The Best Places to Buy Fijian Dollars in New Zealand 2024
If you have a trip planned to Fiji you’re in for an exciting adventure. It’s a dream destination for many of us - so you’ll want to make sure you can really enjoy your time there, by figuring out the best way to get your FJD spending money in advance. Choosing a cheap way to spend and make cash withdrawals while you’re in Fiji will mean you’ve got more money to play with and you can really relax and enjoy your break. A travel card from a service like Wise or Revolut may just fit the bill. More on that coming right up.
How to buy Fijian Dollars (FJD) with NZD
FJD travel card
Use a FJD travel card to spend when you’re away and to withdraw cash from an ATM in Fiji. The major travel card issuers in New Zealand have flexible, low cost card options available which can be used to spend in Fijian dollars easily. You won’t usually be able to hold a FJD balance but you can just add money in NZD and let the card manage the conversion when you pay for something or make a cash withdrawal.
Wise debit card
A Wise debit card can be an easy way to exchange and spend Fijian dollars when travelling to Fiji. You’ll just have to top up your card balance in New Zealand dollars, and spend with your Wise card in FJD or any other currency you may need when travelling.
With a Wise card you’ll always get the mid-market rate to convert between currencies, with a low, transparent fee that can be as low as 0.43%. Once you’ve got a balance, you’re all set for spending in Fiji and 150+ other countries, too. Just allow the card to handle the currency conversion at the point of payment. Easy.
You can also withdraw money from an ATM whenever you need cash and spend like a local in person or online. It's free to open a Wise account and you can order the travel debit card for a one-off $14 charge.
Revolut debit card
Recently launched in New Zealand, Revolut is a financial super app and travel card service which already has 35 million customers globally. You’ll be able to pick from 3 different account plans, including a Standard plan which has no ongoing fees to pay, and 2 upgraded account options - Premium and Metal - which have monthly charges but which unlock more features.
Revolut cards let you hold a multi-currency balance and spend in 150+ countries including Fiji. Depending on the account plan you pick you’ll get some no fee currency conversion which uses the mid-market exchange rate, and some low or no cost ATM withdrawals, with fair usage fees once you’ve exhausted your particular account plan limits.
Buy FJD Online
If you’re planning on mainly taking cash with you when you go to Fiji, ordering online can mean you get a better exchange rate and a lower overall cost. With a service like Travelex you can set up your order online and pay by card or bill pay, and then either have your order delivered to your home, or head out to collect it in a nearby Travelex store instead. Bear in mind, you may not be able to collect your money instantly, particularly with a less common currency like FJD.
Click and collect using Travelex
- Use a promo code to get a much better rate. Click here to learn how it works
- Don't pay by card. There is card processing fee you can avoid by using bill pay
- There is a minimum of $250 and a maximum amount of $10,000 per transaction
Get FJD through a bank
Most banks do exchange currency to allow customers to arrange their travel cash. The issue is that they often have high fees, and the exchange rates can include a higher markup than an online provider would offer you. It's always better to compare rates elsewhere before deciding, but as a standard rule it's best to avoid your bank.
Currency exchange stores
Visiting a currency exchange store in person is the best way to get currency quickly. You will find major currency exchange chains, and smaller independent providers, in major shopping centres and many towns. It’s worth shopping around and asking for the best available rate, as some providers can offer discounts or price match other local competitors. Read more with our full guide to currency exchange in New Zealand.
Money Tips
- Make sure you know the NZD - FJD mid-market exchange rate before you go to compare rates - you’ll be able to find it online with a Google search or by using our handy currency conversion tools
- The FJD 'buy' rates are better in a city centre compared to a smaller town or shopping centre. That can make it worth going there if you're exchanging more than $2,000
- Always ask for a better rate. We've found you can often get a better deal just by asking, particularly if you're buying more than $100
Airport
Most major airports will have some currency exchange offices, although it’s common to find that all of the outlets are run by the same company so there’s no real competition. This almost always means that the exchange rates here aren’t as good as you’d get online or in a city centre. If you really need to get your FJD travel cash in an airport, consider ordering it online a day or two in advance. You can then collect your money in the airport, while still benefiting from the better rates offered for online exchange.
As an alternative, get a travel card from a service like Wise or Revolut and skip the airport currency exchange entirely. Just wait until you arrive in Fiji and make cash withdrawals as and when you need to for safe and convenient travel cash with low fees and good exchange rates.
What is the cheapest way to buy FJD in New Zealand?
There’s not usually a single cheapest service - but there are a few general rules that can help you compare your options. Currency exchange stores in airports and hotels are usually quite expensive, and may have less favourable exchange rates compared to those you’ll find online. Banks often don’t charge any fee but hide their costs in the exchange rate they use, which also means they can be a pricey way to go.
If you’re determined to get FJD in cash before you leave New Zealand, ordering online is likely to offer the best value overall. Or for more convenience - and often a better exchange rate - get a travel card from a service like Wise or Revolut. You can top up your account in NZD and spend seamlessly with FJD once you arrive.
How to get FJD in New Zealand
The options to buy your FJD in New Zealand include visiting a bank or a currency exchange store and taking along NZD in cash to exchange or paying with your card. Using a card may be more expensive compared to using cash because the merchant is charged a processing fee. And if you use a credit card your card issuer may also take a cash advance fee - worth avoiding if you can.
How to buy NZ online
Ordering your travel cash online will usually get you a better exchange rate compared to walking into an exchange office and doing an instant currency exchange. However, you’ll need to make sure you’re organised in advance as it may take a day or two to get your currency delivered.
Another flexible option you can manage online is to get a travel card from Wise or Revolut, to top up in NZD whenever you need to and spend in Fiji and elsewhere in the world, too. That means there’s no need to visit a physical bank, or to order your cash in advance - just make withdrawals from local ATMs with low or no fees when you travel.
Where can I get the best exchange rate for FJD?
Each bank or currency exchange service will set their own fees and exchange rates. Often exchange rates include a markup - a cost that’s been added into the rate, making the transaction more expensive and less transparent. This is common, but not unavoidable. Getting to know different provider exchange rates is the key to getting a decent deal.
Here’s a summary of the typical exchange rates available for the options we’ve explored so far:
Wise exchange rate: All currency exchange uses the mid-market exchange rate, with low fees from 0.43% which are split out transparently so you can see what you’re paying
Revolut exchange rate: Revolut account plans all offer some currency exchange which uses the mid-market exchange rate. Fair usage fees may apply if you exceed the exchange limit for your specific plan
Banks: Many banks offer currency exchange, but the exchange rates aren’t necessarily the best available, and they’ll be fixed centrally which means individual bank staff can not negotiate on the costs
Currency exchange stores: Exchange rates can vary and usually include a markup - you may find providers are willing to price match local competitors, or give a better rate for a higher value transaction
Airports: Airport exchange services usually add a fairly high markup to the exchange rates offered, but you might find a more competitive rate if you order in advance online and just collect your money as you pass through the airport
Conclusion: Best ways to buy FJD in New Zealand
There’s no single best way to buy Fijian dollars in New Zealand, so weighing up a few different options is the only way to find the right one for you.
Taking FJD in cash is reassuring but you’ll need to get organised in advance and order your money online to avoid the higher overall costs in a currency exchange store or airport. As an alternative which can be flexible and keep the prices down, consider getting a travel money card. Providers like Wise and Revolut have powerful multi-currency cards you can use in Fiji and a broad selection of 150+ other countries too. Just add money in NZD and spend and make withdrawals wherever you are. You’ll get great exchange rates, and can often also access some free or low fee ATM withdrawals every month too.
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Our most frequently asked questions
1. What is the cheapest way to buy Fijian dollars?
When you buy Fijian dollars the amount you pay will come down to both the commission or conversion fee, and the exchange rate being offered by any provider. Currency exchange services and banks often add an extra fee in the exchange rate being used, which pushes up prices without you realising. This means the cheapest way to buy Fijian dollars (FJD) is often to use a travel debit card or a specialist multi-currency account to spend and make card withdrawals with low fees and the real exchange rate.
2. Is it better to exchange money in New Zealand or Fiji?
Whether you choose to buy your travel money in New Zealand or Fiji comes down to personal preference. However, to make sure you get the best deal it’s important to look at the exchange rate being offered, to make sure it’s fair. Find the live mid-market exchange rate for your currency with a Google search, and look for a provider which offers this - or as close as possible to it. For many travellers the most reliable way to get a good rate is to use a travel debit card to spend or make cash withdrawals on arrival in Fiji.
3. Should I exchange money before I travel?
It’s not usually necessary to buy FJD before you leave New Zealand. Many travellers find it more convenient to make a cash withdrawal at an ATM on arrival in Fiji instead of exchanging money in advance. This can also mean you get a better exchange rate compared to using a currency exchange service before departure.
If you’re concerned about heading off to Fiji with no cash in your pocket, just exchange a small amount before departing, and use your card to withdraw the bulk of the cash you need as and when you need it.
4. Do airports charge more for currency exchange?
Airport currency exchange services tend to be a very expensive way to get your travel money. While they may not have high upfront fees, the exchange rates offered are often pretty poor, which means you pay more than you need to when buying your FJD. If you really want to use an airport currency exchange service you might get a slightly better rate if you order your Australian dollar in advance online and collect it at a kiosk in the airport - but making a cash withdrawal at an ATM on arrival is often the cheaper option.
5. Do banks charge for currency exchange?
Banks may charge an upfront fee for converting currencies as well as adding an extra fee in the form of an exchange rate markup. Often the upfront fee may look quite low, but the exchange rate markup can push up costs significantly.
6. How do you know if an exchange rate is good?
To get the best available exchange rate you’ll need to find a currency exchange service which offers the mid-market exchange rate or as close as possible to it. Find the live mid-market rate for your currency using a Google search or a reputable currency conversion app, and look for providers offering this rate if you can. Usually you’ll get the best deal when you use an online specialist service rather than a bank or airport currency exchange provider.
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