Sint Eustatius Currency & Money Guide: Exchange, Cards, and Tips

Sint Eustatius uses the US dollar (USD) as its official currency, and cash is still king for most everyday transactions on the island. Credit cards are accepted at larger hotels and businesses, but many small shops and restaurants remain cash-only, so arriving with USD in hand is strongly recommended.

Exchange rates fluctuate daily, but in early 2025 1 Singapore dollar (SGD) bought roughly 0.74 USD, according to travelcurrencies.com, meaning SGD 100 is about USD 74 before fees and commissions. That makes planning your Statia budget much easier if you think in dollars rather than guilders or euros.

ATMs are limited (generally one at the main bank and one at the airport) and can occasionally run out of cash, as noted by Wikivoyage’s Sint Eustatius travel guide. That’s why most visitors bring at least USD 300–500 in cash for a long weekend, especially if they’re staying in guesthouses or eating at local spots.

To keep on top of costs, the Hello app can track your spending in multiple currencies, automatically converting from SGD, EUR, or other home currencies into USD. This makes it simple to see whether your hikes, dives, and dinners on Statia are staying within the budget you planned back home.

Sint Eustatius’s official currency is the United States dollar (USD), so you’ll pay for hotels, food, and tours using US banknotes and coins rather than euros or guilders. The island has used USD since 2011, when it replaced the Netherlands Antillean guilder as legal tender.

According to Statia’s local government and tourism information, all businesses, banks, and government services operate in USD, and other currencies are not accepted for everyday purchases. That means travellers from Singapore, Europe, or elsewhere should convert their money into US dollars before or during their trip.

For Singapore travellers, travelcurrencies.com reported that in March 2025 1 SGD ≈ 0.74 USD and 1 USD ≈ 1.35 SGD, a useful benchmark when estimating trip costs. If your hotel is USD 160 per night in 2026, you’re looking at roughly SGD 215–220 per night before card or exchange fees.

Many visitors choose to bring at least USD 500–800 in cash for a week, especially if they plan to eat in local eateries and shop at small markets, which often don’t take cards. You can also track your spending and conversions from SGD to USD with the Hello app’s multi-currency budget tracking, giving you a live view of how your Statia expenses fit into your overall trip budget.

You can change major foreign currencies into US dollars at local banks on Sint Eustatius, but options are limited, so it’s safer to arrive with USD already in hand. There are only a handful of banking facilities on the island and very few ATMs, which sometimes run out of cash.

World Travel Guide notes that three banks operate on the island and can exchange major currencies, while Statia Tourism lists Maduro & Curiel’s Bank (MCB) as the main branch, open Monday–Friday from roughly 08:00 to 15:30. These banks may change euros, pounds, or other major currencies into USD, but services can be slower than in big cities and sometimes require ID and minimum amounts.

Wikivoyage’s Sint Eustatius guide highlights that there are only two ATMs: one at the bank and one at the airport. These machines dispense USD but are known to run out of money and may remain empty for a couple of days before being refilled, meaning you should not rely on ATMs as your sole source of cash.

To minimize stress:

• Bring USD in cash from home or a hub airport (e.g., St. Maarten)
• Use ATMs mainly as backup, expecting typical Caribbean withdrawal fees of USD 3–6 per transaction
• Avoid airport currency kiosks elsewhere, which often add 3–10% in hidden margins

If you track withdrawals in the Hello app, its automatic exchange rate conversion helps you see the true cost of each cash top-up in your home currency.

Credit and debit cards are accepted at larger hotels and some shops on Sint Eustatius, but cash is still required at many small restaurants, bars, and local services, and contactless payments are only slowly becoming common. Plan to use cards for big-ticket items and USD cash for daily spending.

Information from Statia’s government notes that major credit and debit cards are generally accepted at established businesses, but American Express is not accepted anywhere on the island. World Travel Guide echoes that Visa and Mastercard are the safest options, particularly at hotels, car rentals, and larger stores.

Smaller businesses—like family-run eateries, mini-markets, and dive shops—often do not accept cards at all, or may only accept them above a certain minimum amount. Many card terminals are chip-and-PIN rather than tap-to-pay, and global digital wallets such as Apple Pay or Google Pay are not yet widespread.

Unlike destinations such as Japan, where QR code payments and systems like PayPay have become common according to Japanese tourism statistics, Statia does not have an established culture of mobile payment apps like WeChat Pay or PayPay. Most locals simply use cash or standard bank cards.

If you’re splitting costs with friends—say a USD 300 boat trip or a USD 160 hotel night—the Hello app’s expense splitting lets each person settle in their own currency (SGD, EUR, etc.), with automatic exchange rate conversion, even when you pay locally in US dollars.

ATMs in Sint Eustatius dispense US dollars, but there are only a couple of machines on the island and they can run out of cash, so you’ll save money and hassle by bringing USD with you and using ATMs sparingly for top-ups. Expect standard international withdrawal fees from your home bank.

Wikivoyage’s guide to Sint Eustatius reports two main ATMs: one at the local bank and one at the airport. Travellers note that these can be empty for days when demand is high. When they’re working, they dispense USD, but your home bank may charge USD 3–8 per withdrawal and add a 2–3% foreign transaction fee.

Approximate everyday costs in 2025–2026, based on Caribbean price indexes and Statia accommodation data, look like:

Expense	Typical Price (USD)	Notes
Guesthouse room (per night)	80–120	Basic rooms, sometimes cash-only
Mid-range hotel (per night)	150–200	Often accept Visa/Mastercard
Local lunch plate	12–18	Fish, rice, and sides
Sit-down dinner	20–35	Main + drink at a restaurant
Taxi around town	10–20	Short rides, cash preferred

To keep costs down:

• Withdraw larger amounts less often to reduce per-transaction ATM fees
• Pay in USD when quoted in another currency to avoid poor conversion rates
• Shop in local supermarkets for breakfast and snacks (about USD 5–8 per person)

Using the Hello app’s budget tracking, you can set a daily Statia allowance—for example USD 80 per day—and let the app categorize card, cash, and shared expenses so you don’t overspend.

Tipping on Sint Eustatius is appreciated but not heavily formalized: 10–15% in restaurants and a few dollars for taxis or guides is generally considered polite, and service charges may already be included at more upscale hotels or eateries. Always check your bill before adding extra.

Like much of the Caribbean Netherlands, Statia’s hospitality industry often includes a 10–15% service charge in restaurant or bar bills, particularly at hotel restaurants. When that’s the case, an extra small tip (rounding up or adding 5%) for excellent service is more than enough. At simple local eateries, tipping around 10% is customary but not mandatory.

For taxis, rounding up the fare—say from USD 12 to USD 15—is normal. Dive guides or hiking guides often appreciate USD 5–10 per person for half-day outings, especially if they’ve gone out of their way to customize the experience.

Money-related scams are relatively rare on this quiet island, but you’ll still want to avoid:

• Overcharging taxis: Agree the fare upfront, especially at night or from the airport
• Dynamic currency conversion: If you pay by card, choose to be charged in USD rather than your home currency to avoid extra markups
• Counterfeit bills: Only change money at banks or reputable businesses

Tracking cash tips and card payments in the Hello app—even via quick voice expense entry—helps you see how much you’re really spending on service charges and gratuities over the course of your stay.

Sint Eustatius uses the US dollar (USD) as its official currency, and most travellers rely on a mix of cash and Visa/Mastercard for payments, supported by limited ATMs and almost no mobile wallet ecosystem. Staying connected with a Hello eSIM makes managing money and bookings on the island much easier.

Q: What currency is used in Sint Eustatius?
A: The island’s official currency is the United States dollar (USD), as confirmed by the Statia government and tourism office. Prices in hotels, restaurants, and shops are quoted in USD, and other currencies like euros or Singapore dollars are not accepted for direct payment.

Q: How much cash should I bring?
A: Because there are only two ATMs that can run out of money for days, many travellers bring USD 300–500 for a weekend or USD 500–800 for a week, especially if they’ll eat in local spots and use taxis.

Q: Are credit cards widely accepted?
A: Larger hotels and businesses generally accept Visa and Mastercard, but American Express is not accepted anywhere on the island. Smaller shops and family-run restaurants often remain cash-only.

Q: Is tipping mandatory?
A: No, but 10–15% in restaurants and a few dollars for taxis and guides are common and appreciated. Check for a built-in service charge before adding more.

Q: How can I stay connected and manage my travel budget?
A: An eSIM from Hello (see Hello eSIM for Sint Eustatius) gives you instant local data when you land, while the Hello app’s multi-currency expense tracking and AI receipt scanning help you monitor USD spending alongside costs in other destinations like Sint Eustatius.