Update (2025): Since my visit, Tuvalu has installed its first-ever ATMs through the National Bank of Tuvalu. Five machines are now located on the main island of Funafuti, including in Vaiaku village and at the airport. This marks a major shift from what was once a fully cash-only economy.

Is Tuvalu Expensive to Visit?

Talofa! Tuvalu is one of the most adventurous, rewarding, and beautiful place I’ve ever had the opportunity to travel to. I like to think, that if a place has a number of obstacles in order to visit, it will make it far more rewarding of an experience. For Tuvalu, that was exactly that. Tuvalu isn’t one of the most isolated blocked off places in the world. In fact, it’s very welcoming and easy to visit.

But for many people around the world, it is a long costly journey to visit these 9 islands in the Central Pacific. There are two operating flights to and from Tuvalu, one of them being the less popular Air Kiribati once a week flight. So that leaves a pricey Fiji Airways flight to work with. Where you come from around the world can change the flight cost. But initially, to fly from Fiji, will be minimum 400USD.

My Budget for One Week in Funafuti

Flight – $480 USD
L’s Lodge (1 Week) – $300 USD
Food / Water – 50 AUD (Ate out once and bought a few store knick knacks. Had groceries and was offered meals often.)
Lagoon Tour – 150 AUD
Motorcycle Rental + Petrol 50 AUD

The Biggest Challenge Was Banking & Cash in Tuvalu

There is no budget accommodation other than 85 AUD a night rooms at a handful of the hotels in Funafuti and certainly no couchsurfers to look out for before hand (Although people will happily welcome you into their home). But the biggest obstacle I had to face and figure out was not having a single ATM in all of Tuvalu. The last time I had to figure this out was when I went to Cuba in 2015 and American cards did not work in Cuban ATM’s.

I Note again: At the time of my visit, there were no ATMs anywhere in Tuvalu. Travelers had to arrive fully prepared with enough cash to cover their entire stay. As of April 2025, this is no longer the case — but infrastructure remains limited and travelers should still plan carefully. This new update does makes for a simpler return to Tuvalu. Back to the post now 🙂

Cash Is Still King in Tuvalu

Like much of the Pacific Islands, cash is the prime if not ONLY means to pay for anything an everything. That is no different in Tuvalu! However, no ATMS means you will either have to Western Union your money from the outside in to the Bank of Tuvalu. Or do it like me and carry money in from Fiji.

This can be really difficult if not risky as hell as carrying a wad of cash isn’t the most safe thing to do. And secondly, that home bank can easily flag your card and shut it down right on the spot leaving you with no options other than to call momma to save your money situation.

SO WHAT DID I DO?!!!

Set A Budget

Like anywhere I go, I always set a realistic budget before I go to a place. Always on the higher scale so chances are I can budget ad have a remaining amount. For Tuvalu, I anticipated a costly flight (480USD), a full week in the cheapest decent hotel (300USD), & enough left to cover costs of food, water, tours & fun which I estimated would be 3- 400 Australian dollars.

Okay I totally only saved about 950 USD in New Zealand currency, jobs don’t pay well in NZ.
About 1,400 Australian is what I needed

How I Prepared for a Cash-Only Country

I took the risky route of showing up to an ANZ Bank (An Aussie bank that I trust over Bank of South Pacific) and withdrawing about 2000 Fijian Dollars broken up in 2 or 3 transactions with the knowing that I could possibly be blocked. (Two or three considering there were max limits in place). After I realize my bank trusted me and my massive withdrawal, I walked a few blocks from the bank in Sigatoka town over to a currency exchange joint.

Why Australian Dollars Are Used in Tuvalu

At the exchange office, I asked for a conversion to Australian Dollars & because Fijians are so accommodating and amazing, they gave me a really good conversion rate. You might ask, why Australian Dollars? That’s because Australian Dollars are the adopted currency amongst many Pacific Island nations that don’t produce and circulate their own currency. Australian Dollars is the currency used in Tuvalu, Kiribati, Nauru & of course Australian External Territories. I did all of this just the day before leaving Tuvalu.

While I was hanging around in Sigatoka town, I made it priority to have pen and paper handy while doing this so I made sure I had the funds ready to spend what I needed to spend. I even shopped for groceries in town to bring, to cut those immediate food costs in Tuvalu. After all, cash is all I will have to survive a week in Tuvalu.

At Suva airport, I took the remaining Fijian Dollars I had, and converted it to add to my lump sum of ballin cash and set off for Tuvalu.

DO NOT, I REPEAT DO NOT ANTICIPATE GETTING MONEY EXCHANGED IN TUVALU.

In one week I spent very carefully. The hotel cost is what drained my budget but to adapt to the Central Pacific atoll life of pure equatorial heat, I won’t say I regretted it. Had I spent longer, I would have had a number of new friends take me in as a guest. Food costs were cut severely as I had been invited to feasts and meals anytime I spend time with locals. Even had extra food brought to the hotel and shared with me.

Tuvaluans are so welcoming and warm like that which I miss so dearly. That lagoon tour I went on was an absolute must and I begged the Tour council to take me on a trip that would cost me 150AUD considering that was all I had left on my trip, which they eventually offered. My budget worked out for me and my ability to afford Tuvalu even on a slightly costly backpacker budget still sufficed with my wad of cash.

All in all, those are all many things to keep in mind when visiting Tuvalu. No ATMS’s in an entire country means you have to do a lot of homework with budget and finding a means to sustain yourself while there. And last minute resort being you Western Union money into Tuvalu. Other than that, Tuvalu will offer you everything you wish for in a tight knitted loving community. Because that is what Tuvalu is, a small nation but a large community of people that are willing to take you in like a Tuvaluan.

What the New ATMs Mean for Travelers in 2025

While the introduction of ATMs in Funafuti makes accessing cash easier, Tuvalu remains one of the most remote island nations in the world. ATM reliability, withdrawal limits, and international card compatibility may still vary. Travelers are strongly advised to bring sufficient backup cash in case machines are temporarily offline.

Should You Still Bring Cash to Tuvalu?

Yes! Even with the new ATMs, bringing sufficient backup cash is still strongly recommended.

Final Thoughts on Tuvalu: Eight Years Later

Seven years later, Tuvalu remains one of my favorite destinations I’ve ever traveled to alongside my time in Kiribati and especially Tokelau, whose similarities run closer than most people realize.

Even as infrastructure has evolved, the heart of Tuvalu remains unchanged through its people. It is still a tightly knit atoll community grounded in ocean, land, and community.

As I update this post while immersed in the culture and life of American Samoa, I find myself reflecting on how formative Tuvalu was in shaping my understanding of the Pacific. It remains on my horizon, not just as a traveler, but as part of One Ocean, One People, a nonprofit mission dedicated to documenting cultures and traditions across the Pacific, including Tuvalu.

If you have any questions because you have ambitions and desires to visit Tuvalu, please don’t hesitate to leave a comment, contact me via my blog, Instagram or Facebook. Tofa!