When you plan your trip to South Africa, you probably have many questions about South African money. In this article, we give you answers to the most commonly asked questions about South African money and its banking system.
What Is South Africa’s Money Called?
The official South African currency’s name is the South African Rand, called Rand in South Africa.
Read more about the South African economy here.
Where Did the Name for The South African Rand Come From?
The name for the South African Rand is from the Witwatersrand (“white waters’ ridge” in English). Ridge translates to rand in Afrikaans and Dutch. They built the city of Johannesburg on the Witwatersrand, where they found many of South Africa’s gold deposits.
Facts about South Africa’s Money
The South African rand’s currency code is ZAR, compared to the US Dollar or USD, and the British Pound or GBP. The currency symbol for the South African rand is just R, compared to the $ for USD and £ for the GBP. The rand can be divided into cents. There are 100 cents in 1 Rand or R1.
South African Banknotes
South Africa’s banknotes currently comprise five denominations: R10, R20, R50, R100 and R200. Each denomination has a different dominant colour, size and animal theme. All the notes have a picture of the former president, Nelson Mandela, on the front.
On the back, the notes have animals:
| Banknote | The picture on the back |
| R10 | Rhinoceros |
| R20 | Elephant |
| R50 | Lion |
| R100 | Buffalo |
| R200 | Leopard |
South African Coins
The coins in South Africa are available in six denominations: 10 cents, 20 cents, 50 cents, R1, R2 and R5.
The 10 cents coin
The 10 cents coin is copper, giving it a red appearance. The back of the coin features an Arum Lily, one of South Africa’s distinguished flowers.
The 20 cents coin
The 20 cents coin has a King Protea on the back. The King Protea is South Africa’s national flower.
The 50 cents coin
The reserve side of the 50 cents coin shows a Strelitzia flower, also known as a crane flower or bird-of-paradise flower.
The R1 coin
The R1 coin shows a springbok on the back. The springbok is South Africa’s national animal.
The R2 coin
The reverse of the R2 coin shows a Kudu. The Kudu is the king of the antelope, and the male Kudu has wide spiralling horns.
The R5 coin
The R5 coin features the Black Wildebeest or Gnu on the back. You typically find Wildebeest in the northern grass veld regions of the Cape, Free State, KwaZulu-Natal and the southern regions of Gauteng.
Read more about South Africa’s National Symbols here.
Other Countries Using the South African Rand
South Africa is one of the countries that are part of the Common Monetary Area comprising Namibia, Eswatini and Lesotho. Each of these countries has its own currency, with Namibia using the Namibian Dollar, Lesotho using the loti, and Eswatini using the lilangeni. Still, they have pegged these currencies to the South African Rand since their introduction. You can still use the South African Rand in these countries. Botswana also used the South African Rand as its currency, but the pula replaced it in 1976.
South Africa’s Central Bank
The South African Reserve Bank is South Africa’s central bank. It oversees monetary policy and protects and enhances financial stability.
Where Is South African Money Made?
The South African Reserve Bank has two subsidiaries, the South African Banknote Company and the South African Mint, that make the banknotes and coins, respectively.
The Banking Sector in South Africa
South Africa’s “big four” banks include Standard Bank, First National Bank, Nedbank and Absa. South Africa has a world-class banking sector, and you will experience no problems using credit cards and withdrawing funds while travelling in South Africa.
The Exchange Rate of The South African Currency Against Foreign Currencies
The South African currency is much weaker than most advanced economies’ currencies. Here are some of the prevailing exchange rates:
| South African Rand (R) to USD | 1 USD | R15.97 |
| South African Rand (R) to Euro | 1 Euro | R18.07 |
| South African Rand (R) to GBP (Pound) | 1 GBP | R21.28 |
Learn more about South Africa’s economy here!
Questions About South Africa’S money
Here are some frequently asked questions about South African money for your trip:
How Much Money Should I Bring?
When you estimate how much money you should bring to South Africa, consider a few things. Firstly, South Africa is significantly cheaper than the US, Great Britain or European countries. The most expensive cities are Johannesburg, Pretoria and Cape Town. Secondly, you can use your credit card in most cities and larger towns in South Africa. In the rural areas with their small shops, you may need cash to make purchases.
Food Costs
Food in South Africa is not expensive and is generally of high quality. Here are some average costs to consider:
| Item | ZAR cost | USD price |
| Coffee | R30 per cup | $1.97 |
| Cooldrink (Soda) | R15 per can | $1 |
| Beer | R30-R40 per beer | $1.87 – $2.50 |
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | R160 per person | $10 per person |
Always remember to give a tip when dining at restaurants. It is common to give at least 10% of your total billed amount.
Sightseeing
To sightsee, the cost of tickets vary. Here are some costs for popular activities:
| Attraction | ZAR price | USD Price |
| Robben Island Boat Trip | R600 per person | $37.58 per person |
| Entrance ticket to Gold Reef City | R250 per person | $15.65 per person |
| Cable car up Table Mountain (Return) | R320-R390 per person | $20 – 24.42 per person |
Transportation
Regarding transportation, using Uber or Bolt is inexpensive. Alternatively, renting a car is even more cost-effective, but consider the additional costs of fuel, parking and insurance.
Cash to Bring With
How much money you need to bring with you depends on the size of your family and the activities you will take part in. Since there are ATMs everywhere, you don’t need to bring much cash to South Africa, as you can withdraw money everywhere. In fact, it is safer to carry smaller amounts of cash.
Using Your ATM Card in South Africa
You can find ATMs everywhere in South Africa. You can find them at the airports and in shopping malls. South Africa uses Visa and Master Cards, and you should not have difficulty using any foreign bank’s card in South Africa. ATM’s instructions are available in English. The amount you can withdraw may depend on the network and your own bank limit. It has also been my experience that the exchange rate at the ATMs is relatively good, often better than at the money changers.
Exchanging Money in South Africa
You can exchange money at the banks in the larger cities in South Africa or at foreign exchange dealers at the airports or larger cities.
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