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?
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
