The official local currency is the Antillean guilder (ANG) and has been fixed to the US Dollar at approximately 1.80 ANG to 1USD for over 35 years. The US Dollar is accepted everywhere on the island. Local currency and US Dollar ATM machines (Maestro/Cirrus) are situated throughout the island.

Yes, you can use U.S. Dollars (USD) virtually everywhere on both the French side (Saint-Martin) and the Dutch side (Sint Maarten) of the island. While the official currency of the Dutch side is the Netherlands Antillean Guilder (ANG) and the French side uses the Euro (EUR), the American dollar is the "de facto" secondary currency due to the massive volume of American tourists and cruise passengers. Most businesses, including restaurants, taxi drivers, and shops, list prices in USD or offer an exchange rate at the point of sale. In 2026, many restaurants on the French side even offer a "One-to-One" exchange rate (1 Euro = 1 Dollar) when paying in cash, which can be a significant saving for American travelers. However, be aware that if you pay in USD, you might occasionally receive change in the local currency (Euros or Guilders). While credit cards are widely accepted for larger purchases, having small denominations of U.S. cash is highly recommended for tips, local markets, and smaller beach bars where card machines might be unreliable.