Cape Verde Currency & Money Guide: Exchange, Cards, and Tips

Cape Verde uses the Cape Verdean escudo (CVE), with the currency fixed at approximately €1 = CVE 110.265; euros are also widely accepted, especially on Sal, Boa Vista, Santiago, and in resort areas. Bring some euros or withdraw escudos for smaller restaurants, markets, shared minibuses, and taxis, where cards and foreign cash may be less convenient.

For 2026 planning, budget roughly CVE 3,500–6,500 per person daily on a basic trip, CVE 10,000–18,000 for mid-range travel, or CVE 30,000 and above for luxury stays, excluding flights. Use cards at established hotels and restaurants, but keep backup cash because connectivity and ATM availability vary by island. The Hello app can scan receipts, track CVE and SGD together, and automatically convert exchange rates while you travel.

The Cape Verdean escudo is the local currency, and its fixed euro relationship makes conversions more predictable than in many destinations, although the SGD-to-CVE rate changes with the Singapore dollar against the euro. Cape Verde’s official currency is the escudo, abbreviated CVE or written with the symbol $, which can look confusing beside prices in other currencies.

The escudo has been pegged to the euro at about CVE 110.265 to €1 since 1999. A practical mental shortcut is to divide a CVE price by 110 to estimate its euro value. For Singapore travellers, check the live SGD exchange rate shortly before departure rather than relying on a printed conversion. As an illustration, if €1 equals S$1.45, then S$1 is approximately CVE 76; the actual figure will vary.

Currency or price	Approximate value for planning
€1	CVE 110.265
€10	CVE 1,103
CVE 1,000	About €9.07
CVE 350 local lunch	About €3.17

Use the Hello app’s multi-currency budget tracker to record spending in CVE while viewing an automatic SGD conversion. This is particularly useful when splitting meals or taxis with friends.

The safest Cape Verde exchange strategy is to arrive with a modest amount of euros, then exchange or withdraw money through banks and reputable ATMs rather than using informal street offers. Euros are widely accepted, but paying directly in euros can produce an unfavourable rounded rate, commonly around CVE 100 to €1 instead of the official peg near CVE 110.265.

Banks and licensed exchange counters in Praia, Mindelo, Sal, and Boa Vista generally provide more transparent rates than hotels or small shops. Airport counters are convenient but may not offer the best deal, so exchange only enough for transport, snacks, and the first day. Ask whether a commission applies before confirming the transaction, count the notes carefully, and keep the receipt.

Useful habits include:

• Carry clean, undamaged euro notes; smaller denominations are easier for local purchases.
• Avoid changing large amounts before travelling between islands.
• Keep emergency cash separately from your wallet.
• Compare the final CVE amount, not just the advertised rate.
• Do not hand over your card or passport to an unofficial money changer.

A local lunch may cost around CVE 350, while a short taxi ride often costs roughly CVE 300–650, so CVE 3,000–5,000 in small notes is a practical first-day reserve.

Cards work best in Cape Verde’s hotels, resorts, supermarkets, tour operators, and established restaurants, but cash remains essential for markets, aluguer minibuses, independent cafés, ferries, and smaller guesthouses. Visa is generally the most widely accepted network, followed by Mastercard; contactless availability is growing but should not be assumed outside major tourist businesses.

ATMs are concentrated in Praia, Mindelo, Sal, Boa Vista, and other larger settlements. Island-specific outages, empty machines, power interruptions, and withdrawal limits can happen, so withdraw during the day and keep enough cash for transport and meals. Your home bank may charge an international withdrawal fee, while the local ATM may add its own fee or apply a daily limit. Decline dynamic currency conversion when offered if your bank normally provides the better exchange rate.

Cape Verde is not a destination where foreign digital wallets should be your primary payment method. WeChat Pay, PayPay, and similar apps have limited local acceptance compared with cash and international cards. Before travelling, notify your bank, enable overseas transactions, and carry a second card stored separately.

Hello’s connectivity tools can help with banking authentication and travel planning: an eSIM from Hello for Cape Verde provides mobile data on arrival, while the app’s receipt scanning and automatic currency conversion keep card and cash spending in one record.

Tipping in Cape Verde is appreciated but not rigidly compulsory; add around 5–10% for genuinely good restaurant service when a service charge is not already included. In local cafés and casual eateries, rounding up by CVE 50–100 is usually sufficient, while resort restaurants may follow more familiar international tipping expectations.

Check the bill before leaving a tip, particularly at hotels and organised excursions. Some establishments include a service charge, and adding another percentage is optional. Cash tips in escudos are easiest for staff to use, although euros may be accepted in resort areas. For a CVE 1,800 meal, a 10% tip would be CVE 180, rounded to CVE 200.

Practical guidelines include:

• Restaurants: 5–10% if service is good and no service charge appears.
• Taxis: Round up or add a small amount; tipping is not expected for every short ride.
• Local guides: Around CVE 500–1,000 per person for a good half-day experience, adjusted for group size and service.
• Hotel porters: CVE 100–200 per bag is a reasonable gesture.
• Housekeeping: A modest daily tip is welcome at resorts, especially after excellent service.

Do not feel pressured to tip aggressively. A sincere obrigado, meaning “thank you,” and fair payment are more important than following a strict percentage.

A realistic Cape Verde budget is about CVE 3,500–6,500 per person daily for basic travel, CVE 10,000–18,000 for mid-range travel, and CVE 30,000 or more for luxury or all-inclusive stays, excluding flights. The biggest savings usually come from choosing local restaurants, using shared transport, and planning inter-island travel carefully rather than relying on taxis and last-minute bookings.

Typical 2026 planning prices include a local meal at around CVE 350–1,100, a tourist-oriented dinner at approximately CVE 1,650–3,300, a beer at CVE 165–275, a short taxi at roughly CVE 300–650, and a shared aluguer ride between towns for about CVE 100–330 depending on the route. Guided excursions commonly cost around €30–60 per person.

Save money by:

• Eating at tascas and neighbourhood restaurants away from resort strips.
• Carrying water and snacks for long island excursions.
• Confirming taxi fares before departure.
• Comparing ferry and domestic-flight schedules before booking accommodation.
• Paying in escudos where a euro conversion is rounded down.
• Sharing taxis, guides, and private transfers with other travellers.

The Hello app’s AI receipt scanner can capture receipts in different languages and currencies, while automatic categories show whether transport, food, or activities are pushing the budget over target.

Most Cape Verde money questions have the same practical answer: use a mixture of escudos, euros, and cards, but never depend on only one payment method. Conditions differ between islands, and a payment method accepted in a Sal resort may not work at a Santo Antão guesthouse or village café.

Should I take euros or US dollars? Take euros if carrying foreign cash. They are widely accepted and directly connected to the escudo’s fixed exchange rate; US dollars are less convenient and may receive weaker informal conversions.

Can I use Singapore dollars in Cape Verde? Singapore dollars are unlikely to be accepted for everyday purchases. Convert to euros before departure or withdraw escudos locally through a suitable bank card.

Are Cape Verde ATMs reliable? ATMs are available in major towns and tourist centres, but outages, limits, and island-to-island differences occur. Withdraw during business hours and maintain a cash reserve.

Do Cape Verde shops accept contactless cards? Some established businesses do, particularly in tourist areas, but cash is still necessary for transport, markets, small restaurants, and independent operators.

Is tipping mandatory in Cape Verde? No. A 5–10% restaurant tip or a small rounded-up amount is appropriate when service is good and no service charge is included.

For broader trip planning, see the Cape Verde destination guide, and activate Hello connectivity before departure so banking codes, maps, and expense tracking remain available when you arrive.