St. Kitts currency: EC dollars, US dollars, cards and tipping
The St. Kitts currency is the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$, code XCD), fixed at EC$2.70 to US$1. US dollars are widely accepted, so many visitors never change money, but it helps to know how change, cards and tips work.
By Mechiel Francis Dunrod, licensed St. Kitts taxi driver and tour guide ·
Quick answer: St. Kitts uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar (XCD), fixed at EC$2.70 to US$1 since 1976. US dollars are widely accepted, but change usually comes back in EC dollars. Carry small US bills for taxis, tours and vendors, use cards at hotels and larger restaurants, and check bills for VAT and a service charge before you tip.
What currency is used in St. Kitts?
St. Kitts and Nevis uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar, written EC$ and coded XCD. It is issued by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, which is based in Basseterre and serves eight countries and territories, including Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada and Saint Lucia.
Banknotes come in EC$5, 10, 20, 50 and 100, and the newer notes are polymer (plastic). Smaller amounts are paid in coins.
St. Kitts and Nevis currency to USD
The rate is fixed: US$1 equals EC$2.70. According to the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank, the EC dollar has been pegged at this rate since 7 July 1976, so it does not move from day to day.
To convert, multiply a US price by 2.7, or divide an EC price by 2.7. EC$1 is about 37 US cents, so EC$10 is about US$3.70.
| US dollars | EC dollars |
|---|---|
| US$1 | EC$2.70 |
| US$5 | EC$13.50 |
| US$10 | EC$27.00 |
| US$20 | EC$54.00 |
| US$50 | EC$135.00 |
| US$100 | EC$270.00 |
Do they take US dollars in St. Kitts?
Yes. Canada's travel advice says US currency and major credit cards are accepted, and many businesses that serve visitors, including hotels, tour operators and taxis, quote prices in US dollars.
When you pay in US cash, change is usually given in EC dollars, sometimes at a less favourable rate than 2.70, according to Audley Travel. If a price is not marked, ask "Is that US or EC?" before you agree.
- Bring small bills (1s, 5s, 10s and 20s) so you can pay exact amounts.
- Spend any EC dollar change before you leave, since it is only used in the Eastern Caribbean.
- Taxi fares are usually agreed in advance; our guide on how taxis and fares work in St. Kitts explains more.
ATMs in Basseterre
Yes, there are ATMs. Banks in central Basseterre, close to the cruise pier, have 24-hour machines, and Audley Travel notes that ATMs in St. Kitts and Nevis dispense EC dollars.
Some machines may offer US dollars, so check the screen before you confirm. Your own bank may charge foreign withdrawal and conversion fees, so one larger withdrawal usually costs less than several small ones.
If you only have a few hours ashore, bringing US cash from home is simpler than finding an ATM.
Can I use credit cards in St. Kitts?
Yes, at most hotels and larger restaurants. Cash is still the easier choice for taxis, tours, small shops, vendors and entrance fees, so carry both.
Tell your bank you are travelling and use a card without foreign transaction fees if you have one. If a card machine offers to charge you in US dollars instead of EC dollars, paying in EC dollars lets your own bank do the conversion, which is often cheaper.
VAT and service charge on bills
St. Kitts and Nevis charges VAT at 17% on most goods and services and a reduced 10% on hotel accommodation and restaurant meals, according to the Inland Revenue Department. The standard rate returned to 17% on July 1, 2025 after a six-month cut to 13%.
Hotels and restaurants also often add a service charge, typically 10%. If a menu does not say whether prices include VAT and service, ask before you order.
Always read the bottom of the bill. If a service charge is listed, the basic tip is already included.
Tipping in St. Kitts
Tipping is your choice and should reflect the service you received. There is no fixed rule, and many bills already include a 10% service charge.
| Where | Common practice |
|---|---|
| Restaurant bill with a service charge | Nothing more needed; leave a little extra for very good service if you like. |
| Restaurant bill without a service charge | Around 10% for good service, in line with the usual service charge. |
| Taxi ride | Optional. Rounding up the fare, or a little extra for help with bags, is a kind gesture. |
| Tour guide or driver for the day | Optional. If you enjoyed the day, a tip in US or EC dollars is appreciated. |
Cash tips can be in either currency. If your fare or tour was priced in US dollars, tipping in US dollars is simplest.
Paying for our tours and taxis
Our prices are in US dollars. Cash is preferred, and a card machine is available with a fee.
- A 20% deposit paid online holds your day. The online deposit page may show the amount in EC dollars at the fixed rate: a US$70 deposit on a US$350 private Full Island Tour for a couple shows as EC$189.
- The deposit is refundable if you cancel more than 48 hours before the tour date and non-refundable within 48 hours. The rest is paid on the day.
- Entrance fees are not included in tour prices, so bring small US bills: Brimstone Hill Fortress is US$15 and Caribelle Batik about US$3.
- Beach round trips on our taxi page are per person, in cash, for example US$20 to Frigate Bay from Basseterre.
See our tours and prices, our tours for cruise guests and the payment answers on our FAQ page.
Carrying cash, and money on Nevis
Carry only the cash you need for the day and keep the rest in the hotel safe or on the ship. Our guide to whether St. Kitts is safe covers cash and other simple precautions.
Nevis uses the same EC dollar and takes US dollars too. On our taxi page, the water taxi is listed at US$23 per person each way plus a US$2 foot tax, so carry small bills; our St. Kitts to Nevis guide compares the ferry and water taxi.
Want a price in US dollars before you go?
Send your date, group size and pickup point on WhatsApp and we will confirm the price in US dollars. A 20% deposit holds your day, and the rest is paid on the day, cash preferred.
St. Kitts money questions
What currency is used in St. Kitts?
St. Kitts and Nevis uses the Eastern Caribbean dollar (EC$, code XCD), issued by the Eastern Caribbean Central Bank. It is fixed at EC$2.70 to US$1, so EC$10 is about US$3.70. US dollars are also widely accepted.
Do they take US dollars in St. Kitts?
Yes. Hotels, taxis, tour operators and many shops that serve visitors accept US dollars, and many quote prices in US dollars. Change is often given in EC dollars, so bring small US bills and ask whether a price is in US or EC dollars.
Should I exchange money before going to St. Kitts?
Usually not, if you already have US dollars. US cash is widely accepted, and ATMs in Basseterre dispense EC dollars if you need local currency. Bring small US bills for taxis, tips and entrance fees, and use a card at hotels and larger restaurants.
How much should I tip a taxi driver or tour guide in St. Kitts?
Tipping is optional and should reflect the service. For a taxi, rounding up the fare is a kind gesture. For a tour guide or driver you enjoyed, a tip in US or EC dollars is appreciated. At restaurants, check whether a 10% service charge is already on the bill.
Is there VAT in St. Kitts?
Yes. VAT is 17% on most goods and services and 10% on hotel accommodation and restaurant meals, according to the Inland Revenue Department. Hotels and restaurants often add a 10% service charge as well, so read the bill before adding a tip.
Do ATMs in St. Kitts give US dollars?
Most ATMs in St. Kitts dispense EC dollars. Some machines may offer US dollars, so check the screen before you confirm. Your bank may charge fees for foreign withdrawals, so for a short visit bringing US cash from home is often simpler.
Sources
- Eastern Caribbean Central Bank: 49 years of the EC dollar peg (July 2025), checked October 2026.
- St. Kitts and Nevis Inland Revenue Department: VAT guidelines, including the 10% reduced rate, checked October 2026.
- St. Kitts and Nevis Inland Revenue Department: VAT rate returns to 17% (July 2025), checked October 2026.
- Government of Canada: Saint Kitts and Nevis travel advice (money section), checked October 2026.
- Audley Travel: Saint Kitts and Nevis practical information, checked October 2026.
