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Nepal travel money guide

Get the lowdown on how to access your holiday cash while in the mountainous towns of Nepal.

Alex Keshen
Alex Keshen

Updated

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Nepal is a cash country so you can't land without knowing the best ways to access your cash. While credit and debit cards aren't always readily available in the country for you to use in smaller towns in rural areas, it's becoming more common to use debit and credit cards in the main towns.

Therefore, using a mix of cash and card in Nepal is a good idea. You can compare travel money options in the table below.

Compare travel money options for Nepal

Cash is king in Nepal but credit and debit cards are typically accepted at larger hotels or restaurants.

It's recommended using your no-fee debit card for cash withdrawals at ATMs and for purchases when available. Use cash for any purchases you can't make with a debit or credit card as you backpack up and down the country. Traveller's cheques are a thing of the past, even in Nepal.

Data indicated here is updated regularly
Name Product Foreign currency conversion fee Overseas ATM withdrawal fee Purchase rate Annual fee
Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard
Finder Award
Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard
0%
$0
17.99% p.a.
$0
Offers a $0 annual fee, 0% foreign transaction fees, complimentary international travel insurance and a balance transfer offer.
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Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard
Bankwest Breeze Platinum Mastercard
0%
$0
0% for 15 months, reverts to 10.99% p.a.
$69
Get 0% interest on purchases for 15 months, complimentary travel insurance and no foreign transaction fees.
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More Info
Coles Rewards Mastercard - Exclusive Offer
Coles Rewards Mastercard - Exclusive Offer
0%
$5
19.99% p.a.
$0 annual fee for the first year ($99 p.a. thereafter)
Finder Exclusive. Ends 29 October 2020
Save with $100 off a Coles Supermarket shop and a $0 first-year annual fee. Plus, 0% p.a. on balance transfers for 18 months (1.5% fee applies).
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More Info
NAB StraightUp Card
NAB StraightUp Card
0%
N/A
$0
Save with 0% interest charges and 0% foreign transaction fees. Plus, $0 monthly fees when you don't use the card or carry a balance.
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Compare up to 4 providers

Data indicated here is updated regularly
$
Name Product Card access ATM Withdrawal Fee Monthly Account Fee Internatonal ATM Fee Foreign transaction fee
HSBC Everyday Global Account
Finder Award
HSBC Everyday Global Account
Visa
$0
$0
0%
Special offer: $100 cash bonus for new HSBC customers.
Earn 2% cashback on tap and pay purchases (T&C's apply).
Enjoy no minimum ongoing balance or transaction requirements and the flexibility to hold up to 10 currencies. Apple Pay and Google Pay available.
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More Info
CUA Everyday Snap Account
CUA Everyday Snap Account
Visa
$0
$4.50
2.95%
Refund of international ATM withdrawal fees and international card transaction fees (conditions apply). Refund of overdrawn fees.
$0 monthly account fee. Unlimited fee-free everyday transactions.
Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay available. Savings Top Up tool automatically transfers to linked savings account.
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Citi Global Currency Account
Citi Global Currency Account
Mastercard
$0
$0
Pay $0 international transaction fees and $0 overseas ATM fees when you use a foreign currency linked with your account in a country that uses that currency. Make sure your debit card is linked to the correct currency before using an ATM, otherwise a foreign exchange fee applies.
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Data indicated here is updated regularly
Name Product Minimum Order Amount Maximum Order Amount Delivery/Pickup Method Commission Fee
Travelex Foreign Currency
Travelex Foreign Currency
$500
$5,000
In Store,At Airport
$0
Travelex makes it easy to exchange and get the best rate on over 40 currencies so you can be prepared for your next holiday.
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Foreign Xchange Travel Money
Foreign Xchange Travel Money
$0
$9,999
In Store,Home Delivery
$0
Order multiple currencies in one transaction and have it delivered directly to your door anywhere in Australia. No delivery fee for orders over $1,000. A $10 flat fee applies to orders less than $1,000.
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Data indicated here is updated regularly
Name Product Available Currencies ATM Withdrawal Fee Initial Load Fee Reload fee
Travelex Money Card
Travelex Money Card
AUD,USD,CAD,EUR,GBP,HKD,JPY,NZD,SGD,THB

Overseas: $0

Domestic: 2.95% of the amount withdrawn
1.1% of initial load value or $15, whichever is greater
1.1% of transaction value or $15, whichever is greater
Lock in exchange rates for up to 10 currencies, pay no overseas ATM fees and get exclusive merchant offers.
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More Info
Cash Passport Platinum Mastercard
Cash Passport Platinum Mastercard
AUD,USD,CAD,EUR,GBP,HKD,JPY,NZD,SGD,THB,AED
USD $2.50, EUR €2.50, GBP £2.00, NZD $3.50, THB ฿80.00, CAD $3.50, HKD $18.00, JPY ¥260.00, SGD $3.50, AUD $3.50, AED 10.00
$0
$5
Up to 11 currencies on 1 card locked in exchange rates and no load fees.
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Should I bring a prepaid travel card, credit card or debit card to Nepal?

Travel money optionProsCons
Pre-paid travel money card
  • Accepted worldwide as a credit card
  • Protected by PIN and chip
  • Can get back-up cards and emergency replacement cards are available
  • Ideal for managing travel budgets as you preload currency onto the card
  • Can't secure an exchange rate for Nepalese rupee
  • You need to reload currency if you run out and need Internet access to do so
  • Local ATM fees apply
Credit card
  • Payments are protected
  • Protected by PIN and chip
  • Access funds available up to your credit limit regardless of whether it's in an account
  • Accepted worldwide
  • Can get benefits for spending such as travel rewards or cashback
  • High withdrawal and cash advance fees may apply
  • Higher spending limited depending on your credit limit
  • Harder to stick to a budget as you can prepay for things with money you don't necessarily have
Debit card
  • No currency conversion fees on transactions
  • Good for managing travel budget
  • Acts as emergency cash backup when facilities are available
  • International and conversion ATM fees
  • No emergency cash
  • No back-up card
Cash
  • Better payment flexibility
  • More convenient
  • Higher risk of theft or scam
  • Harder to manage expenses

What's the Nepalese currency?

The money used in Nepal is the Nepalese rupee (Rs), which comes in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 50, 500 and 1,000. Rupee coins come in denominations of 1, 2, 5 and 10, while 1, 2, 25 and 250 rupee notes also exist but are rarely used.

Rupees are divided further into 100 paisa (p) which come in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25 and 50 but are rarely used along with the 5 and 10 rupee coins. You will likely only see the 1 and 2 rupee coins.

Travel money tips for Nepal

  • Exchange after you arrive and before you leave. The Nepalese rupee is not a freely convertible currency so you will have to exchange money once you get to Nepal.
  • Use an ATM. You will find the best exchange rates withdrawing cash from an ATM or exchanging money at a Travelex.
  • Check exchange rates in advance. It's smart to check exchange rates before getting cash exchanged to make sure you aren't getting ripped off.
  • If exchanging dollars into rupees, bring crisp notes. Exchange offices may not accept damaged foreign notes. Keep an eye out when receiving Nepalese rupees after an exchange too because if the notes are damaged shopkeepers or other exchange offices may not take the notes back.
  • Charge your card in local currency. Some services promise to give you good exchange rates and display the charge in your local currency but the rate is oftentimes worse than the mid-market rate.

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