French Guiana Currency & Money Guide: Exchange, Cards, and Tips

French Guiana uses the Euro (€), cards work well in cities, but you still need cash for rural areas and markets, and tipping is modest but appreciated on tours. With higher-than-expected prices and limited ATMs outside towns, planning your budget and currency ahead will save both time and money.

As an overseas department of France, French Guiana is in the Eurozone, so you’ll pay in Euros for almost everything—from coffee in Cayenne to boat rides on the Maroni River. Travelers from Singapore can expect a French Guiana exchange rate of roughly €0.68–0.70 for 1 SGD in early 2026, according to estimates published by travelwithhello.com, which helps when planning larger expenses like tours or car rental.

Cards are widely accepted in Cayenne, Kourou, and Saint-Laurent du Maroni, but small businesses still prefer cash, and ATMs become sparse once you leave the coast. Tipping in restaurants is minimal (service is usually included), but guides and drivers commonly receive €5–10 per person per day for good service.

For easy money management, the Hello app lets you track expenses in multiple currencies with automatic exchange-rate conversion, split costs with friends, and scan receipts in any language—ideal if you’re juggling Euros with SGD or USD while connecting through other countries before reaching French Guiana.

French Guiana’s official currency is the Euro (EUR), and foreign currencies like USD or BRL are not accepted for everyday transactions. If you’re arriving from Singapore, planning around the Euro–SGD exchange rate and converting before you land will make your trip smoother and usually cheaper.

As an integral part of France and the Eurozone, French Guiana uses the same Euro banknotes and coins you’ll find in Paris: notes of €5, €10, €20, €50, €100, €200, and €500, plus coins from 1 cent up to €2. According to CountryReports, the Euro is the only legal tender, and you should expect prices broadly similar to mainland France.

For Singapore travellers, travelwithhello.com cites an early-2026 French Guiana exchange rate of around €0.68–0.70 per 1 SGD, meaning S$100 is roughly €68–70. Exchange rates fluctuate daily, so it’s smart to check a live forex tool a few days before departure.

US Dollars, Brazilian Reais, and Surinamese Dollars are generally not accepted at hotels, restaurants, or supermarkets; they’re only occasionally useful close to borders for informal trades. For most visitors, the best approach is to arrive with some Euros already in hand and rely on card payments plus local ATMs once you’re on the ground.

If you’re tracking a multi-country itinerary—say Singapore–Paris–Cayenne—the Hello app can automatically convert and log expenses between SGD, EUR, and other currencies, so you always know your true costs in your home currency.

The easiest way to get Euros in French Guiana is either to bring them from home or withdraw cash from ATMs (DAB) in major towns and at Cayenne Félix Eboué Airport. Exchange options are limited beyond the coast, so plan your withdrawals before heading into remote areas.

Banks and formal exchange offices are mainly found in Cayenne, Kourou, Matoury, Remire-Montjoly, and Saint-Laurent du Maroni. According to French travel resources, banks typically open Monday–Friday around 08:00–12:00 and 14:30–17:00, with some closing Wednesday afternoons. ATMs are available in the main coastal towns and at Cayenne Félix Eboué Airport, giving you a chance to withdraw Euros immediately on arrival.

If you are coming from Singapore or another non-Euro country, most experts recommend exchanging to Euros before you depart, where competition between banks and money changers can mean better rates than airport kiosks. Once in French Guiana, exchanging USD or other currencies is easiest in Cayenne and at the airport; elsewhere, options become very limited.

When using ATMs, choose to be charged in local currency (EUR) instead of your home currency to avoid Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), which often adds hidden markups. Typical foreign withdrawal fees can range from €2–5 per transaction depending on your home bank (figures based on common international card policies in 2025–2026), so fewer large withdrawals are usually cheaper than many small ones.

To keep track of fees and cash withdrawals, you can log ATM transactions in the Hello app, which automatically applies live exchange rates and helps you see the real cost in SGD or your home currency.

Credit and debit cards are widely accepted in cities and tourist areas of French Guiana, but cash remains essential for markets, small cafés, and trips into the interior. Think of it as a card-friendly destination with a strong cash backbone, especially once you leave Cayenne.

According to Canada’s travel advisory, restaurants and hotels in French Guiana commonly accept card payments, while small local businesses may only take cash. Visa and Mastercard are the most widely used cards, with chip-and-PIN and contactless payments increasingly standard, mirroring practices in mainland France. Many merchants impose a minimum spend of around €10–15 for card transactions, so having €5–10 in coins and small notes is handy for bakeries and street food stalls, as noted by travelwithhello.com.

Digital wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay are gradually accepted where modern terminals are installed, especially in supermarkets and chain stores, similar to their adoption across France in the mid‑2020s. However, region-specific Chinese or Japanese apps like WeChat Pay or PayPay are not mainstream payment methods here, and you should not rely on them for everyday purchases.

Outside major towns, expect card acceptance to drop: guesthouses, river transport, and local guides may prefer or require cash. Always carry enough Euros for at least 2–3 days of expenses when heading into the rainforest or along rivers.

If you’re using mobile data to check card alerts or banking apps, an eSIM from Hello keeps you online from landing, letting you confirm transactions and freeze cards instantly if anything looks suspicious.

Tipping in French Guiana follows French norms: service is usually included in restaurant bills, so tips are modest, but guides and drivers do appreciate small cash gratuities. Budget for a bit of tipping cash, especially if you’re joining multi-day rainforest or river excursions.

In most restaurants, a service charge is already built into the price, and rounding up the bill or leaving €1–2 per person is plenty for good service, according to French tourism sources. For taxi drivers, rounding up to the nearest Euro works well. On guided tours, travelwithhello.com recommends tipping €5–10 per person per day, depending on the length and complexity of the trip and the level of personal attention you receive.

Costs in French Guiana are generally similar to or higher than mainland France, reflecting imported goods and remote logistics. As of 2026:

• Simple café lunch in Cayenne: €12–18
• Mid-range dinner: €20–30 per person
• Beer in a bar: around €4–6
• Half‑day guided excursion: often €50–80 per person, with full‑day trips higher

For everyday spending, many travellers feel comfortable carrying €50–100 in cash per day for food, small purchases, and tips, plus a backup stash of €100–200 for emergencies. Keep most cash secure at your accommodation and take only what you need for the day.

To avoid losing track of these relatively high costs, the Hello app can categorize your restaurant meals, tours, and transport, giving you a live view of how quickly you’re burning through your Euros and helping you stay within your planned daily budget.

French Guiana is not known for sophisticated financial scams targeting tourists, but standard precautions for cards, ATMs, and cash still apply. Combine common-sense security with a few smart money strategies, and you’ll avoid both fraud and unnecessary fees.

The Government of Canada advises travellers to guard PIN entry at ATMs, watch how cards are handled, avoid unusual-looking card readers, and check bank statements for unauthorized transactions. Skimming devices and card cloning can occur in busy areas, just as in other parts of South America and the EU. Stick to ATMs inside banks, malls, or well-lit locations, and avoid withdrawing cash late at night.

You may encounter overcharging, inflated prices for tours, or taxis that “forget” to use published tariffs. Agree on prices upfront, especially for river transport or informal guides, and compare offers with your accommodation’s recommendations. Never accept street currency exchanges; use banks, official counters, or ATMs instead.

To save money:

• Avoid airport and hotel currency exchange where margins are high; withdraw from ATMs or exchange at banks instead.
• Use cards with no foreign transaction fee if possible.
• Eat where locals eat—set menus and lunch specials can be far cheaper than tourist-oriented spots.
• Plan excursions in small groups to share guide and boat costs.

The Hello app helps here too: you can import receipts (including via Gmail), tag expensive days, and compare your actual daily spend against your target, so you spot overspending early and adjust before your budget disappears into the rainforest.

Most travellers’ money questions about French Guiana boil down to three themes: Euros, card acceptance, and how much to tip. This quick Q&A covers the essentials so you can plan with confidence before flying to French Guiana.

Q: What currency is used in French Guiana?
A: The official French Guiana currency is the Euro (EUR); it’s part of France and the Eurozone, so you’ll see prices listed with the € symbol everywhere.

Q: Can I use US Dollars or other foreign cash?
A: No, everyday transactions require Euros—US Dollars, Brazilian Reais, and Surinamese Dollars are not generally accepted in shops or restaurants, only occasionally near borders or in informal exchanges.

Q: Are credit cards widely accepted?
A: Yes. Hotels, many restaurants, and supermarkets take Visa and Mastercard, especially in Cayenne, Kourou, and Saint-Laurent du Maroni, but small local businesses often prefer cash.

Q: Are ATMs easy to find?
A: ATMs (DAB) are available in major towns and at Cayenne Félix Eboué Airport but become rare in rural or river regions, according to Canada’s travel advisory. Withdraw cash before heading inland.

Q: Do people tip in French Guiana?
A: Restaurant bills usually include service, so tipping is light—rounding up or leaving €1–2 is enough. For tours and excursions, plan €5–10 per person per day for guides.

Q: How can I track my French Guiana travel budget?
A: Use the Hello app for multi‑currency expense tracking, automatic exchange rates, and shared trip budgets with friends. Coupled with a Hello eSIM for French Guiana (/esim/french-guiana), you can log expenses and check rates in real time, even deep in the Amazonian frontier.