Aruba currency questions have wonderfully boring answers — and that is good news for your vacation budget. Here is everything about money on the island: what to bring, what to skip, and how tipping actually works.
Aruba money at a glance
| Currency | Aruban florin (AWG) |
| Exchange rate | Fixed to the US dollar at about 1.79 florins per dollar |
| US dollars? | Accepted almost everywhere |
| Cards | Visa and Mastercard widely accepted; carry some cash for small vendors |
| Tip | You do not need to buy florins before you go |
What currency does Aruba use?
The Aruban florin (AWG), which is pegged to the US dollar at about 1.79 florins per dollar.
Can I use US dollars in Aruba?
Yes. US dollars are accepted almost everywhere, though change may come in florins.
Should I exchange money before going to Aruba?
Usually not. Dollars and cards work almost everywhere.
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The Aruban florin — and why you may never touch one
Aruba’s official currency is the Aruban florin (AWG), pegged steadily at about 1.79 florin to the US dollar. However, US dollars are accepted absolutely everywhere — restaurants, taxis, shops, food trucks. Most visitors never exchange money at all.
Cards, cash, and ATMs
- Credit cards work nearly everywhere; Visa and Mastercard lead.
- Keep some small US bills for food trucks, beach vendors, and tips.
- ATMs dispense florin or dollars; your change often arrives in florin — spend it before you fly.
- Skip airport currency exchange entirely; you simply do not need it.
One important exception to “cash works everywhere”: several big resorts have gone cashless. The Ritz-Carlton, the Marriott, and the Renaissance Wind Creek accept only room charges, credit cards, or debit cards on property — no bills, no coins. Keep your cash for the food trucks and beach vendors instead.
How tipping works in Aruba
First, know this: tipping in Aruba is not obligatory — but the island is very much used to it, and good service is warmly rewarded. Many restaurants add a 10–15% service charge to the bill — check before doubling up. Where it is included, a few extra dollars for great service is appreciated, not expected. Without a service charge, tip 15–20% as at home. Taxi drivers round up; housekeeping appreciates a couple of dollars a day.
What things cost
For the full price picture — meals, taxis, tours, groceries — see our honest breakdown in Is Aruba Expensive? and the budget guide. Spoiler: eating where locals eat, via our district food guides, is the single best money move on the island.
Before you fly
Handle the ED card and its $20 fee online, pack off the packing list, and land ready. The local tips page covers the rest.
Aruba money questions, answered
- What money does Aruba use? The Aruban florin (AWG) — but US dollars are accepted everywhere, so most visitors never exchange a cent.
- Should I bring cash to Aruba? Yes, some small US bills for food trucks, beach vendors and tips. Cards cover everything else.
- Do I need to exchange money in Aruba? No. Skip the airport exchange counters entirely.
- Is Aruba expensive? The room is the biggest lever — see our honest cost breakdown.
- Can I use euros in Aruba? Rarely. Dollars, florins, and cards — euros are not standard.
Aruba money exchange: the rate is not one rate (and this is where visitors lose money)
Guidebooks tell you the florin is pegged to the US dollar and leave it there. True, but incomplete. The peg sets the official rate at roughly 1.79 AWG to the dollar. What you actually get depends on who is standing behind the counter:
| Where you pay | Rate you typically get | What that means for you |
|---|---|---|
| Local shops, snack bars, small businesses | 1.75 AWG per $1 | Slightly below the official rate — you lose roughly 2% |
| Hotels, resorts and larger tourist businesses | 1.80 AWG per $1 | At or just above official — the better conversion |
| Banks and ATMs | Around 1.78–1.80 | The true rate |
It is counter-intuitive, because everywhere else in the world the hotel gives you the worst rate. In Aruba it is the other way around. The spread is small — a few cents on a snack — but it adds up over a week of paying cash in dollars at local places, and it is worth understanding rather than being surprised by your change.
- Paying at a local shop? Florin is the better currency to hand over. Take cash out of an ATM in florin and spend it at the small places, where it is worth its full value.
- Paying at a hotel, resort or big restaurant? Dollars are completely fine — you are getting a fair rate, sometimes fractionally better than the bank.
- Check your change. Pay in dollars and you will often get florin back. That is normal and not a scam — but the rate they used is the rate above, so know what you should be handed.
- Card payments sidestep the whole question: they convert at the bank rate. Just make sure you are charged in florin, not dollars — if a terminal offers to bill you in USD, decline. That is dynamic currency conversion and it is always a worse deal than anything on this page.
None of this is enough to change your budget. It is the kind of thing you only know if you live here, and it stops you wondering why the same $20 bill went further in one place than another.
Experiences worth booking
Not sure what to tip? Our guide to tipping in Aruba covers who to tip, how much, and why many bills already include about 15% service.
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