Planning a trip to the land of kangaroos and coral reefs and wondering what currency Australia uses? You will be paying in Australian dollars, which locals simply call dollars. In this guide I will walk you through everything you need to know about the AUD, from notes and coins to everyday payment habits, exchange rates, fees, and smart ways to stretch your travel budget. You will also get practical tips I share with friends before they fly, so you can land confident, pay smoothly, and avoid avoidable costs.
The short answer
Australia uses the Australian dollar as its official currency. The symbol is $ and the ISO code is AUD. To avoid confusion with other dollar currencies, you may also see A$ used in price tags and exchange counters. One Australian dollar is divided into 100 cents.
Notes and coins in everyday use
Modern Australian money is easy to handle. Banknotes are made of polymer, which makes them durable and packed with security features. You will most often see notes of $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100. The $1 and $2 values exist as coins, not notes.
Banknotes you will encounter
Australia pioneered polymer notes and the current series includes clear windows, tactile features for the vision impaired, microprinting, and color shifting elements. The $5 note currently features national motifs and is in the process of moving to a design that reflects Indigenous history and culture, while the $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes carry famous Australians along with themed illustrations. Older series remain legal tender, so do not worry if the design you receive looks different. It will still be spendable.
Coins you will encounter
Coins come in 5c, 10c, 20c, and 50c, plus the gold colored $1 and $2 coins. The one and two cent coins were withdrawn in the early 1990s and are no longer used in shops. Cash totals are rounded to the nearest five cents at the register. Designs often feature native wildlife such as the echidna, platypus, lyrebird and kangaroos, along with the national coat of arms on the dodecagonal 50c piece. Recent issues of circulating coins have begun to show the effigy of King Charles III.
How Australians prefer to pay today
Australia is one of the most card friendly and contactless ready countries in the world. You can tap to pay in taxis, convenience stores, cafés, supermarkets and most attractions. Chip and PIN is standard, and tap to pay via phones and watches is widely accepted.
Cards and digital wallets
Visa and Mastercard are universally accepted. American Express is accepted by many large retailers and tourist venues, though sometimes with a surcharge. Discover has limited acceptance. UnionPay is available at selective merchants and ATMs. Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay work almost everywhere cards are accepted.
In my experience advising friends and readers, the smoothest setup is to travel with at least two cards from different networks and issuers, enabled for tap to pay, and backed by an account with low or zero foreign transaction fees. If you aim to earn points for flights and hotels, it is also worth choosing a travel rewards card. For a primer on comparing benefits, see this overview on the best credit cards for travel points.
ATMs and cash
ATMs are widespread in cities and towns, including inside supermarkets and shopping centers. In remote outback areas, ATMs can be scarce and independent machines may charge higher fees. Ask your bank if it partners with Australian banks to waive ATM fees. When withdrawing, decline dynamic currency conversion if the ATM offers to charge you in your home currency. Always choose to be charged in AUD for a fairer rate.
Do businesses have to accept cash
Australian banknotes are legal tender nationwide and coins are legal tender within specified amounts, but private businesses can set terms of trade. A store may state it does not accept cash or does not accept high denomination notes. This is legal as long as you are told before you attempt to pay. Keep a small amount of cash for markets or small operators, but expect to pay by card most of the time.
Exchange rates and smart conversion
The Australian dollar floats freely and its value moves with market conditions. In recent years it has typically traded around the mid sixty US cents range per one Australian dollar. Against the US dollar in 2024 it broadly ranged between about 0.63 and 0.68. Your bank or card provider rate will vary around the market rate.
How to get a good rate
Use bank ATMs or no fee currency cards instead of exchange kiosks at airports. If you do exchange cash, compare total cost including fees. Avoid dynamic currency conversion on card terminals. That prompt to pay in your home currency almost always means a worse rate than charging in AUD.
Quick mental conversions
For a rough mental check, imagine that 1 AUD equals about two thirds of 1 USD when the Aussie dollar is in the mid sixty cents zone. If the market rate says 1 USD buys 1.50 AUD, then a $30 AUD dinner is around $20 USD. For precise conversions on the day, use a reputable live tool or app.
Tip for planners: a simple way to tame travel costs is to build a weekly budget before you go. If you need a refresher on practical savings strategies, browse these saving money tips and adapt them to your trip plan.
Everyday prices and what things cost
Prices vary by city and season, but a few ballpark ranges help. A regular flat white coffee is often around $4 to $6. A quick lunch at a casual café might sit around $15 to $25. Local beer in a bar can be $8 to $12. A city bus or tram fare on a smartcard runs in the low single digit dollars depending on zone and time. Ride share airport transfers are usually cheaper than taxis during off peak but can surge at busy times.
Supermarkets offer good value for snacks and drinks. Australia shows prices inclusive of the 10 percent Goods and Services Tax. You will not find a separate tax line added at the register like in some countries. Tipping is optional rather than expected. In upscale restaurants, locals might add around 10 percent for great service. No service charges are added by default.
GST and the Tourist Refund Scheme
If you are leaving Australia soon and you bought goods totaling $300 AUD or more including GST at a single retailer within 60 days of departure, you may be eligible for a GST refund under the Tourist Refund Scheme. You need to carry the goods in your hand luggage when possible and present the original tax invoice at the airport TRS counter. Check the latest rules for exclusions, such as services, food consumed before departure, or items already used. Allow extra time before your flight to claim.
Legal tender limits and cash rounding
Australian coins have legal tender limits by denomination. Small denominations are limited to small totals per single payment while banknotes do not have a statutory limit. Because 1c and 2c coins are no longer used, cash totals are rounded to the nearest 5c. Card payments are not rounded. If your bill is $19.98 and you pay cash, it rounds to $20.00. If you pay by card, you will be charged the exact $19.98.
Where else the Australian dollar is used
The AUD is legal tender in Australia and its external territories including Christmas Island, Cocos Islands and Norfolk Island. It is also the official currency in Nauru, and is used alongside local issues in Kiribati and Tuvalu. Those island nations sometimes issue commemorative coins that are legal tender there but not in Australia. If you are island hopping in the Pacific, carrying AUD usually works seamlessly.
Security features and avoiding counterfeits
Polymer notes have excellent security. Look for the clear window running through the note, the sharp microprinting around portraits, a rolling color effect, and raised printing you can feel. If a note seems waxy, stretches unusually, or has blurry microtext, compare it with another note from an ATM or bank. Counterfeit incidents are rare, and most visitors will never encounter a fake note in normal commerce.
A short history of the Australian dollar
Australia switched from the pre decimal Australian pound to the decimal Australian dollar on 14 February 1966. The conversion set two dollars for one pound and introduced cents, which simplified prices and accounting. Early years saw $1 and $2 as banknotes, later replaced by coins for durability. Australia led the world in 1988 by issuing a polymer commemorative $10, then moved the entire series to polymer through the 1990s. Today, Australia exports polymer note technology to many countries.
The dollar was once pegged to other currencies and then a basket but was floated in 1983. Since then its value has reflected commodity cycles, interest rate differentials and global risk sentiment. When global demand for Australian minerals rises, the AUD often strengthens. When risk aversion spikes, it can soften as funds move into so called safe havens.
Banking hours and services
Major banks include Commonwealth Bank, Westpac, ANZ and NAB, with many smaller banks and credit unions also serving customers. Branch hours tend to be business hours on weekdays, with limited Saturday openings in some areas. Internet and mobile banking are mature and reliable. If you need to transfer money domestically, the New Payments Platform enables near instant transfers between many banks, even on weekends, by using a mobile number or email identifier.
Etiquette, surcharges and fine print
Card surcharges are allowed and must be disclosed. You will sometimes see a small card surcharge in independent cafés, especially for American Express. Public transport systems in major cities use contactless payment cards or city smartcards that can be topped up online. In many restaurants you will be offered a portable terminal to pay at the table. Always check the tip and surcharge line before you tap. If a terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, select AUD instead.
How much cash to carry
Because tap to pay is everywhere, most travelers get by with minimal cash. I usually suggest carrying $50 to $100 in small notes and coins for markets, roadside fruit stalls or shared expenses with friends. For everything else, rely on cards and wallets. If you receive $50 or $100 notes from an ATM, break them at a supermarket to get smaller change.
Practical traveler examples
Coffee and a snack
You grab a flat white and a bakery pastry for $11.80. Tap with your card and the exact amount is charged. If you pay cash and only have a twenty, expect $8.20 back. No rounding occurs since the total already ends with a zero.
Dinner for two
Your restaurant bill comes to $96. If service was outstanding and you want to tip, adding $9 to $10 is a generous gesture but not an obligation. If the terminal proposes to convert to your home currency, press the option to pay in AUD.
Airport withdrawal
At the airport ATM you withdraw $200 AUD. The ATM offers to bill your home currency. Decline that and opt to be billed in AUD. Your bank will convert at its rate. If your bank reimburses ATM fees, the transaction can be cost effective compared with exchanging cash at a kiosk.
Frequently confused coins
Some visitors notice that Australia and New Zealand coins share similar designs at a glance, but they are not interchangeable. If you return from a day trip with New Zealand coins in your pocket, you will not be able to spend them in Australia. Similarly, pre decimal Australian coins are now collectors items. Current 50c pieces are large and twelve sided, which makes them easy to distinguish from circular coins in your change.
Planning your trip budget
Australia offers a wide range of price points. Splurge dining and luxury stays are easy to find, and so are smart ways to travel well for less. Focus your spending on what you value most, and trim the rest. If you enjoy a structured approach to living well on a budget, you may like this guide on luxury on a budget for inspiration you can adapt to your itinerary.
Risks to avoid and money safety
Use ATMs inside bank branches or attached to supermarkets if possible. Shield your PIN. Keep a second card separate from your main wallet. Photograph your receipts if you plan to claim under the Tourist Refund Scheme. If a merchant proposes a steep card surcharge, ask if a different card network reduces or removes it. As always, keep your phone and wallet secure in busy tourist precincts.
Where to check rates and fees
Before you travel, verify the foreign transaction fees on your debit and credit cards and check whether your bank partners with an Australian bank for fee free withdrawals. Download a trusted conversion app and set a rate alert for your travel window. Many travelers find that monitoring the AUD for a week or two before departure helps set realistic expectations for on the ground costs.
Bottom line
The currency of Australia is the Australian dollar. Notes are polymer, coins handle the small denominations, and contactless card payments are the norm. If you arrive with a plan for cards and ATMs, know how rounding works, and understand the basics of exchange rates, you will find paying in Australia simple and predictable. Spend more energy on beaches, vineyards and wildlife, and less on currency logistics.
The answer to what currency Australia uses is straightforward. It is the Australian dollar, expressed as $ and coded AUD. With polymer notes, card first payments, and transparent pricing that includes GST, daily spending is intuitive. Prepare two no or low fee cards, keep a small float of cash, decline dynamic currency conversion, and you will be set. With the essentials covered, you can focus on the experiences that brought you to Australia in the first place.
What currency does Australia use and what is its symbol
Australia uses the Australian dollar, commonly written with the $ symbol and identified as AUD in banking and exchange contexts. To avoid confusion with other dollar currencies, you may see A$ on price tags or menus. One Australian dollar equals 100 cents, and you will mainly use $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 notes plus $1 and $2 coins.
What is the current exchange rate for the Australian dollar
The Australian dollar floats, so its value changes throughout the day. In 2024 it often traded near the mid sixty US cents per one AUD. Your card or bank will apply its own rate and fees. For the freshest quote, use a trusted live converter and choose to be charged in AUD at checkout rather than in your home currency.
Do I need cash in Australia or can I rely on cards
Cards and contactless wallets are accepted almost everywhere in Australia, from public transport to cafés. Carry a small amount of cash for markets and small operators, but plan to tap to pay for most purchases. Businesses may legally choose to be cashless, provided they inform you before payment. Keep at least two cards from different issuers for redundancy.
Are tips expected when paying in Australian dollars
Tipping is optional in Australia. Prices include a 10 percent Goods and Services Tax, and hospitality wages are higher than in some countries. Locals may tip around 10 percent in upscale restaurants for excellent service. Cafés and casual spots may have a jar at the register, but there is no expectation. No service charge is added by default.
Which coins and notes are used and is there rounding
Notes are $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100, all polymer with advanced security features. Coins are 5c, 10c, 20c, 50c, $1 and $2. One and two cent coins are no longer used. When paying cash, totals are rounded to the nearest five cents. Card payments are not rounded. Older note designs remain legal tender and can be spent normally.