Australia
Currency in Australia: what to use and how to exchange
Australia uses the Australian dollar (AUD, A$), divided into 100 cents. Use a card or phone for almost everything, including buses and coffee; carry A$50–100 in cash for markets, small towns and tips. Exchange before you fly or withdraw from an ATM on arrival, and always pay in AUD, not your home currency.
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GuideAustralia
Key facts
- Currency
- Australian dollar (AUD, A$); 100 cents
- Coins and notes
- 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1, $2 coins; $5, $10, $20, $50, $100 notes
- Cards accepted
- Almost everywhere, including taxis, markets and public transport
- Cash still useful for
- Small towns, market stalls, some cafés, tips
- Best value way to get AUD
- Withdraw from an ATM with a card that has no foreign transaction fee
- Avoid
- Airport exchange desks and dynamic currency conversion (paying in your home currency)
- Tipping
- Not expected; wages are high
Details
The Australian dollar has been the national currency since 1966, when it replaced the pound. Notes are plastic, so they survive a washing machine. Prices are usually shown with the dollar sign only, and the same symbol is used for the US, Canadian and Singapore dollars, so check which one a website means before you pay.
Cards and phones are the default. Contactless tap-and-go works on Sydney and Melbourne public transport, in supermarkets, at petrol stations and in most cafés. Some smaller businesses add a surcharge of around 1–2% for card payments, and American Express is accepted less often than Visa or Mastercard. If a terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, decline: the exchange rate is set by the terminal, not your bank, and is usually worse.
Cash has not disappeared. Market stalls, rural roadhouses, some Chinese and Vietnamese restaurants and a few cafés still prefer it, and a small note is handy for a tip or a donation. A$50–100 in mixed notes covers a week of small purchases for most travellers.
You can exchange money before you leave, at an Australian airport, or at a bank or currency shop in a city. Airport desks are the most convenient and the most expensive. Banks and dedicated exchange offices in city centres give better rates, and ATMs are everywhere. Withdrawing from an ATM is usually the cheapest route if your bank does not charge a foreign transaction fee; expect the local ATM operator to charge around A$2–3 per withdrawal (2026 estimate).
Traveller's cheques are effectively obsolete in Australia. Prepaid travel cards loaded with AUD work but add a fee, and most travellers do better with a normal debit or credit card.
| Method | Typical cost | When to use it |
|---|---|---|
| ATM withdrawal | A$2–3 operator fee, plus your bank's fee | Arrival and top-ups; best rate for most people |
| City bank or exchange office | Spread of roughly 2–5% | Larger amounts, if you want cash in hand |
| Airport exchange desk | Spread often 5–10% or more | Emergency only |
| Card payment | Usually no fee; 1–2% surcharge at some businesses | Everyday spending |
| Dynamic currency conversion | Rate set by the terminal, usually worse | Never; always choose AUD |
Rates and fees change; treat these as 2026 estimates and check your own bank's terms.
Tips
- Tell your bank you are travelling if it still requires it, and check your card's foreign transaction fee before you fly.
- Withdraw larger amounts less often: a A$200–300 withdrawal spreads the fixed ATM fee over more money.
- Keep a few coins for parking meters and luggage trolleys; some still take them.
- Round-up donations at supermarket checkouts are common and optional.
- If you are paid in cash for work or a refund, ask for a receipt; GST refunds at the airport need one.
Good to know
The goods and services tax (GST) is 10% and is included in the displayed price, so the shelf price is what you pay. International visitors can claim a refund on GST for goods bought in the 60 days before departure through the Tourist Refund Scheme at the airport, subject to a minimum spend per retailer and carrying the goods in hand luggage (check current thresholds).
Australia is close to cashless in the cities but not in the outback. If you are driving remote routes, carry cash and do not rely on a single card. Some roadhouses have no mobile signal for card terminals and a few are cash only.
Prices in this guide are in AUD. For a rough conversion, check the current rate before you travel; the site shows your own currency alongside.
FAQ
Questions people ask
What currency is used in Australia?
The Australian dollar (AUD, A$), divided into 100 cents. Notes are A$5, A$10, A$20, A$50 and A$100; coins run from 5 cents to A$2. Cards and phones are accepted almost everywhere, so you need only a little cash.
Where is the best place to exchange money in Australia?
Withdrawing from an ATM with a card that has no foreign transaction fee is usually cheapest, at roughly A$2–3 per withdrawal plus your bank's fee (2026 estimate). City banks and exchange offices beat airport desks, which are the most expensive option.
Is it better to bring cash or use a card in Australia?
Use a card for almost everything and bring or withdraw A$50–100 in cash for markets, small towns and tips. Cards work on public transport and in most cafés, but some businesses add a 1–2% surcharge.
Deep dive
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