How to Take Money out or Access ATMs in the Dominican Republic (2024)

FAQs

Can I withdraw money from ATM in Dominican Republic? ›

ATMs are widely available from a variety of established banks, including Scotiabank and Banco Popular. They are safe to use for withdrawals in the local currency. They also provide the best exchange rates. Choose an indoor location and stick to daytime use.

Most shops, restaurants, and excursion operators accept Dominican Pesos, US Dollars, Euros, credit cards or debit cards. The city bus is an alternative to taxis; 40 Dominican Pesos per person (less than $1 USD) gets you just about anywhere you want to go.

In tourist areas, especially in hotels, you can easily use cash in dollars or euros. However, if you want to venture outside of your hotel, take public transportation, eat and shop at local stores, it would be ideal to have pesos.

Here in the Dominican Republic, it is a little difficult to access your money in foreign bank accounts. Many ATMs have a 2,000 peso (~35USD/~32Euro) withdrawal limit with a 300 peso fee. If you want to pay at a restaurant or hotel in a touristy town with a card, a lot of them charge an 18% fee.

Cash in the DR

All taxis, public transport and many restaurants are cash only, and they'll expect to be paid in Dominican pesos. If you have a foreign currency they might take it (might) but won't give you change in the same currency, and might not give you change at all. So you'll need some pesos while you're here!

The only full-service U.S. commercial bank in the Dominican Republic is: Citibank, N.A.

By Dominican law, there's also a US$20 departure tax, the cost of which is usually included in your airfare (verify with your carrier).

Preferred tipping currency

If you have Dominican pesos feel free to tip using it however it is uncommon to tip more than 250 Pesos (5 Dollars). US dollars are preferred to other currencies as it is easier for the locals to exchange. We recommend you to have low denomination USDs for tipping.

A two week trip to the Dominican Republic on average costs around $2,026 (RD$121,387) for one person and $4,053 (RD$242,775) for two people. This cost includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing. Please note, prices can vary based on your travel style, speed, and other variables.

The official currency of the Dominican Republic is the Dominican Republic Peso, but as US Dollars are widely accepted in tourist areas, we recommend taking both. All major credit cards are accepted and will be processed in the local currency unless you choose otherwise. Travellers' cheques aren't recommended.

What is the best way to withdraw money in the Dominican Republic? ›

You can withdraw money from an ATM (for a fee of $2.50 per transaction, not including bank fees), and the funds can be purchased in dollars, euros, or pounds. If you lose the card, your available funds will be refunded within 24 hours. ATMs are linked to a huge network that, most likely, includes your bank at home.

The fees are often 1% to 3% of the amount of a purchase, and many banks also apply the fee to ATM withdrawals. Below, we compare the amount financial institutions charge to make an international ATM withdrawal or debit card purchase. » Looking for information about credit cards?

Mexico's banks manage an extensive network of Automated Teller Machines (ATMs) that can be used to withdraw Mexican pesos in cash from your local account if your card is issued by a bank in Mexico, or from funds held in an account outside of Mexico if your card was issued by a foreign bank.

As long as your ATM or credit card has either a Visa or PLUS logo, you can withdraw cash at ATMs that are part of the Visa or PLUS network. How do I find an ATM in the country that I'm traveling to? Visa is accepted at over 200 countries and territories around the world.

The only corporate U.S. commercial bank in the Dominican Republic is Citibank, N.A. Most local banks have correspondent banking relationships in the U.S. Prepared by our U.S. Embassies abroad.

Automated teller machines (ATMs) link your debit card to your checking account, giving you full access to your funds. As most machines accept all cards, you can most likely use any ATM, no matter who you bank with.