Grenada Currency & Money Guide: Exchange, Cards, and Tips

Grenada uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar, written as EC$ or XCD, and its value is fixed at EC$2.70 to US$1. As an early-2026 guide, S$1 is approximately EC$2.02, although your card provider’s live rate may differ. Cards work well at hotels, resorts, car-rental desks, and larger restaurants, but cash remains essential for minibuses, markets, small shops, beach vendors, and rural communities.

For a comfortable trip, budget around EC$220 per person daily for budget travel, EC$470 for mid-range travel, or EC$1,200 for luxury travel, including accommodation, food, transport, and activities. Withdraw EC dollars at a bank ATM in St. George’s, Grand Anse, or another main town before heading to remote areas. US dollars are widely accepted in tourist districts, but change is commonly returned in EC dollars and the conversion may be less favourable. Tipping is customary rather than compulsory: check for an included service charge, then leave around 5–10% when appropriate.

Grenada’s official currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar, or XCD, and it is pegged to the US dollar, making the local exchange rate unusually stable for travellers. The fixed relationship is US$1 = EC$2.70; early-2026 estimates put S$1 at about EC$2.02, but Singapore-dollar card charges and cash conversions should always be checked against a live rate before payment.

A simple mental shortcut is to divide an EC-dollar price by 2.70 to estimate US dollars. For example, EC$40 is about US$14.80, while EC$100 is about US$37. Use your bank’s exchange rate rather than a shop’s printed conversion when paying by card, and decline dynamic currency conversion if a terminal asks whether to charge you in Singapore dollars.

Currency situation	Practical approach
EC dollars	Best for minibuses, markets, taxis, tips, and small purchases
US dollars	Convenient in tourist areas; expect EC-dollar change
Singapore dollars	Usually not accepted directly; exchange or withdraw locally
Credit or debit card	Useful for hotels, restaurants, tours, and car rental

Track prices in both currencies with the Hello app, which automatically converts expenses using exchange rates and can scan receipts in different languages and currencies.

The best Grenada exchange strategy is to arrive with a small emergency reserve, then withdraw EC dollars from a bank-operated ATM or exchange foreign currency through an established bank or licensed bureau in St. George’s or Grand Anse. Airports and hotel desks are convenient, but their rates or commissions may be less attractive, so exchange only enough there for immediate transport and food.

Singapore dollars are unlikely to be useful for everyday spending and may be harder to exchange than US dollars, euros, or British pounds. If carrying US dollars, use clean, undamaged notes and smaller denominations; some vendors may refuse worn bills or lack change for US$50 and US$100 notes. Always ask whether a quoted exchange rate includes commission, and count your cash before leaving the counter.

Avoid changing money with informal individuals, accepting an unsolicited “special rate,” or handing over your card for someone to process out of sight. Compare the final EC-dollar amount rather than the headline rate. A useful arrival plan is to exchange or withdraw roughly EC$150–300 for the first day, covering airport transport, casual meals, tips, and small purchases, then replenish from a reputable ATM in town.

Cards are widely accepted in Grenada’s hotels, resorts, car-rental agencies, supermarkets, tour operators, and larger restaurants, especially around St. George’s and Grand Anse; however, contactless payment is not universal, and cash remains the dependable option outside major tourist areas. Visa and Mastercard generally have the broadest acceptance, while American Express can be more limited.

ATMs are concentrated in St. George’s, near Maurice Bishop International Airport, Grand Anse, and other main towns. They usually accept international cards, but your home bank, the Grenadian bank, or both may charge foreign-transaction and withdrawal fees. Choose to be charged in EC dollars, not Singapore dollars, and make fewer larger withdrawals rather than many small ones. Notify your bank before departure and carry a second card separately.

Do not assume WeChat Pay, PayPay, or other Asia-focused digital wallets will work locally; Grenada’s everyday payments are still primarily cash and card based. Confirm payment before ordering at smaller restaurants or booking independent taxis. For group travel, the Hello app can split expenses across multiple currencies and automatically convert each person’s share, making shared taxis, groceries, and boat trips easier to settle.

Tipping in Grenada is appreciated but not mandatory: check the bill first, because restaurants may already add a service charge of around 10%, then leave approximately 5–10% only when service is not included and the experience deserves it. Cash tips in EC dollars are usually easiest for staff to receive.

For a local restaurant or cookshop, rounding up or leaving a few extra EC dollars is a friendly gesture. At a mid-range restaurant, a meal costing EC$120 could merit an additional EC$6–12 if no service charge appears. Hotel porters and housekeepers may appreciate EC$5–10 per service or day, while a private guide or exceptional driver can receive EC$10–25 or more depending on the length and quality of the experience.

Taxi tipping is discretionary rather than expected. Round up for short rides or add a modest amount for help with luggage, difficult routes, or a long transfer. Minibus fares are normally paid in cash, and drivers do not require a tip. At beach bars, cafés, markets, and food stalls, tipping is optional; do not feel pressured by a card-terminal prompt or an inflated suggestion. Keep small EC$5 and EC$10 notes specifically for tips and minor purchases.

A realistic 2025–2026 Grenada budget is about EC$220 per day for budget travel, EC$470 for mid-range travel, and EC$1,200 for luxury travel, although accommodation can move those totals substantially. Local meals commonly cost EC$20–40, while mid-range restaurant mains are often around EC$40–80; US$1 is approximately EC$2.70 for quick comparisons.

Save money without missing the island by choosing local cookshops, buying fruit and snacks from markets, using minibuses where practical, and booking accommodation with a kitchen. A local roti or street-food meal may cost roughly US$3–8, while a resort restaurant can be several times more. Grand Anse is convenient but often pricier than neighbourhoods away from the main resort strip.

Additional money-saving habits include:

• Carry a reusable bottle and refill where safe instead of buying every drink.
• Withdraw cash in planned amounts to reduce repeated ATM fees.
• Ask whether tours, taxis, and restaurants quote prices per person or per vehicle.
• Confirm service charges, taxes, ferry fares, and baggage costs before committing.
• Record purchases immediately in Hello’s budget tracker using AI receipt scanning, voice expense entry, or bank-statement import.

For mobile data, arrange Hello eSIM for Grenada before departure so maps, banking alerts, translation, and expense tracking work as soon as you land.

The most common Grenada money questions have straightforward answers: use EC dollars for everyday local spending, cards for established businesses, and US dollars only when the quoted exchange rate and change are clear.

Can I use US dollars in Grenada? Yes, especially at hotels, restaurants, taxis, and shops in tourist areas. Change is often given in EC dollars, and the conversion may not match the official EC$2.70-per-US$1 relationship.

Should I bring Singapore dollars? Bring only a small emergency amount. Singapore dollars are generally not accepted for purchases, so withdraw EC dollars or exchange through a bank or licensed bureau.

How much cash should I carry? Keep enough for one or two days of minibuses, tips, markets, and small vendors—often EC$150–300—while storing backup cash separately.

Are cards accepted everywhere? No. Major hotels and restaurants commonly accept cards, but local buses, market stalls, small shops, rural vendors, and some independent taxis may require cash. Contactless payment availability varies.

Is tipping expected in Grenada? It is customary but not compulsory. Check for a service charge, then consider 5–10% for good restaurant service and modest cash tips for hotel staff, guides, or helpful drivers.

How can I track spending with friends? Hello supports multi-currency expense tracking, automatic exchange-rate conversion, receipt scanning, and expense splitting, so shared costs can be recorded in EC dollars while each traveller sees their own currency.