Currency in Puerto Rico: What You Need to Know

Puerto Rico is one of my favorite winter getaways. It offers culture, beautiful beaches, rainforests, sunny weather, and more – all within a quick flight of the East Coast of the United States! Also, as a US territory, it gives you the opportunity to escape to a Caribbean island while enjoying many conveniences of the mainland United States.

One of the key things you’ll need to know before visiting is the currency used in Puerto Rico. In this post, we’ll break down Puerto Rican currency to make your time on the island simple and stress free.

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Table of Contents

What Currency Does Puerto Rico Use?

If you’re wondering what is Puerto Rico’s currency – look no further. Puerto Rico uses the United States Dollar (USD), generally simply referred to as the dollar ($). Locally, it is sometimes called “pesos” in Spanish, but this is interchangeable with the dollar and does not refer to a separate currency. That’s right, Puerto Rico’s currency is the US dollar.

That means, when we talk about the exchange rate of Puerto Rico currency to US Dollar: $1 in Puerto Rico = $1 in mainland US.

This also means travelers from the US, don’t need to exchange currency or worry about conversion fees. It’s part of what makes Puerto Rico so incredibly convenient and easy to do a quick getaway to. For international travelers, however, you’ll need to exchange your local currency for US dollars or stop at an ATM in Puerto Rico to pull out US dollars.

Puerto Rico Currency Denominations

In Puerto Rico, US currency is used in the same denominations as the United States. For those of you not familiar… let’s break these down.

Coins

1 cent (penny), 5 cents (nickel), 10 cents (dime), 25 cents (quarter), 50 cents (half-dollar), and $1 coins. Quarters are the most commonly used coins for small transactions while 50 cents and $1 coins are fairly rare.

Locally, coins have unique nicknames:

Quarters are called “pesetas”.
Dimes are known as “fichas”.
Nickels are referred to as “vellones”.
Pennies are called “chavitos”.

Bills

$1, $5, $10, $20, $50, and $100 are the main basis for Puerto Rican money. Smaller denominations like $1 and $5 bills are especially useful for tips, taxis, and small purchases. $50 and $100 tend to be more rare.

Having a mix of coins and smaller bills is ideal, especially if you’ll visiting markets or rural areas where change might be limited.

How to Handle Money in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico is developed island that is well-equipped with pay terminals like in the United States. This makes cashless transactions, like credit cards and sometimes even digital payments, quite common. However, cash is still a valuable option in certain situations.

Here’s what you need to know:

Credit and Debit Cards: Most restaurants, hotels, and shops accept major credit and debit cards, including Visa, MasterCard, and American Express. This means you really don’t need to take a lot of cash to Puerto Rico.

Digital Payments: Mobile payment options, like Apple Pay and Google Wallet, are increasingly accepted, particularly in city centers and chain stores. However, many places do not have these technologies in place yet so make sure you have a credit or debit card handy.

Cash: While cards are widely accepted, having cash on hand is helpful for small businesses, street vendors, and more remote areas. In some less populated areas, cash is often preferred, as businesses may not accept cards. Bring US dollars with you, or stop at an ATM to pull some out.

ATMs in Puerto Rico: Access and Fees

Don’t have cash? Don’t worry. ATMs are widely available throughout Puerto Rico. You’ll find them at the airports, hotels, and around city centers. Most US bank cards work seamlessly without international transaction fees, although it’s always wise to confirm this with your bank before traveling.

Similarly, verify you don’t need to let your credit cards know you are traveling to a new location – even though it is part of the United States.

If your bank does charge ATM fees, consider withdrawing larger amounts at once to minimize costs or use your credit cards. If you’re from the US, your card transactions will not be hit with an international transaction fee saving you on unnecessary fees.

Also, note that some rural or natural areas, like El Yunque, have limited ATMs available. Plan ahead before going off the beaten path. Also, during busy times, such as festivals, ATMs can run out of cash. If you’re running low on cash, get some before the rush!

Currency Exchange in Puerto Rico

For U.S. travelers, currency exchange is unnecessary. However, international visitors will need to exchange their local currency for US dollars. This can be done at major banks in Puerto Rico, currency exchange offices, or the airport, although exchange rates there are typically less favorable.

To keep your fees to a minimum, I recommend using ATMs to withdraw cash in USD rather than going to exchanges. It’s typically the most cost-effective method to get cash in Puerto Rico.

Typical Costs in Puerto Rico

If you’re wondering how much money you need in Puerto Rico, let’s take a look at the cost of common items.

Cost of the Basics

Puerto Rico offers a range of prices depending on where and how you choose to spend your money. In general, prices are similar to those in the mainland US, but some items, like imported goods, cost slightly more as you are on an island.

Here’s a snapshot of typical costs:

Meals: Budget-friendly restaurants cost $10–20 per person, while upscale dining can range from $30–50 or more.

Transportation: Public buses (“guaguas”) are inexpensive, typically under $2. Taxis and ride-sharing services like Uber are available in cities and cost more but are still quite affordable compared to most US cities.

Souvenirs: Handcrafted items, coffee, and local rum are popular souvenirs, ranging from $5 to $50 depending on the item.

Sales Tax: Puerto Rico has a sales tax of around 11.5%, which is added to most purchases.

Tipping in Puerto Rico

Puerto Rico tipping practices follow the mainland US. If you’re paying by card, you can often add a tip on there, otherwise it’s a good idea to carry small bills for tipping. This gives you flexibility to give tips as you wish in whatever amounts you choose.

Here’s a quick guide to how much to tip in Puerto Rico:

Restaurants: Tip ~20% of the bill.

Hotels: $1–2 per bag for bellhops, $3–5 per night for housekeeping.

Taxis: Round up to the nearest dollar or tip 10–15%.

Tour Guides: $5–20 per person, depending on the length and quality of the tour.

Explore More of Puerto Rico

Knowing that Puerto Rican currency is the US dollar makes traveling there pretty straightforward as you won’t need to exchange currency if you’re coming from the US, like me. Plan to carry a mix of cash and cards and you’ll be well-prepared to enjoy all that Puerto Rico has to offer.

Need more insight into travel in Puerto Rico? Check out these posts.

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Currency in Puerto Rico: What You Need to Know

What Currency Does Puerto Rico Use?