Philippines currency: the peso and how you pay
The peso, the notes and coins, and how cash, cards and QR codes fit together.
By the Local SIM Philippines team, checked October 3, 2026
The short answer
The Philippines' currency is the peso (PHP), with 100 centavos in a peso. Cards are widely accepted in cities and malls, and cash covers markets and small vendors. GCash and Maya are on QR Ph, the Bangko Sentral's national QR payment standard. Change money at banks or money changers; the Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas publishes a daily reference rate.
- The peso (PHP), with 100 centavos in a peso: banknotes from 20 to 1,000 pesos, and coins from the 1-sentimo piece to the 20-peso coin.
- Cards: widely accepted in cities, malls, hotels and restaurants; keep some cash for everywhere else.
- Cash: markets, small vendors and tricycle fares; smaller notes are easier to use, and ATMs may be scarce away from the larger cities.
- E-wallets: GCash and Maya are on QR Ph, the Bangko Sentral's national QR payment standard.
- Exchange: banks and BSP-registered money changers; check the Bangko Sentral's daily reference rate.
Checked October 3, 2026
Cash and cards, in practice
Cards
- What to know
- Widely accepted in cities, malls, hotels and restaurants; keep some cash for everywhere else.
Cash
- What to know
- Markets, small vendors and tricycle fares; smaller notes are easier to use.
E-wallets
- What to know
- GCash and Maya are on QR Ph, the Bangko Sentral's national QR payment standard.
Exchange
- What to know
- Banks and BSP-registered money changers; the Bangko Sentral publishes a daily reference rate.
At the ATM
- What to know
- Available in the larger cities and may be scarce in rural areas; use machines inside a bank or a business, and watch for card and ATM fraud.
The peso in practice
Notes and coins
The Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas issues the country's coins and notes: banknotes from 20 to 1,000 pesos, and coins from the 1-sentimo piece to the 20-peso coin.
Where cash wins
Markets, small vendors and tricycle fares still run on cash, so keep pesos in smaller notes and coins to hand.
Changing money
Banks and BSP-registered money changers handle exchange; the Bangko Sentral publishes a daily reference exchange rate to compare against.
The bottom line
Lowest price per day for trips up to 7 days
7 days · 3 GB · US$5.88
Cash covers the markets and the card the rest; the rate checker, the ride app and the messages home all run on a working connection.
Buy on VietSIMQuestions
What is the Philippines currency?
The Philippine peso, written PHP, with 100 centavos in a peso. Cards are widely accepted in cities, malls and hotels, and cash covers markets and small vendors; GCash and Maya are on QR Ph, the Bangko Sentral's national QR payment standard.
Can I use my card in the Philippines?
In cities, malls, hotels and restaurants the main international cards are widely accepted; for markets, small vendors and tricycle fares, carry pesos in smaller notes.
Where can I change money or take cash out?
At banks and BSP-registered money changers, or at ATMs, which are available in the larger cities but may be scarce in rural areas; the Bangko Sentral publishes a daily reference exchange rate, so check it before comparing offers.
Sources
Where the facts on this page come from.
- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, coins and notes
- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, New Generation Currency coin series
- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, New Generation Currency banknote series
- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, exchange rate
- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, QR Ph person-to-merchant participants
- Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas, rules for foreign exchange dealers and money changers (Circular 471)
- Government of Canada, Philippines travel advice (money; card and ATM fraud)
Get your Philippines eSIM before you fly.
Plans from US$2.88, tax included, on Globe. Pick one here and pay on the store in US dollars.
See the plansCheckout on VietSIM · full refund if it does not work