Palestine, State of Currency & Money Guide: Exchange, Cards, and Tips

The Israeli new shekel (ILS or NIS) is the main Palestine, State of currency used across the West Bank, while Jordanian dinars, US dollars, and euros may occasionally be accepted. In early 2026, 1 Singapore dollar is approximately 2.7–2.8 ILS, but rates change daily, so check the live rate before exchanging. Cards work in hotels, larger restaurants, and modern shops, but cash remains essential for taxis, markets, street food, small guesthouses, and rural travel. Carry small shekel notes, use bank-linked ATMs in cities, and budget around 10% for good restaurant service when no service charge is included. Hello’s multi-currency expense tracker can convert ILS spending automatically, split costs with travel companions, and help you stay within budget.

The Israeli new shekel is the practical everyday currency in Palestine, State of, so travellers should arrive prepared to pay primarily in ILS rather than relying on foreign cash. The shekel is divided into 100 agorot, and banknotes commonly include 20, 50, 100, and 200 ILS denominations. In early 2026, S$1 was roughly 2.7–2.8 ILS; use this as a budgeting guide rather than a guaranteed Palestine, State of exchange rate, because the value changes throughout the year. The Bank of Israel publishes representative exchange rates on business days, while banks and exchange offices apply their own buy and sell spreads. As a rough mental conversion, 100 ILS is about S$36–37 at that rate. A casual meal might cost 25–60 ILS, a short city taxi ride commonly 15–30 ILS, and a coffee around 8–18 ILS, depending on location and venue. Exchange only enough for immediate needs at the airport or border, then compare rates at established exchange offices in city centres such as Ramallah, Bethlehem, or Nablus. Count your money before leaving the counter and keep the receipt.

The safest Palestine, State of money strategy is to combine a small arrival cash reserve with withdrawals from bank-operated ATMs in major towns before travelling into rural areas. Exchange offices are common in city centres and near busy crossings, and they may offer competitive rates, but avoid unmarked street exchangers or anyone offering an unusually attractive rate. Bank branches can exchange major currencies, although opening hours and documentation requirements vary. ATMs connected to established banks such as Bank of Palestine or Arab Bank are generally preferable to standalone machines. They are widely available in Ramallah, Bethlehem, and other major towns, but become less common outside urban centres. Many machines dispense ILS, and some offer English-language menus. Your home bank may charge a foreign transaction fee of around 2–3%, while the local ATM or network can add another fee. Choose to be charged in ILS rather than Singapore dollars if the machine offers dynamic currency conversion; your own bank often provides the better exchange rate. Withdraw larger amounts less frequently to reduce fixed fees, but do not carry all your money together. Keep an emergency reserve separately from your wallet, and check that your card issuer permits overseas withdrawals before departure.

Visa and Mastercard are usually dependable in larger hotels, established restaurants, malls, and professional tour businesses, but Palestine, State of card acceptance drops sharply at markets, small cafés, taxis, buses, and family-run accommodation. American Express is less commonly accepted, and some businesses may apply a 2–5% card surcharge. Contactless payment is available at some modern point-of-sale terminals, particularly in larger urban businesses, but it should be treated as a convenience rather than a guarantee. Carry enough small notes for a day’s transport, snacks, and market purchases even when travelling with a card. International digital wallets such as WeChat Pay and PayPay are not standard payment methods for most local merchants, so do not depend on them. Ask whether the price is in ILS before tapping or inserting your card, and keep a second card stored separately in case one is blocked. A useful working plan is:

Record purchases in Hello, which supports multi-currency tracking, receipt scanning, bank-statement imports, and automatic exchange-rate conversion.

Tipping in Palestine, State of is appreciated but not compulsory, with around 10% customary in restaurants when service is not already included. Check the bill first, because adding another tip on top of a service charge is unnecessary. For a 120 ILS restaurant bill, leaving about 12 ILS is a friendly standard; round up smaller café bills to a convenient amount. Taxi drivers generally do not expect a formal percentage, although rounding up by 5–10 ILS for helpful service is welcomed. Hotel porters and housekeeping staff can receive small notes, while a full-day guide may reasonably receive about 20–40 ILS per person depending on the group size, length of service, and quality of the experience. In markets, bargaining is more likely in tourist-oriented stalls than in fixed-price shops. Keep the tone relaxed and agree on a price before accepting a service. Typical daily costs vary by travel style: budget travellers may spend approximately 120–220 ILS per person on simple meals, local transport, and modest activities, while mid-range travellers may spend 300–550 ILS before accommodation. Bethlehem and Ramallah can be more expensive than smaller towns, and private transfers or guided sightseeing can significantly increase the daily total. Split shared meals, taxis, and guides in Hello to avoid awkward calculations across currencies.

Travellers most often ask whether they need cash, which currency to carry, and how much to tip; the short answer is to use ILS for everyday purchases, keep cards for larger businesses, and tip according to service rather than obligation.

Can I use Singapore dollars in Palestine? Usually not directly. Bring a small amount of Singapore dollars only for exchange, and use reputable exchange offices or banks rather than informal traders.

Should I bring US dollars or euros? They may be accepted in some tourist businesses, but change is commonly given in ILS and the rate may be poor. Local shekels are more practical.

Are ATMs available? Yes, ATMs are found in major cities and towns, but rural coverage is less reliable. Withdraw before travelling away from urban centres.

How much cash should I carry? For a normal day, 150–300 ILS in small denominations is a sensible starting point. Carry more for rural excursions, private transport, or places where card payments are unlikely.

Is tipping required? No. Around 10% is common in restaurants when service is not included; rounding up taxis and leaving modest amounts for helpful staff is sufficient.

What if a card terminal asks to charge in SGD? Select ILS when possible. Dynamic currency conversion can use a less favourable rate than your card issuer.

How can I track spending with friends? Hello lets you split expenses in multiple currencies, automatically convert exchange rates, scan receipts in different languages, and categorize spending with AI.

The easiest way to save money in Palestine is to minimise exchange fees, pay in local currency, and prepare cash before leaving major cities or crossing into areas with fewer banking facilities. Common problems include unclear taxi prices, incorrect change, unofficial exchange offers, card surcharges disclosed only at checkout, and dynamic currency conversion at terminals or ATMs. Agree on taxi fares before departure unless the vehicle uses a meter, and count change calmly in front of the seller. Avoid displaying large amounts of cash in markets, and keep one backup card and emergency cash separate from your main wallet. Compare exchange-office rates and ask whether commission is included; a slightly worse advertised rate can become competitive if it has no fixed fee. Use cards for larger purchases only when the merchant is reputable and the final amount is clear. Budget-saving habits include eating at local restaurants away from hotel districts, buying water and snacks from supermarkets, using shared or public transport where practical, and booking guides or transfers with prices confirmed in writing. Keep a small daily cash envelope and record spending immediately in Hello’s budget tracker. If you need reliable mobile data for maps, translation, banking alerts, and expense syncing, activate Hello eSIM for Palestine, State of before departure so you arrive connected. For broader trip planning, see the Palestine, State of travel guide.