Money in Ivory Coast

West African CFA Franc (XOF) — fixed to EUR at 655.957; easy to exchange EUR in Abidjan

Côte d'Ivoire uses the West African CFA Franc (XOF, sometimes written FCFA). The XOF is permanently fixed to the Euro at a rate of exactly 655.957 XOF per EUR — an agreement guaranteed by the French Treasury. This means exchange rates are completely stable and predictable for Euro-zone visitors. EUR is the most practical foreign currency to bring: it exchanges easily at banks (Société Générale CI, SGBCI, Ecobank, Orabank) and bureaux de change throughout Abidjan. USD is also exchangeable but at slightly less competitive rates. Sterling (GBP) and other currencies are exchangeable in Abidjan but difficult outside the capital. Avoid airport exchange counters (poor rates) and unofficial street changers.

ATMs widely available in Abidjan — limited in secondary cities and rural areas

ATMs (DAB — Distributeur Automatique de Billets) are readily available in Abidjan (Plateau district, Marcory, Cocody, Yopougon) from Société Générale, Ecobank, Coris Bank, and SGBCI. These accept international Visa and Mastercard cards. In secondary cities (Bouaké, Yamoussoukro, San-Pédro), ATMs exist but are fewer and may have shorter cash-supply periods. In rural areas and smaller towns, ATMs are often absent — withdraw all needed XOF in Abidjan. Foreign card withdrawal fees are common; check your own bank's terms and notify it before travel.

Card acceptance growing in Abidjan — cash essential outside the capital and for markets

Visa and Mastercard are accepted at larger hotels, supermarkets (Carrefour Abidjan, CDCI), higher-end restaurants, and some petrol stations in Abidjan. Mobile money — particularly Orange Money and MTN Mobile Money — is widely used by locals for everyday transactions and is increasingly accepted at local merchants, but requires a local SIM card and is not available to foreign visitors. Apple Pay and Google Pay are not supported in Côte d'Ivoire. For street food, local restaurants, transportation (taxis, bus), and any market spending, cash in XOF is required.

Prices vary widely — street food and moto-taxis cost a fraction of Abidjan's mid-range restaurants and hotels

Côte d'Ivoire offers a wide range of budget levels. Street food (attiéké with fish, alloco, garba) is inexpensive by international standards, and a meal at a local maquis restaurant costs meaningfully more but still well under what a mid-range Abidjan restaurant in Plateau or Zone 4 charges. Accommodation follows the same pattern: budget rooms in Abidjan cost a fraction of the city's mid-range hotels. A moto-taxi (woro-woro) for a short trip is the cheapest way to move around. Tipping is not formally expected but rounding up is appreciated. Outside Abidjan, prices are generally lower across the board.

Currency export limit: 500,000 CFA francs (about €760) leaving for non-WAEMU countries

Travellers leaving Côte d'Ivoire for a country outside the WAEMU zone may carry a maximum of 500,000 CFA francs (about €760) without declaration; larger sums must be declared, and amounts over the limit are confiscated. Separately, exporting art or cultural artefacts requires a permit from the National Museum, with a modest per-object fee — buying from museum-affiliated shops or galleries that handle this paperwork is the practical way to avoid customs problems on departure.