Africa
Money, cards and tipping in Zimbabwe
ZWGZimbabwe Gold
Money in Zimbabwe
Mostly cash The USD is the everyday currency alongside the ZiG; carry small clean USD notes. Cards work in hotels and big shops, but outages are common. US$1 ≈ $26.77 (03 Oct 2026).
Key facts
- Tipping: 10% in restaurants is appreciated; tip safari guides and trackers in USD per day. Tourist lodges usually pool tips.
- ATMs: ATMs often run out of cash and dispense ZiG or limited USD; fees are high. Bring USD cash for most spending.
- Paying by phone: EcoCash and OneMoney are local mobile money; visitors mostly use cash USD or Visa cards. Apple/Google Pay is rare.
- Price level: about 56% of US prices (World Bank PPP).
Cash or card, by place
| Place | Cards | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Victoria Falls | Mixed: cards and cash | US dollars are widely used; carry small notes. Cards work at hotels and bigger restaurants but can fail; ATMs often run dry or pay in local ZiG. |
| Harare | Mixed: cards and cash | US dollars are widely used and the local currency (ZiG) is common too. Cards work in malls and hotels but fail often; ATMs run dry and charge fees. |
Quick answers
Do you tip in Zimbabwe?
10% in restaurants is appreciated; tip safari guides and trackers in USD per day. Tourist lodges usually pool tips.
Is Zimbabwe cashless?
Mostly cash. The USD is the everyday currency alongside the ZiG; carry small clean USD notes. Cards work in hotels and big shops, but outages are common.
What currency does Zimbabwe use?
The Zimbabwe Gold (ZWG). US$1 ≈ $26.77 (03 Oct 2026).
Sources
- ExchangeRate-API open rates
- US State Department travel advisory
- Zimbabwe e-Visa
- Zimbabwe Tourism Authority
- UK FCDO travel advice: Zimbabwe
- World Bank open data
Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.