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

Peru uses the Peruvian sol (PEN, symbol S/), ATMs and cards work well in cities, but you still need cash for markets, taxis, and small towns; tipping is modest but appreciated, and you’ll save money by paying in soles and avoiding airport exchanges.

The official currency is the Peruvian sol, subdivided into céntimos, with common banknotes of S/10, S/20, S/50, S/100, and S/200, and coins from 10, 20, 50 céntimos up to 1, 2, and 5 soles, according to Peru travel guides and the Central Reserve Bank of Peru (BCRP).

As of mid‑2026, the mid‑market rate sits around S/3.4 per US dollar and roughly S/2.5 per Singapore dollar (SGD) based on public FX benchmarks, though your card and bank will apply their own margins. Always check a live converter before you exchange or withdraw.

You’ll get the best Peru exchange rates by using bank ATMs and licensed casas de cambio (exchange houses) instead of street changers or hotels. Credit cards are widely accepted in Lima, Cusco, and major tourist hubs, but cash is still king in local markets, colectivos, and smaller guesthouses.

For budgeting, the Hello app can track your expenses in multiple currencies with automatic exchange rate conversion, so you can log a taxi in soles, a hotel in USD, and still keep an eye on your total spend in SGD without doing manual math.

Peru’s official currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN, symbol S/), and you’ll use it for almost every local purchase, from markets in Cusco to cafes in Lima, while US dollars are accepted mainly for high‑value tourist services and sometimes hotels.

Per the Central Reserve Bank of Peru and recent 2026 currency guides, the sol is divided into 100 céntimos, with banknotes of S/10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 and coins of 10, 20, 50 céntimos plus 1, 2, and 5 soles. US dollars are commonly used for tours, upscale hotels, and flights, but paying in soles usually gets you better prices and avoids poor in‑store conversion.

In mid‑2026, the mid‑market rate is roughly:

• 1 USD ≈ S/3.4 (live FX benchmarks like XE)
• 1 SGD ≈ S/2.5–2.6 (depending on the day and your bank)

Rates fluctuate daily, so use a currency app or check your bank’s rate on the day you withdraw or exchange.

For a typical trip, many travellers carry S/300–500 (about SGD 120–200) in cash for small expenses and use cards or ATMs for larger payments. Keep a mix of small bills (S/10 and S/20) for local buses, snacks, and market stalls, as vendors often can’t break S/100 notes.

If you’re tracking a multi‑country itinerary (say Peru, then Japan), Hello’s multi‑currency budget tracking makes it simple to see your total spend in one "home" currency while logging expenses in PEN, USD, or SGD.

The best way to get Peru currency at a good rate is to withdraw soles from ATMs or use official casas de cambio (exchange houses), avoiding airport kiosks and street changers, which tend to have worse rates or higher risk.

Currency guides for 2026 note that ATMs in Peru usually offer more competitive exchange rates than cash exchanges, especially for travellers arriving with USD, EUR, or SGD. Licensed exchange houses are common in tourist areas of Lima (Miraflores, Barranco), Cusco (historic center), and Arequipa, often displaying clear buy/sell boards outside.

Here’s a quick comparison of common ways to get Peruvian soles:

Method	Typical Rate vs Mid‑Market	Pros	Cons
Bank ATM	Very close	Convenient, secure	Foreign card fees, need PIN
Casa de cambio	Close	Cash‑only, clear boards	Need to shop around
Airport kiosk	Poor	Immediate on arrival	High margin, limited competition
Hotel front desk	Poor to fair	Very convenient	Small limits, worse rate
Street changers	Varies	Slightly better at times	Fake notes, safety risk

If you’re coming from Singapore, many travellers bring SGD or USD and convert a small amount at the airport (just enough for a taxi), then do larger exchanges in the city. Always count your notes carefully, check for security features, and avoid exchanging money on the street.

For tracking your Peru exchange rate while you travel, Hello’s multi‑currency expense tracking automatically converts what you spend in soles into your home currency, so you can see exactly how much that S/60 dinner cost in SGD without checking a calculator.

You can rely on credit and debit cards in Peru’s main cities, but you still need cash for local transport, markets, and rural areas; ATMs are widely available, and digital wallets are growing, though not as dominant as in some Asian countries.

Visa and Mastercard are the most widely accepted, especially in mid‑range and upscale hotels, chain restaurants, supermarkets, and tour operators. Smaller guesthouses, street food stalls, and market vendors typically prefer cash. Many terminals now support contactless payments, and it’s common to tap your card for purchases under about S/50–S/80.

ATMs tied to major banks (BCP, BBVA, Scotiabank, Interbank) are found throughout Lima, Cusco, and other cities, often inside branches or shopping centers for extra security. Typical foreign card fees are S/10–S/20 per withdrawal plus whatever your home bank charges, so it’s smart to withdraw larger amounts less often.

Digital payment apps exist, but the ecosystem is still evolving. Local options like Yape and Plin are popular among Peruvians and linked to domestic bank accounts, but most short‑term visitors won’t use them. Global apps like Apple Pay or Google Pay work where terminals support NFC, but acceptance varies by merchant.

To avoid connectivity issues when using banking apps or mobile wallets, many travellers pick up a Hello eSIM for Peru (Peru eSIM plans) so they can stay online for OTPs, bank notifications, and fraud alerts without hunting for Wi‑Fi.

For safety, use ATMs in daylight, inside bank branches or malls, shield your PIN, and keep a backup card separate from your main wallet.

Tipping in Peru is appreciated but not strictly mandatory, with small cash tips common in restaurants, tours, and hotels; you’ll rarely see large service charges, but it’s worth checking your bill before adding extra.

In casual restaurants, locals typically round up or leave S/2–S/5 for good service. In mid‑range tourist restaurants, a 10% tip is common if it’s not already included. Some higher‑end venues may automatically add a service fee of 10%, so always glance at the bill before you write in an extra amount.

For taxis and ride services, tipping isn’t expected; most people just pay the agreed fare, though rounding up by S/1–S/2 for helpful drivers is a nice gesture. On organized tours (Machu Picchu, Sacred Valley, Colca Canyon), guides and drivers often rely on tips: many travellers plan S/20–S/40 per day for guides and S/10–S/20 for drivers, adjusted for group size and service quality.

Hotel staff appreciate small tips: S/3–S/5 per bag for porters and a similar amount per night for housekeeping if you stay several days. For multi‑day treks (Inca Trail, Salkantay), tour operators often suggest a pooled tip for the support team; this can reach S/100–S/200 per traveller on 4‑day trips.

Because tips are usually in cash, keep a stack of S/5 and S/10 bills handy. If you’re splitting tips among friends, Hello’s expense splitting feature lets you log, for example, a S/80 tip and automatically split it in your chosen currencies using live exchange rates, so everyone contributes fairly.

The most common Peru money problems involve street currency exchange, fake notes, and overcharging, so sticking to official ATMs, licensed exchange houses, and clear price negotiations will prevent most issues.

Money guides for Peru highlight several recurring scams:

• Street money changers offering slightly better rates but slipping in counterfeit or low‑denomination notes.
• Taxi overcharging, especially from airports or bus stations, if you don’t agree on a price beforehand.
• Dynamic currency conversion (DCC) at card terminals, where you’re offered to pay in your home currency at a poor exchange rate.

Simple habits go a long way:

• Always exchange cash at banks or official casas de cambio, never on the street.
• Check notes for watermarks, holograms, and raised printing; if a bill looks or feels wrong, ask for another.
• In taxis, agree on the fare in soles before you start the ride, or use ride‑hailing apps where available.

You can also save on day‑to‑day costs:

• Eat menu del día (set lunch) for S/12–S/25 instead of tourist restaurants, where mains can be S/35–S/60.
• Use long‑distance buses and shared colectivos instead of private transfers; intercity routes often cost S/40–S/120 depending on distance and class.
• Pay in local soles, not converted USD or SGD, to avoid hidden FX markups.

Budget tracking in the Hello app helps you spot patterns quickly—for example, how much you’re spending on taxis vs. buses—thanks to AI receipt scanning, automatic categorization, and multi‑currency conversion. That makes it easier to adjust your Peru money strategy mid‑trip.

Travellers usually ask whether Peru uses the sol, how much cash to bring, how safe ATMs are, and how tipping works, and the good news is that a mix of card plus S/300–500 in cash will comfortably cover most trips.

Q: What currency is used in Peru?
Peru’s official currency is the Peruvian sol (PEN, symbol S/), subdivided into 100 céntimos, with banknotes of S/10, 20, 50, 100, and 200. US dollars are also widely used for tourist services, but everyday purchases are almost always priced in soles.

Q: How much cash should I carry?
For a typical one‑week trip, many travellers carry S/300–500 (roughly SGD 120–200) for small expenses—street food, local buses, small souvenirs—while paying hotels, flights, and tours by card. Withdraw more as needed from ATMs in cities.

Q: Are ATMs and cards reliable in Peru?
Yes. Major banks operate ATMs across cities and tourist hubs, and Visa/Mastercard are widely accepted in hotels, supermarkets, and tour agencies. In rural areas and local markets, however, cash remains essential.

Q: What about WeChat Pay, PayPay, or other apps?
Unlike parts of East Asia, Peru does not widely use WeChat Pay or PayPay. Local apps like Yape and Plin are common among residents, but they require Peruvian bank accounts, so most visitors rely on cards and cash.

Q: How can I track my Peru travel budget easily?
The Hello app offers multi‑currency tracking, AI receipt scanning, and expense splitting, so you can log a S/30 lunch, S/100 tour, and SGD flight and see your total trip budget in one currency without manual conversions.