Skip to content
About SXM Saint-Martin / Sint Maarten
FR|EN

Information

Currency & Payments

Two sides, three currencies. What you need to pay with confidence in Saint Martin.

Currency converter

Loading rates...

Which currency to use in Saint Martin?

  • Euro Whole island

    Official currency on the French side, also accepted on the Dutch side.

  • US Dollar Whole island

    Accepted everywhere, and often the first price shown.

  • Caribbean Guilder Dutch side

    Official currency of Sint Maarten since 2025.

Know your guilder notes and coins

On the Dutch side, your change may come back in Caribbean guilders. These notes and coins have been in use since March 31, 2025: here is what they look like and what they are worth in US dollars.

Fixed rate: $1 = 1.79 Cg. Quick math: divide the guilder price by 1.8.

Banknotes

  • 10 Caribbean guilder banknote, front

    10 Cg

    ≈ $5.59

    Yellow, gray angelfish

    Back: Klein Curaçao lighthouse

  • 20 Caribbean guilder banknote, front

    20 Cg

    ≈ $11.17

    Blue, spotted eagle rays

    Back: Simpson Bay

  • 50 Caribbean guilder banknote, front

    50 Cg

    ≈ $27.93

    Green, green sea turtle

    Back: Grote Knip beach

  • 100 Caribbean guilder banknote, front

    100 Cg

    ≈ $55.87

    Red, stoplight parrotfish

    Back: Philipsburg Courthouse

  • 200 Caribbean guilder banknote, front

    200 Cg

    ≈ $111.73

    Purple, longsnout seahorses

    Back: Queen Emma Bridge

The back of each note reads vertically.

Coins

  • 1 cent coin

    1 cent

    under 1¢

  • 5 cents coin

    5 cents

    ≈ 3¢

  • 10 cents coin

    10 cents

    ≈ 6¢

  • 25 cents coin

    25 cents

    ≈ 14¢

  • 50 cents coin

    50 cents

    ≈ 28¢

  • 1 guilder coin

    1 guilder

    ≈ 56¢

  • 5 guilders coin

    5 guilders

    ≈ $2.79

Sint Maarten coins, shown at their relative size. Curaçao coins have a different design and are also valid.

The old Netherlands Antillean guilders (NAf) are no longer accepted in stores since July 1, 2025.

Card or cash?

Cards

Visa and Mastercard almost everywhere, contactless, Apple Pay and Google Pay common. Amex less so.

Cash

Essential for lolos, vendors and most taxis.

ATMs

Euros in Marigot, Grand Case and Hope Estate. Dollars in Philipsburg, Simpson Bay and at the airport. Possible fees: €0.50 to €6 per withdrawal.

Tipping

Not mandatory, but appreciated.

Restaurants
10 to 15%
Taxis
10%
Hotels
$1 to $2 per bag
Bars
$1 per drink

3 tips to pay less

  1. Ask the rate before paying cash

    Dollars and euros are accepted everywhere, but when you pay in a currency other than the one on the price tag, the business sets the exchange rate. On the French side, some restaurants count one dollar as one euro, a good deal for you, while others use a less favorable rate. Ask before you order.

  2. Keep small bills

    Taxis, lolos, markets and tips are mostly paid in cash. With $1, $5 and $10 bills you can pay the exact amount and avoid getting your change in another currency.

  3. By card, pay in the currency of the bill

    Cards are charged in euros on the French side and in dollars on the Dutch side. If the card machine or ATM offers to convert the amount into your home currency, decline: that rate is set by the merchant's bank and is usually worse than your own bank's. A card with no foreign transaction fees saves even more, especially on the French side.

Exchange rates and information are provided for reference only. Check conditions with your bank before your trip.