What currency do you pay with on St. Martin? How much do goods cost in a regular supermarket and how much in a restaurant? And how much does a week's stay on the island cost? Find out in this chapter.
The 10 cheapest hotels in St. Martin
US Dollar (USD), Euro (EUR), Antillean Guilder (ANG)
There are 3 currencies you can pay with on the island, with 2 in particular being used in practice.
The Dutch part
The official currency on Sint Maarten is the Netherlands Antilles Guilder, or Antillean Guilder (ANG) for short.
However, the real currency used in the Dutch part is almost exclusively the US dollar.
While the US dollar is used to pay for all services, transportation and offices, we never encountered the Antillean guilder during our stay.
The exchange rate of the Antillean guilder is pegged to the US dollar at a rate of 1 usd = 1,79 ang. This rate does not change and is the same over time.
- International currency code - ANG for Antillean guilder or USD for US dollar
- Currency symbol - NAF for Antillean guilder or $ for US dollar
Price tag with dollar or guilder?
Common misunderstandings can occur when paying for or selecting goods in a supermarket.
For example, prices at petrol stations are always displayed in Antillean guilders, but the attendant automatically converts the price into US dollars.
In supermarkets, prices are often displayed in guilders for some goods and in dollars for others. Therefore, always check the currency in which the final price is displayed before paying.
However, deliberate fraud on tourists does not happen.
Can I pay in euros in the Netherlands?
Many merchants also accept the euro, but for example, on the bus you can pay exclusively in US dollars.
In general, it is not convenient to pay in euros in the Dutch part, as merchants usually set the exchange rate at 1:1.
French part
The official currency of French Saint-Martin is the euro.
- The international currency code - EUR
- Currency symbol - €
You can pay in euros in all services and offices.
However, even in the French part, US dollars are quite commonly accepted for payment. Some merchants convert the exchange rate, but taxi drivers, for example, take US dollars to euros at a ratio of 1:1.
Thus, even on the French half of the island, it can often be more convenient to pay in US dollars.
Currency exchange and card payments
You won't find regular currency exchange offices on St. Martin. While you can exchange money at banks, it's much easier to withdraw money from an ATM or exchange euros or dollars before you fly to the island.
ATMs at local banks usually charge foreign card withdrawals of around 4 usd. ATMs can be found at SXM airport, ports and in major cities.
Card payments are not as widespread as in Europe or the USA.
You can easily pay by card in all major supermarkets, traditional hotels, car rental companies or petrol stations. Smaller shops, some tourist attractions, taxi drivers or buses do not allow card payments.
In short, you will always need cash on the island. We recommend always having at least $50 or € on hand.
How much does what cost - prices on St. Martin
Prices vary a lot depending on the location where you are shopping.
A drink at a bar or shop on Maho Beach can be up to several times more expensive than the same product on the other side of the island. The same goes for hotels, food and the various experiences on offer.
Cheaper services (especially accommodation and car rental) will also be available in the low season (August-November).
Examples of prices
How much does basic food, tourist attractions or transportation cost in St. Martin? Check out the indicative price table.
Accommodation in a double room (prices per night):
- Cheapest apartment - from 80 usd
- Hotel 3* - from 110 usd
- Hotel 4* - from 220 usd
- 10 cheapest hotels in St. Martin
Restaurant food:
- A hot main meal in a regular restaurant - 20 usd
- A hot main meal in a local bistro - 15 usd
- Three-course menu for 2 in the resort's better restaurant - 50 usd
- Menu at a fast food restaurant - 12 usd
- Espresso or Cappuccino - 4 usd
- Water 0.33 l - 3 usd
- Draft beer - 4 usd
- Wine by the bottle - 15 usd
Food in the supermarket:
- Water 1.5l - 1 usd
- Coca Cola (and other sodas) - 3 usd
- Milk 1l - 2,55 usd
- Bread - 2 usd
- Canned fish - 2,50 usd
- Apples - 4 usd / kg
- Bananas - 3 usd / kg
- Oranges - 4 usd / kg
- Eggs 12 pcs - 3 usd
- Rice 1 kg - 2,50 usd
- Chicken meat 500 g - 11 usd
Shipping:
- Bus ticket - 1,5 usd to 2 usd (in France to 5 eur)
- Taxi - distance approx. 5-10 km around 20 usd, you can go across the island in approx. 45 usd
- Car rental - from 35 usd per day
- Compare car rental prices - SXM airport
- Compare car rental prices - Grand Case airport
Water activities and sports:
- Rent 2 sun loungers with umbrella per day - 30 usd
- Full day of scuba diving with equipment - 150 usd
- Surfboard rental by the hour - 30 usd
- Jet ski or snowmobile ride per hour - 70 usd
- Inflatable water banana ride (15 minutes) - 30 usd
- Kayak rental for an hour - 15 usd
- Snorkel rental - 10 usd
Alcohol and cigarettes:
- Bottle of wine in the shop - from 8 usd
- A can of local beer - 2 usd
- Cocktails at the bar - from 10 usd
- A pack of cigarettes - 20 usd
Tipping and bargaining
Tipping is not very common. In upscale resort restaurants, tipping is often included in the price, and in small local bistros, tipping is usually not.
Even taxi drivers do not expect tips.
Bargaining is not common for any of the services commonly available on St Martin.
How to save - daily budgets
How much money will 1 day on St. Martin cost you? What is the best way to save money?
You will save the most if you go to the island during hurricane season. During this period (August - December), hotel or car rental prices are even tens of percent lower. You can also get cheaper airline tickets. The savings can be tens of thousands for two people!
Transport around the island is cheapest by bus, but they don't go everywhere and sometimes you can walk quite a bit. If you are only travelling along the main ring road, then it is not very time-consuming to take a car or taxis, which, like minibuses, stand in long queues.
But if you are travelling around the island with more people (more than 3), then it is definitely worth renting a car. It depends on how much you want to move around the island. If you just want to drive to a beach somewhere and lounge around all day, it's cheaper to take a bus. If you want to be on a different beach every hour, a car is better.
The best way to save money on food is to eat at local bistros, stalls or just buy a baguette for lunch for 3 usd at the supermarket. The menu at McDonald's isn't overpriced either, and it's plenty for lunch in the heat.
Larger supermarkets (such as Maho Market or Carrefour) also have counters with cheap hot food (up to 9 usd). However, be aware that they sell out quite soon after lunch (around 14:00).
You can also save a lot of money if you have your own kitchen in your accommodation and buy food from supermarkets, of which there are plenty (Carrefour is the biggest brand here).
Daily budgets
The low-budget traveller will choose to stay in a private apartment on the outskirts of Cole Bay, Marigot or Philipsburg with their own kitchen and eat supermarket goods.
Search for the cheapest hotels on St. Martin
He will travel around the island exclusively by bus and will not rent sun loungers and umbrellas on the beach.
The average traveler who is not so concerned about money but at the same time does not have a bottomless wallet can rent a car, have lunch at a beach bar, but sometimes he will not disdain a supermarket dinner. You'll stay in a smaller hotel in the centre of town and commute to the beach by car or minibus.
The following table shows prices for a week's stay for 2 people. The cost is based on a daily rate for 1 person.
| Accommodation | Food | Public transport | Car rental | Attractions | Total price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Low-cost | 45 usd | 15 usd | 6 usd | -- | -- | 66 usd |
| Regular traveler | 65 usd | 35 usd | -- | 40 usd | 5 usd | 145 usd |