Fiji Currency: Money, Cards, ATMs and Tipping Guide (2026)

Last updated: 29 May 2026 · Written by Lucy Cameron

Fiji currency looks simple on paper — one official currency, predictable exchange rates, widespread card acceptance. In practice there are a handful of small habits that save you 5–10% over the course of a trip, and a couple of mistakes that cost you a lot more than they should. After fifteen visits we have refined what to do.

The Fiji Dollar (FJD)

Notes and coins in circulation

Fiji uses banknotes in denominations of FJD 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100. Coins come in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, FJD 1 and FJD 2. The current “Flora and Fauna” banknote series replaced the previous monarch-portrait notes in 2013 and features native Fijian species — the FJD 5 shows the kulawai (collared lory), the FJD 10 the beli (freshwater fish), the FJD 20 the kacau (peregrine falcon).

All notes are polymer (plastic), which holds up well to the humid climate and the regular dunkings from beach-bag splashes. Old paper-note dollar bills (pre-2007) are still technically legal tender but rarely seen.

The FJD 100 note is widely accepted at resorts but can be hard to break at smaller village shops. Carry a mix of 20s and 50s for outer-island spending.

Exchange rates and conversion

Approximate mid-2026 conversion rates (always check before travelling — rates move):

From	FJD 100 buys	Common purchase
USD	USD 44	USD 4.40 → 1 beer at a resort bar
AUD	AUD 69	AUD 4.10 → 1 cup of espresso
NZD	NZD 74	NZD 11 → 1 main meal at a local eatery
EUR	EUR 40	EUR 2.20 → 1 bottled water
GBP	GBP 34	GBP 5.30 → 1 cocktail at a beachside bar

The Reserve Bank of Fiji manages the FJD against a basket of currencies (USD, AUD, NZD, JPY, EUR) — which keeps the rate relatively stable from one trip to the next.

Where to exchange and where not to

Best rates, in order:

• Bank ATMs in Nadi or Suva town centres — interbank rate plus your home bank’s foreign-transaction fee. Net cost typically 0.5–3% over mid-market
• BSP, Westpac and ANZ branches — solid rates, no commission for cash exchange of major currencies
• Wise / Revolut / Wise Multi-Currency debit cards — close to interbank rate, 0.5–1.5% spread
• Nadi town money changers (Money Mart, Wessex) — competitive rates, 1–2% spread
• Resort front desks — convenient but expect 3–4% spread
• Nadi airport exchange booths — worst rates, often 6–9% spread. Avoid.

The airport booths are the single most common money-losing mistake we see. If you must get cash before leaving the terminal, exchange only the minimum you need for a taxi ride (FJD 60–80) and use a town-centre ATM or bank the next day.

Cards, ATMs and Cash

Card acceptance — what works where

Visa and Mastercard work at every mid-range and luxury resort, most restaurants in Nadi, Denarau, Suva, Sigatoka and the Coral Coast, all the major dive operators, all car rental agencies, and all Fiji Airways / Fiji Link bookings. Tap-to-pay is widely supported.

American Express is patchy — accepted at major chain resorts (Hilton, Sheraton, Westin, Shangri-La, Hilton, Sofitel) but routinely declined at smaller resorts, outer-island lodges, and most independent restaurants and tour operators. Carry Visa or Mastercard as the primary card.

Diners Club, JCB, Discover, UnionPay are rare. Plan for cash or Visa/Mastercard as your primary mechanism.

ATMs across Fiji

ATM locations:

• Nadi: Multiple ATMs at the airport (international arrivals + domestic) and along Main Street. BSP, Westpac, ANZ all present
• Denarau: ATMs at Port Denarau and in each major resort’s lobby area
• Sigatoka and Pacific Harbour: Town-centre ATMs at BSP and Westpac branches
• Suva: Dense ATM coverage in the CBD and at Tappoo City shopping centre
• Savusavu: Single BSP ATM in town centre
• Taveuni: BSP ATM at Matei airport area, sometimes offline

Outer islands — Mamanucas, Yasawas, Kadavu, Beqa — have no ATMs. Resorts run on signed-charge accounts settled at check-out by card or cash. Always carry enough Fiji dollars in cash for tips, village contributions, and small purchases.

How much cash to carry

Our standard cash allocation for a 7-night outer-island trip:

• FJD 200–250 at minimum for the outer-island portion — tips, village visits, kava root, small bar tabs
• FJD 100 kept aside for Viti Levu portion — taxis, small meals, market shopping
• Tip stash — FJD 5 and 10 notes for porter and housekeeping

For a 14-night trip, scale these numbers up by about 80% — you do not need to double, because most large expenses go on card.

Tipping, Taxes and Resort Charges

Tipping culture in Fiji

Tipping in Fiji is genuinely optional — not the expected secondary-pricing system you see in the US. That said, the Fijian tourism industry has shifted noticeably toward tipping over the past decade, and small gestures are appreciated.

Our practical guide:

• Bag porter: FJD 2–5 per bag
• Housekeeping: FJD 5–10 per day, left in an envelope at check-out
• Dive guide / activity instructor: FJD 10–20 for a half-day, FJD 20–40 for a full-day
• Resort transfer driver: FJD 10–20 for an airport-to-resort run
• Restaurant service: Not standard. A “Christmas Fund” tip box is common — round up your bill or leave 5–10% if service was outstanding
• Village visit: FJD 20–40 per group for the host family — usually arranged via the resort or tour

Many resorts add a “Christmas Bonus” voluntary contribution to your final bill (FJD 5–10/day) — this pools across all resort staff. We always opt in.

VAT, hotel tax and service charges

Fiji’s tax stack on tourism:

• Value Added Tax (VAT): 9% on most goods and services
• Service Turnover Tax (STT): 6% on hotel accommodation and tourism services
• Environment and Climate Adaptation Levy (ECAL): 5% on hotel accommodation, replaced the older environment levy in 2017

Total tax on a hotel room therefore reaches roughly 20% (9 + 6 + 5). Most published room rates include these taxes; if a quote looks unusually low, check whether VAT/STT/ECAL is bundled or added on top.

The Reserve Bank of Fiji publishes the official Fiji Dollar rates daily for currency conversion verification.

Resort departure fees and bills

Resort accounts are typically opened at check-in (a card pre-authorised) and settled at check-out. Charges run higher than equivalent town prices — bottled water at FJD 5 vs FJD 2, a beer at FJD 14 vs FJD 8, a main meal at FJD 35–55 vs FJD 12–25 at a local eatery.

If a transfer is included in your rate, double-check whether dinner, breakfast, and activities are also bundled. The line between “all-inclusive” and “meal plan plus extras” varies widely between resorts.

There is no separate departure tax to pay at Nadi airport — it is included in your air ticket. Older travel guides reference a departure fee that was abolished in 2014.

Money Strategy for a Fiji Trip

Cards to bring and accounts to open

Best card combinations for Fiji:

• One Visa or Mastercard with no foreign-transaction fees — Chase Sapphire Preferred (US), Wise debit card (universal), Westpac Choice Black (AU), 28 Degrees Mastercard (AU)
• One backup Visa or Mastercard from a different bank — protects against fraud holds and lost-card scenarios
• One ATM card with global ATM rebates if possible — Charles Schwab Investor Checking (US) and Wise multi-currency are the gold standards

Avoid relying on Amex as a primary card.

Pre-trip vs in-country exchange

We do not pre-buy Fiji dollars before flying. Exchange rates at airport money changers (in any country) are consistently worse than local Fiji ATMs.

The exception: if your home country has restrictive cash export rules (e.g. India, several African countries), a small pre-exchange of USD or AUD as a backup is sensible. USD and AUD are easily exchanged at Nadi banks even on a Sunday.

For a 7-night trip, we typically arrive with no Fiji cash, pull FJD 600–800 from the Nadi airport ATM (it has acceptable rates compared to the booths), and top up at a town ATM if needed.

Common money mistakes

The mistakes we see most often:

• Exchanging large amounts at the airport booth → 6–9% loss vs an ATM 100 metres away
• Not telling the home bank about travel → cards get blocked on first Fiji transaction
• Bringing only Amex → 30% of merchants decline it
• Carrying too much cash on outer islands → most resort spend goes on the room charge anyway
• Tipping in USD or AUD → causes confusion, ends up partly wasted because of locally-poor exchange rates
• Forgetting to budget for the FJD 200/day all-in spend (food, drinks, activities) on top of the room rate

For a deeper trip-cost breakdown including activities, see our Fiji travel guide.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the currency of Fiji?

The Fiji Dollar (FJD or F$). It is the official and only legal tender. Notes come in FJD 5, 10, 20, 50 and 100; coins in 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, FJD 1 and FJD 2.

Can I use US dollars in Fiji?

Some larger resorts will accept USD informally but the exchange rate will be poor. All formal transactions use FJD. Convert USD to FJD at a Nadi or Suva bank or ATM for the best rates.

Are credit cards accepted in Fiji?

Yes — Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at resorts, restaurants and tour operators across Viti Levu and at outer-island resorts. Amex is patchy. Carry cash for villages, market stalls and small-island operators.

How much cash do I need in Fiji?

FJD 200–300 for a 7-night outer-island trip — tips, village contributions, small bar tabs, market shopping. Most resort accommodation and meals can go on a card.

Where can I exchange money in Fiji?

Best rates at bank branches (BSP, Westpac, ANZ) and ATMs in Nadi or Suva town centres. Avoid airport exchange booths — rates run 6–9% worse. Wise and Revolut multi-currency cards typically beat all in-country options.

Is tipping expected in Fiji?

Tipping is not standard in Fijian culture but is increasingly common in tourism. FJD 2–5 for porters, FJD 5–10/day for housekeeping, FJD 10–20 for dive guides. Many resorts have an opt-in “Christmas Fund” voluntary daily contribution at check-out.

---