Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for South Africa
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. The rand is weak against the AUD, which makes South Africa outstanding value - fine dining, wine and safari lodges all cost a fraction of the Australian equivalent.
Yes - cards work almost everywhere in South Africa, and you can get by on tap alone.
5 travel card options for South Africa, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday
Orange Everyday
22k0% with monthly criteria
ubank Spend
Spend account
9k0% international fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Transaction account
6k0% international fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | Rebated if you meet the monthly criteria | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | $0 from ubank, ATM operator fees may apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | $0 from Macquarie | $0 |
Paying for things in South Africa
Can you pay by card in South Africa?
Excellent. South Africa is a card country and contactless works nearly everywhere, including in townships and at petrol stations.
Cash and ATMs in South Africa
Use ATMs inside bank branches or shopping centres rather than street-facing machines, and never accept help from a stranger at one.
Carry R500-R1,000 for tips, car guards, markets and roadside stalls.
Do you tip in South Africa?
Expected and part of how people are paid: 10-15% in restaurants, R5-R10 for a car guard in a car park, and R100-R200 per day for a safari guide.
Worth knowing about paying in South Africa
Petrol stations are attended and often cash-preferred, though most now take cards. Always decline conversion to Australian dollars at a terminal.
Before you pay for anything in South Africa
Pay in South African rand or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
Travel card, debit card or credit card?
Why the card sold hardest at the airport is usually the one that loses.
What is a foreign transaction fee?
Around 3%, charged by your own Australian bank. Removable before you fly.
What one Australian dollar buys in South Africa
R11.4 ZAR per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More South Africa essentials
South Africa visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to South Africa
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
South Africa eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
South Africa travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
South Africa airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in South Africa
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
South Africa travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in South Africa
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
Planning South Africa?
We will send you the South Africa guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.