Cameroon uses the Central African CFA Franc (XAF), a currency shared by six countries in Central Africa, including Gabon, Equatorial Guinea, Chad, Republic of Congo, and the Central African Republic (CAR). This regional currency is tied to the Euro, but for convenience, travellers usually track its rate against the US dollar, which hovers around 565 XAF to 1 USD, as of late 2025. You might often find better exchange rates than official ones in Douala or Yaoundé’s money changers.
Notes of Cameroon
The XAF has notes with the denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000 and 10,000.
Coins of Cameroon
XAF is also broken down into coins which have the values of 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 200, 500. Coins are particularly hard to come by in Cameroon and people will be reluctant to give them away as change.
Yes, this is a problem that exists in many parts of the world, and certainly in many African countries. However, it is a specific issue in Cameroon, more so than in other places. There is effectively a black market for coins, and so people will pay more than the actual value for a bag of change. For example, 1000 XAF worth of coins will usually be 1100 XAF. A 10% markup. You can see why people want to hang onto them. It is not uncommon to have issues getting change back from purchases, regardless of the place. For example, you might expect it from a taxi driver or a small shop, but even at supermarkets, hotels, museums, and big businesses, you’ll have the same issue. It can be especially frustrating, if you’re not aware of this situation, and let’s say you’re in a supermarket with some travel buddies and one of them pays using a coin to give exact change. Then you pay with a note, requiring change, and you’re faced with a blank stare and a “no change” response. You can literally see a tray full of change, including what your friend has just given them. But once you understand what's really going on, it all makes sense.
So if you do manage to get your hands on change, make sure you hang onto it and make good use of it!
ATMs
ATMs are found in major cities but become scarce in rural areas. When available, they dispense only XAF. Credit and debit card usage is limited to upscale hotels, select restaurants, and a handful of large supermarkets. For the majority of your trip, cash remains essential.
