problem bringing home a few coins or bills if you\u2019re a collector or just want a souvenir.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nFinal Thoughts<\/h3>\n\n\n\n
Everything a tourist needs to know about money and currency in the Dominican Republic is summed up right here.<\/p>\n\n\n\n
To recap:<\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Bring US dollars<\/strong> \u2014 not euros<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Carry small-denomination dollar bills<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Always have small pesos on hand<\/strong> for day-to-day spending<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Be careful which ATMs you use<\/strong>, and stick to those located at banks<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n
Wishing you a favorable exchange rate<\/strong> and smooth travels in the Dominican Republic!<\/p>\n\n\n\n
\n\n\n\nResources to help you plan your dream trip to Dominican Republic<\/strong><\/p>\n\n\n\n
- \n
- Cheap Flights <\/a>and best deals<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Car rental<\/strong>: DiscoverCars <\/a>– a largest international resource<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Hotels and apartments<\/strong>: \n
- \n
- Tripadvisor<\/a> – compares prices among a dozen other services and platforms and offers to choose the best one.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Trip.com<\/a> – large online booking platform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Vacation packages:<\/strong> CheapOair <\/a>– cheap packages from all US cities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Tours, excursions and extreme activities<\/strong>:\n
- \n
- GetYourGuide<\/a><\/strong> – more than 800+ tours and water activities.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Viator <\/a>– 3500+ tours and excursions in Dominican.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Comprehensive travel insurance<\/strong>: EKTA<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Internet and Calls<\/strong>:\n
- \n
- Airalo – eSIM<\/a><\/strong> with internet package.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Drimsim<\/a> – universal SIM card (or eSIM) in any country in the world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Taxis and airport transfers<\/strong>: Intui.Travel<\/a><\/strong><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
One of the most important questions for any traveler is about currency and money in the Dominican Republic, and how do payments work? This article…<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":6337,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[29],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-508","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-useful-information"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/dominicana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/508","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/dominicana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/dominicana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/dominicana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/dominicana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=508"}],"version-history":[{"count":18,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/dominicana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/508\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":8336,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/dominicana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/508\/revisions\/8336"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/dominicana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/6337"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/dominicana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=508"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/dominicana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=508"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/travel-4-fun.com\/dominicana\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=508"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}
- Drimsim<\/a> – universal SIM card (or eSIM) in any country in the world.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Viator <\/a>– 3500+ tours and excursions in Dominican.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Trip.com<\/a> – large online booking platform.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Car rental<\/strong>: DiscoverCars <\/a>– a largest international resource<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Carry small-denomination dollar bills<\/strong><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Bring US dollars<\/strong> \u2014 not euros<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Car rentals and toll roads. Read all about car rental and personal experience<\/a> at the link.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Between 1937 and 1947<\/strong>, the government introduced the peso<\/strong> alongside the dollar, so both currencies were legal tender.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Coins:<\/strong> 1, 5, 10, and 25 pesos.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- As of mid-2025, the exchange rate is approximately 60 pesos per 1 US dollar<\/strong>.<\/li>\n\n\n\n
- Where to exchange money for pesos<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
- What types of money are currently in circulation<\/a><\/li>\n\n\n\n
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