Money, cards and ATMs in Papua New Guinea

Money and paying for things

The currency is the Papua New Guinean kina (PGK, symbol K), divided into 100 toea. In late August 2026 the indicative rate is about 1 USD ≈ 4.45 PGK and 1 EUR ≈ 5.20 PGK. Both have moved sharply since March - the euro figure by nearly a fifth - so use the converter above the prices rather than either number.

• ATM withdrawals: The network is dominated by Bank South Pacific (BSP), with Kina Bank and ANZ also present. A foreign card is charged a local fee of PGK 15 to PGK 20 per withdrawal, and the single-transaction limit is usually PGK 1,000 to PGK 2,000. Use machines inside bank branches, hotels or guarded shopping centres rather than street-facing units.
• The DCC trap (dynamic currency conversion): The machine will offer to bill you in your own currency. Decline it - choose "Continue in local currency" so the transaction settles in PGK and your own bank sets the rate.
• Cards versus cash: Visa and Mastercard work in international hotels, the large supermarkets and established restaurants, but merchants routinely add a 3% to 5% surcharge for card payment. American Express is rarely accepted. At markets and anywhere outside the main centres, cash is the only option, so draw enough before you leave a town.
• Changing money: Exchange counters at the airport and bank branches handle USD, AUD and EUR. There is no street exchange, official or otherwise.
• Tipping: Not part of the local culture and not expected.
• Declaring cash: Amounts above PGK 20,000 must be declared in writing on arrival.