Money in French Polynesia: Currency, Cards & Tipping

Bora Bora currency to USD: quick conversions

The CFP franc has been pegged to the euro since 1999 at a fixed rate: 1,000 XPF = €8.38, or €1 = 119.33 XPF. Against the U.S. dollar it floats with the euro; in October 2026 one dollar bought roughly 105–107 XPF. The table uses 106 XPF to the dollar, so treat the dollar column as approximate.

Pacific francs (XPF)	U.S. dollars (approx.)	Euros (fixed)
500	$4.70	€4.19
1,000	$9.40	€8.38
2,000	$19	€16.76
5,000	$47	€41.90
10,000	$94	€83.80

A quick mental shortcut: drop two zeros and take off about 6%. A 3,000 XPF lunch is roughly $28.

Bora Bora banknotes and coins

The franc is issued by the Institut d'émission d'outre-mer (IEOM) and is also used in New Caledonia and Wallis and Futuna. Banknotes come in 500, 1,000, 5,000 and 10,000 XPF, in a series introduced in 2014. A new set of coins arrived in September 2021: 5, 10, 20, 50, 100 and 200 XPF. The old 1 and 2 franc coins are gone, so cash totals are rounded to the nearest 5 francs, while card payments are charged to the exact franc. U.S. dollar bills and coins are not accepted, so change money or withdraw francs on arrival, and keep small notes for the Vaitape roulottes.

ATMs, cards and changing money in Bora Bora

• Cards: Visa and Mastercard are accepted at most hotels, restaurants and shops on Bora Bora. American Express and Diners Club are harder to use.
• ATMs: Bora Bora has ATMs in Vaitape, but they are often inside bank branches, so plan withdrawals for business hours rather than evenings.
• Exchange: There's an exchange office at Tahiti-Faa'a airport that opens around international flights, and Banque de Polynésie and Banque Socredo change money on the main islands. Hotels exchange too, at less favorable rates.
• Card tip: If a terminal offers to charge you in U.S. dollars, choose francs instead; the conversion rate your own bank applies is usually better.
• Large sums: The U.S. State Department notes a threshold of 1,200,000 XPF (€10,000) for cash carried in or out; declare amounts above it.

Tipping in Bora Bora

Le Bora Bora by Pearl Resorts puts it simply: "Tipping is not customary in the Islands of Tahiti and therefore not expected." Restaurant bills generally include service. If a guide, driver or housekeeper goes beyond the expected, a tip is a kind gesture, not an obligation. Bargaining isn't customary either.

Taxes: what prices include

French Polynesia's VAT (TVA) is 16% on most goods, 13% on services and 5% on food, transport and hotel stays. Restaurant menus generally show prices with service included. Hotel rates often don't include everything: InterContinental Le Moana, for example, adds a combined 16.595% government tax and service charge plus a city tax of 200 XPF per person per day. Check the fine print when comparing resorts, and see our Bora Bora trip cost guide for full budgets, or Is Bora Bora expensive? for a quick overview.

More questions

If I book my resort in dollars, will I pay in dollars?

Not necessarily. Final bills are often in francs; the Four Seasons, for example, notes that invoices are issued in XPF and are subject to exchange-rate changes. Extras charged to your room are converted at the rate on the day your card is charged.

How much cash should I bring?

Cards cover resorts and most restaurants, so you only need francs for roulottes, taxis, Le Truck and small shops. Withdraw a modest amount in Vaitape, or change some at the Papeete airport exchange office, rather than carrying dollars.