know before you spend
Costa Blanca Currency Guide
Live rates, real local prices, and how to actually pay here without losing money on fees.
Live rates, real local prices, and how to actually pay here without losing money on fees.
Rough typical prices — Costa Blanca's coastal towns (especially the north) run noticeably higher than inland Spain, and high-end venues can be double these figures or more.
When a card machine asks “pay in EUR or [your currency]?”, always choose EUR. Paying in your own currency (called Dynamic Currency Conversion) almost always uses a worse exchange rate than your bank’s own rate.
Cards from providers like Wise or Revolut generally give a fairer exchange rate than airport kiosks or high-street exchange bureaus, which often build in a large hidden margin.
If you need cash, withdrawing from a bank ATM is usually cheaper than a currency exchange counter — just watch for your own bank’s foreign withdrawal fee, and again, decline any “conversion” the ATM offers and let your bank handle the rate.
Most restaurants, shops, and supermarkets take cards without issue. Smaller local markets, some bars, and rural spots may be cash-only, so it’s worth keeping some euros on hand.