Currency in the Unites States - A Full Guide 2024
Planning a trip to the Unites States? Whether you’re heading there for work or pleasure, you’ll need to know how to pay your way as you travel.
This guide covers all you’ll need to know about the official currency in the Unites States, where to get it and how to keep your costs down during your trip.
What is the currency in the Unites States?
The official currency in the Unites States is the USD, which is issued and overseen by the US Federal Reserve. If you’re buying your travel money online you may also see the official code being shown - USD. In stores and restaurants, USD prices are likely to use the currency symbol $.
Once you’re in the Unites States you’ll see costs of items shown in USD and you’ll need to start paying for things in local coins and notes which are often found in the following denominations:
banknotes - 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and coins - 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢, $1 .
Can you officially pay in AUD when you are in the Unites States?
You’re unlikely to be able to officially transact in AUD in the Unites States, which is why it’s time to start getting used to USD and learning more about the currency exchange rates so you’ll know what you’re spending on your trip.
This guide will walk through all you need to know, including Australian dollar/USD rates and where best to get your travel money from.
| USD | |
|---|---|
| Currency name | USD |
| ISO code | USD |
| Symbol | $ |
| Subunit | Cent |
| Central Bank | US Federal Reserve |
| Best travel cards to take to the Unites States | Wise |
USD coins and banknotes
Here’s a full rundown of the USD coins and banknotes you’ll need to be familiar with when you’re in the Unites States.
| USD banknotes | USD coins |
|---|---|
| banknotes - 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 | banknotes - 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 |
History of USD currency
Established in 1792, the U.S. Dollar is one of the world's most traded and recognized currencies, backed by the U.S. economy and government.
Is AUD accepted in the Unites States?
As we’ve seen, the official currency in the Unites States is USD. If you carry AUD with you on your trip, you’ll probably need to exchange it before you can spend.
Sometimes when you’re away on a trip abroad you’ll find that merchants will take payments in a selection of major foreign currencies. However, the chances are that where this is offered, you won’t get a good exchange rate for your AUD. Planning smart and convenient ways to spend in USD when you’re away is likely to mean you save on costs in the end.
Usually, having a few different ways to pay and get cash is the best option for travelers and tourists. That’s because you’ll have a back up plan in case one payment method isn’t accepted for any reason, and you can pick the method that’s best suited to the specific transaction. Having a multi-currency card from a provider like Wise, plus your normal bank debit card, and some local cash in USD should mean you’ve always got options. You can use your cash for small purchases and tipping, and make low cost payments and cash withdrawals with your multi-currency card, while keeping your bank card in reserve for emergencies.
Use a travel card on your next trip to the Unites States
Using a travel debit card in the Unites States is usually cheap, safe and convenient. A few providers in Australia offer multi-currency cards which come with a linked payment account that lets you convert, hold and spend in USD. That allows you to add a balance in AUD and switch over to USD to lock in the exchange rate and set your travel budget.
Once you have USD in your account there are no extra fees to make payments, and you’ll not have foreign transaction charges to worry about, either.
Here’s a quick overview of a couple of handy travel debit cards you may want to order and use in the Unites States.
Wise travel card
Order a Wise travel card online or in the Wise app, to hold and exchange 40+ currencies and manage your money from your phone. You’ll be able to spend conveniently in USD - and all currency exchange uses the mid-market rate with no markup.
Card holders get some free ATM withdrawals available every month, and there’s no annual or monthly fees to pay, and no minimum balance requirement.
| Wise pros | Wise cons |
|---|---|
✅ Currency exchange uses the mid-market rate ✅ No foreign transaction fees apply ✅ Free to hold and spend 40+ currencies ✅ Receive payments to your Wise account in a selection of global currencies ✅ No minimum balance or ongoing fees | ❌ Card order fee applies ❌ ATM fees apply once you’ve exhausted your free monthly withdrawals |
What is the currency exchange rate for A$ 1 AUD/USD?
It’s helpful to get to know the live AUD/USD rate so you can easily calculate how much things are costing you while you’re on your trip abroad. The rate you need to focus on is the mid market rate, which is the one banks and major currency services get when buying and selling currencies. This rate isn’t always passed on to customers. Instead you may find that the AUD/USD rate you get when exchanging travel cash includes a markup - an extra fee.
Find the AUD/USD mid-market rate from a currency conversion site or a website like this, so you can keep an eye on the market and compare the rates you’re offered as you travel against the mid-market rate easily. Right now, the mid-market rate for 1 Australian Dollar to USD is 0.61624.
Should I exchange AUD to USD before traveling to the Unites States?
Because the Unites States sees many tourists from Australia every year you might find you’re better off if you exchange your currency when you get to the Unites States rather than worrying about getting your cash sorted out before you leave.
Get familiar with the exchange rates offered locally to you, and online, so you can decide whether it’s worth switching some funds in advance of travel, using a card to pay while you’re away, or converting cash on arrival. Both in Australia and in the Unites States, steer clear of exchanging currency at the airport. A captive market means that AUD/USD rates are often worse in the airport than in city centers.
Tips for exchanging money in the Unites States
Cards are widely accepted in the Unites States, but you’ll still need to watch the exchange rate given when making a transaction from AUD to USD. Some merchants offer to let you pay in AUD instead of USD, but this will usually mean paying more because of dynamic currency conversion costs.
Best place to exchange currency in the Unites States
You can get your USD in the Unites States in a couple of ways.
You’ll be able to use a travel debit card from a provider like Wise to make convenient payments and cash withdrawals and to convert funds online.
Or if you prefer an offline solution you can carry some cash in AUD to exchange when you arrive. Currency exchange providers are often in airports and hotels, although the exchange shops in a city center are likely to be cheaper overall.
How to pay in the Unites States?
You’ll need to have USD to spend in the Unites States. However, generally having a few different payment methods is a good plan. That means that if a merchant won't accept one, you’ve got a back up. It’s also reassuring to know you have a different way to pay if you were unlucky enough to have a card or some travel cash stolen. Here are your key payment options in the Unites States.
1. Debit or credit card
Card payments can be helpful in shops, restaurants and hotels but there will be places where cash is also important. Order a travel card from a provider like Wise for cheap and fast transactions, including card payments and cash withdrawals as and when you need travel money in USD.
2. USD cash
Cash is widely used in the Unites States, so it’s worth having some with you at all times. You may want to exchange money to USD before you leave, but it’s also usually convenient to make ATM withdrawals locally once you arrive in the Unites States.
You’ll usually find you can use a card to make payments in the Unites States, but carrying some cash in USD is also reassuring. It’s often easier for tipping and making smaller purchases, plus you’ve got a nice backup if your card is ever out of action for some reason.
It’s a smart idea to have both a card and some cash in USD when you’re in the Unites States. Some merchants will prefer cash, but having a card for higher value payments and in busier more tourist places is also convenient. Consider using a travel card from a provider like Wise or Revolut alongside your cash for flexibility.
Paying for the trip in AUD
If you’re paying for things in the Unites States with a AUD bank card you might find a foreign transaction fee is added. This pushes up your costs when you spend in a foreign currency, and can be tricky to calculate.
Travel debit cards don’t always work this way. When you make purchases in the Unites States using the Wise card you can either choose to convert your account balance to USD in advance in the Wise app, or just leave your balance in AUD and let the card handle the transaction when you pay. You’ll always get the lowest available fee and there are no extra foreign transaction charges.
Conclusion - Currency in the Unites States
You won’t be able to pay in AUD when you visit the Unites States - so learning about the currency you need is essential. Whether you decide to use a travel debit card from a service like Wise , or stock up on USD in cash in advance, knowing the mid-market exchange rate can help you get the best available deal. Use this guide to learn all you need to know about the options, rates and fees for exchanging AUD to USD, and make your money go further while you’re away.
The official currency in the Unites States is USD. You can’t usually pay in AUD in the Unites States, so you’ll need to plan in advance to get your travel money sorted. Consider ordering a travel debit card from a service like Wise, for low cost conversions to USD and convenient spending and withdrawals - and remember that knowing the AUD to USD mid-market exchange rate is essential to check you’re getting a fair deal on currency exchange.
FAQ - Currency in the Unites States
What is the currency in the Unites States called?
The official currency in the Unites States is the USD. You may also see the code USD and the currency symbol $.
What's the currency in Washington, D.C.?
The official currency in Washington, D.C. is the USD. You’ll only be able to spend in USD while you’re there.
What is the old the Unites States currency?
Today the currency in the Unites States is the USD. If you’re worried about currencies changing, why not get a travel debit card from a service like Wise which will automatically pick the currency needed in your destination when making a payment - with no penalties or inflated fees.
What is the best currency to take to the Unites States?
You’ll only be able to spend in USD while you’re in the Unites States. Carrying some money in cash and using a travel debit card from a service like Wise is usually the best way to spend while you’re away from home.