Curaçao (CW)
Curaçao is a Dutch Caribbean island of approximately 160,000 people situated 65km north of Venezuela, outside the Atlantic hurricane belt.
Currency & Money
Practical money tips for living in Curaçao.
Denominations
Coins: 1c, 5c, 10c, 25c, 50c, Cg 1 and Cg 5. Notes: Cg 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200. The Caribbean guilder became legal tender on 31 March 2025 and is pegged to USD at US$1 = Cg 1.79.
Payment Culture
Cards are widely accepted in hotels, supermarkets and most restaurants. USD is still accepted in many tourist-facing businesses at approximately 1.77–1.80 XCG per dollar, but change is usually given in Caribbean guilders. Cash is useful for markets, taxis, beach vendors and smaller shops.
ATM Tips
MCB (Maduro & Curiel's Bank) and RBC Royal Bank have widest ATM coverage. Most ATMs charge XCG 5–10 per foreign card withdrawal. Notify your home bank of travel to Curaçao to avoid card blocks.
Exchange Tips
Best rates are usually through local banks or regulated exchange providers. Old Netherlands Antillean guilder cash stopped being normal legal tender after June 2025 and is now exchangeable through CBCS procedures. For international transfers, confirm whether your provider can send to a Curaçao bank in XCG or whether a USD transfer is cleaner.
Pro tip: Best apps for expats
- • Wise — Send money internationally at near-interbank rates
- • Revolut — Multi-currency account, free ATM withdrawals (limits apply)
- • N26 — German IBAN, free account, good for EU residents