ATM Fees in Democratic Republic of the Congo
Congolese Franc (CDF) • Updated April 2026
DRC uses the Congolese Franc but US Dollars are widely preferred. Cash is essential throughout the country. Card acceptance is extremely limited. ATMs are unreliable.
Tips for Democratic Republic of the Congo
- • US Dollars are the preferred currency - bring clean, new bills
- • Small denominations essential ($1, $5, $10, $20)
- • Torn or marked bills will be rejected
- • ATMs are scarce and unreliable
- • Mobile money (M-Pesa, Airtel Money) is growing
Airport tips
- • Kinshasa N'djili Airport has very limited services
- • Bring all USD cash needed for your trip
- • Visa fees must be paid in USD cash
Don't forget your home bank fees
The fees shown above are charged by local ATMs. Your home bank may also charge additional fees for international withdrawals (typically 1-3% + a flat fee). Check with your bank before traveling.
Estimated daily expenses
How much cash you might need per day in Democratic Republic of the Congo, per person.
Backpacker
Hostels, street food, public transport
CDF/day
≈ $0.02-0.04 USD
Mid-range
Hotels, restaurants, mix of transport
CDF/day
≈ $0.06-0.12 USD
Luxury
Premium hotels, fine dining, private transport
CDF/day
≈ $0.14-0.26 USD
Cash vs card acceptance
Where you'll need cash and where cards work in Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Credit card acceptance
Almost NoneCash essential (USD preferred). Cards only at select international hotels in Kinshasa.
You'll need cash for
- • Everything
- • USD cash is king
Cards usually accepted
- • Select international hotels in Kinshasa
- • Some mining company facilities
💰 Cheapest banks for foreign cards
These banks charge the lowest fees for withdrawals with foreign cards.
| Bank | ATM Fee | Est. Cost | Branches | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rawbank | $5-7 | 0% | Visa/MC rate | ~5.00 USD | 80 | Largest local bank |
| Equity BCDC | $5-7 | 0% | Visa/MC rate | ~5.00 USD | 40 | Limited foreign card acceptance |
📍 Most widely available ATMs
Sorted by number of ATM locations. More branches means easier access, but fees may be higher.
| Bank | ATM Fee | Est. Cost | Branches | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rawbank | $5-7 | 0% | Visa/MC rate | ~5.00 USD | 80 | Best coverage in DRC |
| Equity BCDC | $5-7 | 0% | Visa/MC rate | ~5.00 USD | 40 | Major cities |