Africa

Money, cards and tipping in Benin

Capital: Porto-NovoFrenchUpdated October 2026

XOFFranc

Money in Benin

Mostly cash Cards work only in Cotonou hotels and a few restaurants; bring cash in EUR to exchange and rely on XOF for daily spending. US$1 ≈ CFA582.98 (03 Oct 2026).

Key facts

Tipping: Not expected; a few hundred XOF or round-up for good service.
ATMs: ATMs in Cotonou often limit withdrawals to 100,000–200,000 XOF; Visa is more widely accepted than Mastercard.
Paying by phone: MTN MoMo and Moov Money are used locally but need a Benin SIM and account.
Price level: about 34% of US prices (World Bank PPP).

Cash or card, by place

Place	Cards	Notes
Cotonou	Mostly cash	Cash rules: cards work in some hotels and a few restaurants. ATMs are at banks; mobile money (MTN MoMo, Moov Money) needs a local SIM.
Ouidah	Mostly cash	Few ATMs or card machines; bring XOF cash from Cotonou. Guesthouses and restaurants take cash only.

Quick answers

Do you tip in Benin?

Not expected; a few hundred XOF or round-up for good service.

Is Benin cashless?

Mostly cash. Cards work only in Cotonou hotels and a few restaurants; bring cash in EUR to exchange and rely on XOF for daily spending.

What currency does Benin use?

The Franc (XOF). US$1 ≈ CFA582.98 (03 Oct 2026).

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.