Dili - Post Report Question and Answers
Are credit cards widely accepted and safe to use locally? Are ATMs common and do you recommend using them? Are they safe to use?
Yes, but only in places frequented by expats; cash everywhere else. - Apr 2025
90% cash society, with ATMs running out of cash on the weekends a common issue. Overall safe, but if need be, use the ones at the hotels, embassies, etc. - Mar 2025
Cash-based society. ATM at the Embassy which accepts my US card. Hardly any businesses (maybe 10-15%?) accept credit. - Aug 2021
We rarely use a credit card here and stick to a cash-only policy while we're eating out or shopping. There are ATMs available and some of the grocery stores will take debit cards, but ones not tied to a local bank don't always work. - Sep 2017
I wouldn't recommend using the ATMs unless you are in a bind. There are a few that look safe in Timor Plaza. We use the cashier at the Embassy. USD is the currency in Timor-Leste. - May 2017
You can credit cards in some places, but there is usually fee to use. Forget using one outside of Dili. In about a month you will know where almost all the ATMs are. Outside of Dili, access to ATMs is usually only available in district capitals, if that. Best is to have both a Visa and a Mastercard, as few ATMs accept both.
Local currency is U.S. dollar and cash is for the most part used for most transactions. - Sep 2016
Ha ha! - Nov 2013
You can safely access a few ATMs here in Dili, but it's a strictly cash-only society here. They use the US dollar. Credit cards are only used for online shopping and travel. - Apr 2013
This is a cash-only country. No credit cards are used here. There are about 3 ATMs around town. The ATMs are safe. - Mar 2010
This is a cash only country. No credit cards are used here. There are about 3 ATM's around town. - Feb 2010
