Currency, Paying & ATM Fees in Tunisia

Traveling in Tunisia can be easy if you know how to handle the money here. My guide details Tunisian ATMs, bank fees, currency, and the best ways to use credit and debit cards. I share tips from my trips, including ATM fees, what to expect at the airport, and how to avoid unnecessary charges.  I’ve got a table that includes the ATM fees that you’ll find at each of the main banks’ ATMs, and what the withdrawal limits are.  There’s also information on the best way to pay for things in Tunisia, as well as the Tunisian currency.

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Paying for things in Tunisia

You will either need a card (credit or debit) or cash to pay for things in Tunisia.  And when I say cash, I mean Tunisian Dinars, the official currency in Tunisia. If you’re taking the bus from Tunis Airport to Tunis, then you will need cash.

There is very little, if any, contactless payment available in Tunisia, so you’ll need a physical card to hand over in person, or use online payments to prebook and prepay things.

Tunisian Currency – The Dinar (TND)

Tunisia uses the Tunisian Dinar (TND), a closed currency – meaning that it’s only available in the country.

There are very strict currency controls in place, including the amount of foreign currency you can bring into the country and what declarations you need to make (check with YOUR government). Here’s what MY government has to say. Your currency may be confiscated if you flout the rules.

You are also NOT allowed to take Tunisian dinar OUT of the country. Change your TND back BEFORE you go through security at the airport, you cannot do it on the other side. You’ll need the receipt from any currency exchange to change your dinars back to another currency. An ATM receipt is NOT accepted.

The dinar comes in coins of 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, and 200 millimes, and ½, 1, 2, and 5 dinars.   There are 1000 millimes in a dinar.

The notes are 5, 10, 20, 30, and 50 dinars.  

Splitting bigger notes is ALWAYS a pain, so you’ll want to save the smaller notes, especially for paying for things in the medina or paying for taxis.

Cash versus Cards in Tunisia

Tunisia is still very much a cash society.  If you’re catching a louage or a bus, you’ll need cash.  There’s more on transport in Tunisia in my guide here.

Paying for things in the medina, you’ll need cash.  Tips? Yes, you’ll need cash for that.  However, that said, you can pay for your hotels and prebooked transfers online.  You can book daytrips online and pay for them on your card.

You can use credit (and debit) cards at the Monoprix and Carrefour supermarkets.

There are even places to eat at the airport where you can’t use a card (outside security), once you go through security, you’ll need Euros, Dollars, or a card.

But unless you’re staying firmly inside an all-inclusive hotel, you will need some cash in Tunisia.  And using ATMs here is pretty simple.

Tips for Minimizing ATM & Card Fees in Tunisia

There is a fee for all ATM withdrawals using foreign cards in Tunisia.  (STB used to have free withdrawals, but I haven’t seen them free since late 2022.)  The fees vary, but are usually 10-15 TND for the withdrawal. 

ATMs in Tunisia also have quite low withdrawal rates, some just 300 TND per withdrawal.  Fees are applied per withdrawal, so they can soon mount up.

Most ATMs will provide instructions in Arabic, French, and English.  (all the ones that we encountered – BIAT, STB, TSB, BNA provided instructions in English)

There is one bank that I’m aware of that does NOT charge fees, see the details in the table below.  Fees tend to be a fixed rate and not a percentage of your withdrawal.  So, to minimize your withdrawal fees:

• Withdraw the maximum you can each time you go to the ATM.
• Use a card that has ZERO foreign transaction fees.  Cards like Wise do this, Starling Bank does in the UK, as does Virgin Money.
• If you have a day trip that you want to take (El Jem, Carthage, Kairouan, or even a two-day trip to the Sahara?), then pay for it online with a reputable supplier.  It may cost a little more than paying cash, but then you’re not having to keep visiting the ATM to get cash.  Good providers here in Tunisia for daytrips?
  • Get Your Guide
  • Viator
• When you are withdrawing cash from the ATM, ALWAYS, ALWAYS, ALWAYS select to be charged in Tunisian dinar.  Do not opt to be charged in your home currency.  This is known as Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC), and it ALWAYS costs you more.
• Not all machines tell you that there is a withdrawal fee; they just charge it.
• Carry a backup card, because things stop working at the damnedest of times.
• Some US Banks may reimburse you for ATM fees; don’t forget to keep your ATM receipt.  ATM receipts detail the fees you’ve been charged.

Currency Exchange Options in Tunisia

Virtually any hotel you stay at will provide currency exchange, but the rates won’t be great, especially if you’re a distance from an ATM.  There are official currency exchange bureaus in each airport (but NONE after security at Tunis Carthage Airport).

To maximize your money and reduce what your money costs you, you are better off getting a foreign-fee-free card (like Wise), using the card when you can, and using it for ATM withdrawals.

ATMs in Tunisia accept Mastercard and Visa; some accept American Express, although Visa tends to be accepted in more places.  Maestro cards work better with BIAT and the Bank of Tunisia.

ATM Provider Table – Tunisia

ATM Provider	Typical Withdrawal Limit	Observed Fees	Notes	Date of Information
Banque Nationale Agricole (BNA)	500–1,000 TND	11.9 TND	No notification of charge	Source
Banque de Tunisie	500–800 TND	10 TND	Select Tunisian Dinars to avoid DCC	Source
BIAT	800 TND	12 TND	Some DCC prompts – select local currency	Feb 2025
Banque de l’Habitat	500 TND	10 TND	Supports international cards, select Tunisian Dinars	Source
TSB (Tunisian Saoudi Bank)	300 TND	ZERO FEE		Source
STB Bank		10 TND	Supports international cards	December 2023
Societe General		11.9 TND		December 2023
La Poste Tunisienne		10 TND		November 2023
QNB	800 TND	10 TND		July 2024
Amen Bank	500 TND	14 TND		August 2024

Airport ATMs & Tunis-Carthage Spending

Airport ATMs, especially at Tunis-Carthage and Monastir, are convenient but slightly more expensive than city machines, often above 10 TND. Limits are similar, around 500–1,000 TND.

Note that after security at Tunis-Carthage, you can only pay in Euros, US Dollars, or by card.  There is also no currency exchange, so unless you’re returning to Tunisia, you’ll want to get rid of all of your TND before going through security.

And yes, everything is MUCH more expensive after security.  If you want to eat, do it before going through security!

Final Words on Currency & ATM Fees in Tunisia

Tunisia is still very much a cash society.  You’ll need cash for public transport – like louages or buses down in Tozeur.  You can pay for the Metro Sahel in Sousse with a card, but the machine is very slow, and it’s a lot quicker to pay cash at the ticket booth.  Taxis don’t take cards, and there are no contactless payment options that we’ve ever found.  ATMs are around, but don’t always work, and have low limits, and most have fees.

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