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

Monaco uses the euro (EUR) as its official currency, cards and contactless payments are widely accepted, and tipping is modest but appreciated rather than obligatory. Cash is still useful for small purchases, but most travellers can rely on cards and ATMs.

For travellers coming from Singapore, 1 SGD has been hovering around €0.67 in August 2026, according to currency providers and the European Central Bank, so a simple rule of thumb is: S$10 ≈ €6.70 and S$100 ≈ €67. This makes it easy to mentally convert restaurant bills and hotel charges while planning your Monaco budget.

You’ll find plenty of bank ATMs in Monte Carlo and around the port, and most don’t add extra local fees, though your home bank may charge foreign transaction or withdrawal fees. Credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, and often Amex) are standard in hotels, fine-dining restaurants, and major attractions, and contactless tap-to-pay is common.

To keep your Monaco spending under control, track your budget and split costs with friends using the Hello app, which automatically converts between currencies and records expenses in euros while you pay in SGD or other home currencies. Combined with an eSIM from Hello for easy connectivity, you’ll have everything you need to manage money smoothly in Monaco.

Monaco’s official currency is the euro (EUR), and travellers from Singapore can expect an exchange rate around 1 SGD ≈ €0.67 in August 2026, based on recent data from global currency converters and European Central Bank reference rates.

Monaco is not an EU member, but it has a long-standing monetary agreement with France that allows it to use the euro as its official currency and grant legal tender status to euro banknotes and coins. Euro notes and coins from any eurozone country work perfectly in Monaco, and you will never see a separate “Monaco currency” for everyday spending.

For quick mental math from SGD to EUR in 2026:

• S$10 ≈ €6.7
• S$50 ≈ €33–34
• S$100 ≈ €67
• S$500 ≈ €335

Because exchange rates fluctuate daily, always check a trusted source (such as the Monetary Authority of Singapore or the ECB reference rates) shortly before you travel. The Hello app’s multi-currency tracking with automatic exchange rates makes this easier by converting each expense into your home currency in real time.

Here’s a simple comparison for planning from Singapore:

Amount (SGD)	Approx. EUR (Aug 2026)	Typical Use in Monaco
S$10	€6.7	Coffee and pastry
S$50	€33–34	Simple lunch for two
S$100	€67	Mid-range dinner for one
S$500	€335	One hotel night in a 4-star property

You’ll get the best exchange rate for Monaco by withdrawing euros from bank ATMs or exchanging money before arrival, while hotel desks and standalone tourist ATMs tend to be more expensive with extra fees and poor rates.

Monaco is small, but it is tightly integrated with the French banking system, so bank ATMs in Monte Carlo and around the harbor generally use fair wholesale rates without additional local surcharges. The main cost usually comes from your home bank’s foreign transaction and withdrawal fees, which can be a fixed amount (e.g., €3–5 per withdrawal) or a percentage (1–3% of the amount withdrawn).

If you prefer to exchange cash, you’ll usually find better rates in major European cities (like Nice, Paris, or Milan) before you arrive in Monaco. Hotel currency exchange counters often add markups of 5–12%, and small tourist kiosks near casinos or the port may offer unfavorable rates compared with bank ATMs.

To avoid dynamic currency conversion (DCC), always choose to be charged in EUR, not in your home currency, when paying by card or withdrawing cash. DCC often includes a hidden markup.

For Singapore-based travellers, consider exchanging a small amount of SGD to EUR at home and then topping up with ATM withdrawals once in Monaco. You can track exactly how much those withdrawals cost—including fees and exchange-rate differences—in the Hello app, which supports AI receipt scanning and multi-currency expense tracking.

Most travellers can rely on credit and debit cards in Monaco, with widespread acceptance of contactless payments and major digital wallets like Apple Pay and Google Pay, while cash is mainly needed for small purchases and tips.

Monaco’s luxury hotels, designer boutiques, high-end restaurants, and attractions around Monte Carlo are very card-friendly. Visa and Mastercard are almost universally accepted, and American Express is often accepted in upscale venues, though it may be refused by some smaller cafés or independent shops. Contactless tap-to-pay is standard, so you can usually just tap your card or phone to settle bills.

Mobile wallets such as Apple Pay and Google Pay work wherever contactless cards are accepted, provided your bank supports international transactions. In contrast, Asia-focused apps like WeChat Pay or Japan’s PayPay are not mainstream in Monaco; travellers should not rely on them as primary payment methods.

Despite the prevalence of cards, it’s smart to carry €50–€100 in cash for markets, small cafés, bus tickets, and tipping. Some taxi drivers and small local businesses may prefer cash or have minimum card amounts (for example, requiring €10+ for card payments).

To avoid surprises, inform your bank before travel, enable overseas usage, and keep a backup card in case of fraud alerts or technical issues. If you’re using the Hello app to track your spending, you can quickly log card payments in multiple currencies and see how much you’ve spent in euros versus your home currency over the trip.

ATMs from major banks in and around Monaco generally offer fair exchange rates with low or no local operator fees, but your home bank may still charge foreign withdrawal and transaction fees, so plan to withdraw larger amounts less frequently.

Monaco’s banking infrastructure is linked closely with France, and ATMs from established banks typically do not add extra local surcharges. However, standalone or unbranded ATMs in tourist-heavy areas may charge €3–€5 per withdrawal and push dynamic currency conversion with poor rates. Whenever possible, look for bank-branded machines rather than generic ones in hotel lobbies or near the casino.

As of 2025–2026, typical traveller costs in Monaco are on the higher side compared with much of Europe:

• Coffee and croissant: €5–€8
• Casual lunch: €20–€35 per person
• Mid-range dinner: €60–€100 per person
• Museum or attraction tickets: €10–€20

To reduce ATM and card fees:

• Withdraw €200–€300 at a time rather than small daily amounts.
• Always choose to be charged in EUR, not in SGD or another home currency.
• Use ATMs attached to banks.

If you’re travelling with friends, you can use Hello’s expense splitting feature to divide restaurant bills, shared taxis, and activity costs in euros, even if each person paid in different currencies. The app automatically applies live exchange rates, so everyone pays their fair share without manual calculations.

Tipping in Monaco is appreciated but not mandatory, and most service charges are already included, while common money pitfalls to avoid include overpriced tourist ATMs, dynamic currency conversion, and not checking restaurant bills carefully.

Monaco follows typical French Riviera customs: restaurant bills usually already include a service charge, and locals don’t tip heavily. However, rounding up or leaving a small tip is polite if service was good:

• Casual cafés: Round up to the nearest euro or leave €1–€2.
• Mid-range restaurants: Add 5–10% if you were happy with the service.
• Taxis: Round up the fare by €1–€3.
• Hotel staff: €2–€5 for porters or housekeeping.

Common money-related issues to watch for include:

• Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC): Always choose EUR when paying by card.
• Standalone ATMs with high fees near major tourist spots.
• Overpriced drinks or extras in glamorous venues—check menu prices before ordering.

Despite Monaco’s reputation for luxury, you can still save money with a few habits:

• Eat lunches at cafés or in nearby France rather than at the most opulent venues.
• Use buses or walk instead of short taxi rides.
• Take advantage of free viewpoints and promenades.

The Hello app helps enforce your budget by showing real-time totals in euros and your home currency, categorizing expenses automatically, and highlighting where you’re overspending—ideal in a destination where prices can climb quickly without you noticing.

Most travellers in Monaco use euros with cards and contactless payments, tipping modestly (around 5–10% in restaurants) and withdrawing cash from bank ATMs to avoid high fees and poor exchange rates.

Q: What currency is used in Monaco?
A: Monaco uses the euro (EUR) as its official currency through a monetary agreement with France. Euro banknotes and coins are legal tender, and there is no separate local currency.

Q: Do I need cash, or can I just use cards?
A: You can use cards almost everywhere—especially Visa and Mastercard—but it’s wise to carry €50–€100 in cash for small purchases, tipping, and places where cards may not be accepted or have minimum payment amounts.

Q: Is tipping mandatory in Monaco?
A: No. Service is usually included, but leaving a small tip (rounding up or 5–10% in restaurants) is common when service is good.

Q: What’s the exchange rate from SGD to EUR?
A: In August 2026, 1 SGD is roughly €0.67, so S$100 is about €67. Always check a live rate before your trip.

Q: How can I avoid bad exchange rates and fees?
A: Use bank ATMs, avoid standalone tourist ATMs, say no to dynamic currency conversion, and pay in EUR. Track every transaction and fee in the Hello app’s multi-currency budget tracker.

If you want to stay connected while tracking expenses and splitting bills on the go, you can pair the app with a Hello eSIM for Monaco, activating data before you land so your money tools work immediately upon arrival.