The Central African Republic uses the Central African CFA franc, designated XAF and shared with five other countries in the Central African Economic and Monetary Community. The currency is pegged to the euro at a fixed rate of 655.957 XAF per euro, a relationship managed by the French Treasury through guaranteed convertibility. Banknotes circulate in denominations of 500, 1000, 2000, 5000, and 10000 francs, while coins exist in 1, 2, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, and 500 franc units. The Banque des États de l'Afrique Centrale, headquartered in Yaoundé, Cameroon, issues all currency for the monetary zone.
Bangui contains the only functional ATMs in the country, concentrated in the capital's central districts near Avenue Boganda and the administrative quarter. Even these machines experience frequent cash shortages lasting days or weeks, and most accept only Visa cards issued by specific international banks. Mastercard acceptance remains sporadic. The daily withdrawal limit typically sits at 100000 to 150000 XAF when machines function, though individual bank policies vary. Power outages disable ATMs without warning, and telecommunications disruptions prevent transaction authorization even when electricity runs. Outside Bangui, no ATMs exist in Berbérati, Bambari, Carnot, Bouar, or any secondary city.
Cash dominates all transactions. Credit cards function only at two hotels in Bangui and occasionally at the airport fuel station serving chartered flights. Mobile money services operate through Orange Money and Moov Money, but coverage remains confined to Bangui and immediate surroundings, with unreliable network connectivity even in the capital. Western Union and MoneyGram maintain offices in Bangui for incoming transfers, though identification requirements and transfer limits change without notice. Some agents operate in Berbérati and Bambari, but service interruptions lasting weeks occur regularly.
The informal currency exchange market operates openly along Avenue de l'Indépendance in Bangui, where traders convert euros and US dollars at rates marginally below official bank rates. Banks in Bangui including ECOBANK, BGFI Bank, and Banque Populaire Maroco-Centrafricaine exchange major currencies but require extensive documentation, multiple photocopies of passports, and processing times extending to several hours. Exchange outside Bangui is effectively impossible through formal channels. Lebanese-owned businesses throughout the country sometimes exchange euros or dollars as an informal service to customers, but rates vary dramatically and no guarantee exists.
Visitors should carry all funds they anticipate needing in euro banknotes, as this remains the most universally recognized foreign currency. US dollars circulate less widely and often receive worse exchange rates. CFA francs from other countries in the monetary zone are fully interchangeable, so obtaining cash in Cameroon before overland entry remains a functional strategy. New, undamaged banknotes exchange more readily than worn ones. Denominations above 200 euros become difficult to break into smaller bills.
A meal of fufu with peanut sauce and grilled fish at a local restaurant in Bangui costs 1500 to 2500 XAF. Street food portions of cassava with sauce run 500 to 800 XAF. A bottle of locally brewed Mocaf beer costs 500 to 700 XAF at a bar, while imported European beers reach 1500 XAF. A liter of bottled water sells for 500 to 800 XAF depending on brand and location. A full meal at one of Bangui's restaurants catering to international workers ranges from 8000 to 15000 XAF.
Shared taxi rides within Bangui neighborhoods cost 200 to 500 XAF per person depending on distance. Motorcycle taxis charge 300 to 1000 XAF for trips across the city. Hiring a vehicle with driver for a full day in Bangui starts at 50000 XAF and increases based on vehicle type and negotiation. Fuel costs approximately 850 to 950 XAF per liter for gasoline, with frequent shortages that drive informal market prices above 1200 XAF per liter.
Basic guesthouse accommodation in Bangui with shared facilities runs 8000 to 15000 XAF per night. Mid-range hotels with private rooms, intermittent electricity, and basic breakfast range from 25000 to 45000 XAF. The few hotels maintaining generator power, security, and consistent water supply charge 60000 to 150000 XAF per night. Outside Bangui, accommodation options reduce to mission guesthouses or informal arrangements, where prices vary entirely on circumstance.
A SIM card from Orange or Moov costs 1000 to 2000 XAF with minimal included credit. Data packages of 1GB valid for one week cost approximately 5000 XAF, though network coverage outside central Bangui makes this purchase theoretical rather than functional. Domestic calls cost 75 to 150 XAF per minute depending on network and time of day.