Jamaican currency. Currency in Jamaica

Jamaican money is quite a beautiful souvenir. And the country has its own currency, not the American dollar, as, for example, in Panama. The international abbreviation is JMD, but locals simply call the Jamaican dollar "J". There are 100 cents in a dollar, respectively. There are small bills - 1, 2, 5 "J". There are 10 and 20, there are 100. In addition, a wide variety of coins are walking around the island, some quite old, and even anniversary, unusual ones. There is a chance to bring a Bob Marley souvenir. Banks close quite early, which is worth keeping in mind when exchanging currency. But at both major airports - Kingston and Montego Bay - they, of course, operate 24 hours a day. Only the rate there is much less favorable than in city exchange offices.

You can use dollars too

It should be noted, however, that American “greenbacks” are a very respected currency in Jamaica. At the market or somewhere else in a not very “official” place, you can easily pay with them, if that happens. Sometimes even prices are indicated in USD. There is no point in bringing euros; it is not profitable to exchange this currency. At the central bank of Kingston, many exotic currencies can be exchanged at a not very favorable rate - mainly, of course, from the Caribbean. Well, you never know, maybe you have some left over from your previous trip? However, they don’t take Russian rubles anywhere :))

As for bank cards, I personally did not have any difficulties with them, although some other Russian travelers complained that they had
There were problems with authorization, and the sellers recommended that they go to the bank and cash out.

Beautiful banknotes

As for the bills and coins themselves, they are worthy of adding to your collection if you collect foreign money. For example, I collect, and Jamaican Jays are the pride of my collection. Well, where else can you find money with bauxite mines on it? And among the coins there are polygonal ones, with images of local flora and fauna. Moreover, even those that were minted back in the 80s are in use. The coins are beautiful, but there is a lot of confusion with them in terms of their denomination, so I would recommend bringing them purely for fun, for collection.

The prices are such that 100 Jamaican dollars can buy a bottle of water. For a thousand - a pack of cigarettes or a couple of servings of simple street food.

Change is always given in local currency. And it’s better to have more small bills with you, since change is always a problem.

Tipping in local restaurants is somehow not accepted. Usually the service fee is already included in the bill. However, if you want to thank a specific waiter, then you can leave 10% of the bill - no one will refuse. The same applies to tips for a guide to all sorts of natural beauties such as waterfalls.

At the end of September 2018, there are 135 Jamaican dollars in 1 US dollar, and 2 Jamaican dollars in 1 Russian ruble. That is, 1 dollar is 50 kopecks in our money.

The official currency of Jamaica is the Jamaican dollar (JMD). Locals call her "jay".

In Jamaica, you can freely pay in US dollars.

How much money to take to Jamaica

Jamaica is a fairly expensive country. The price for flights and hotel accommodation is especially high. Spartan conditions will cost about $30 per day for one person; you can feel more or less free with $100.

What is the best money to bring to Jamaica: dollars. Euro exchange is not profitable here. If the price is indicated in US dollars, then it is better to pay with them. If in Jamaican dollars, then it is more profitable to pay in Jamaican dollars. Change is always given in local currency.

Have as many small bills ready as possible. Large bills should be exchanged for Jamaican dollars, as in most places there will be problems with change even with $20.

How to save money in Jamaica

Money in Jamaica goes to dinners in tourist places, alcohol on the beaches and marijuana. If you eat at local eateries or buy food at the market, you can save a lot of money. You can also relax on a budget in guesthouses and not use the expensive services of tour agents.

Approximate prices in Jamaica

Bottle of beer: 250 Jamaican dollars (80 rubles)
A pack of local cigarettes: 600-700 (RUB 180-215)
Fruits: from 100 Jamaican dollars kg (30 rubles)
Meat pie: from 100 Jamaican dollars (30 rubles)
Portion of jerk chicken: from 500 Jamaican dollars (160 rubles)
American fast food: 650 Jamaican dollars (200 rubles)
Lunch at a regular establishment: from 300 Jamaican dollars (92 rubles)
Lunch at a restaurant: from 3,400 Jamaican dollars (1,000 rubles)
Dinner for two in an expensive restaurant (with wine): 12,000 Jamaican dollars (3,500 rubles)

Bank cards in Jamaica

There are usually no problems with common bank cards like Visa and MasterCard. But for safety, it is better not to pay with cards in stores and restaurants, but to use them only to withdraw cash from ATMs.

Currency exchange in Jamaica

There are exchange offices or cambio in Jamaica at airports, banks, hotels and on city streets. It is best to change money at city banks; most of them have 24-hour ATMs. ATMs dispense mostly Jamaican dollars, but some can also dispense US dollars.

Banks of Jamaica

Banking hours in Jamaica: Mon-Thu 09:00-14:00, Fri 09:00-12:00, 14:30-17:00. Main banks in Jamaica: Bank of Jamaica, JMMB, Jamaica National, NCB, Scotiabank.

Tipping in Jamaica

Tipping is not accepted in Jamaica. In restaurants, tips are usually included in the bill. But if not, then 10-15% of the check amount is possible.

1 dollar = 100 cents. International code: (JMD).

Currently in circulation are banknotes in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 1000 Jamaican dollars and coins in denominations of 1 and 5 dollars, 5, 10, 20, 25 and 50 cents. Cash circulation mainly involves coins from the 1980s and 1990s. It is noteworthy that the 5-cent coin of the old issues is almost 2 times the size of a modern coin of the same denomination. Jamaican coins are minted not only in round shapes, but also in heptagonal shapes. As a rule, they contain images of local birds, animals and fish. The coins are made of copper-plated or nickel-plated steel.

The design of paper bills is mainly focused on the image of landmarks and natural landscapes of the country. For example, the banknotes feature drawings of bauxite mines, beaches and hotels, as well as portraits of famous political figures. All banknotes are protected by a pineapple watermark.
1 dollar (one dollar): the bill is green and lilac in color, contains an image of a sailing ship against a background of tropical vegetation;
2 dollars (two dollars): the bill is brown-gray in color, contains an image of a group of children and teenagers peering into the distance;
5 dollars (five dollars): the bill is brown-orange in color, contains an image of a state building;
10 dollars (ten dollars): the bill is blue-violet in color, contains an image of large-scale construction using technology;
20 dollars (twenty dollars): the bill is red and blue, contains an image of a skyscraper;
50 dollars (fifty dollars): a bill with a predominance of dark red and pink shades, contains a portrait of Samuel Sharp, an image of a beach;
100 dollars (one hundred dollars): the bill is pale orange-green, contains a portrait of Sir Donald, an image of a waterfall on the Dunn River;
500 dollars (five hundred dollars): yellow - purple note, contains Porter Nani of the Maroons, also known as Queen Nani and Grandmother Nani, National Hero of Jamaica, image of Port Royal;
1000 dollars (one thousand dollars): the bill is blue - green - yellow, contains a portrait of Mihazl Manley, in the center - a butterfly and the national coat of arms, an image of Jamaica House.

Until 1969, English coins remained legal tender in Jamaica up to £2 per payment. On September 8, 1969, the transition to the decimal monetary system was carried out and a new monetary unit was introduced - the Jamaican dollar.

A large number of commemorative coins were minted.

Currency converter

Prices in Jamaica

Nutrition

≈ 10000 JMD≈ 1837 UAH

Coffee

Jamaica Blue Mountain is one of the highest growing coffee varieties in the world. The Blue Mountains mountain range reaches a height of 2200 meters, and coffee plantations are located at least 1200 meters above sea level. The coffee production area is a plantation of about 6 thousand hectares. Some Jamaican coffee producers are trying to pass off their products as Blue Mountain. A similar method is used by Americans who roast their coffee, calling it Blue Mountain Style. Although similar in appearance to real Blue Mountain, it has nothing in common with real Jamaican coffee, so you need to be careful what you buy. The average price for a 450 gram package is J$8,500.

≈ 1200 JMD≈ 220 UAH

Akki

The fruit, which tastes like scrambled eggs, is the most popular breakfast in Jamaica. When fully ripe, the fruit opens to reveal a juicy, creamy, nut-like core attached to large, glossy black seeds. The fruit is poisonous until it opens naturally. A very tasty side dish is prepared from it: boiled for 5 minutes and then fried in oil. Price – 1200 Jamaican dollars per kilogram.

≈ 500 JMD≈ 92 UAH

Jerk (meat)

Pieces of dried meat, dried under special conditions. Jerky can be consumed as an independent product or as a snack. A small portion of this delicacy will cost you ~500 Jamaican dollars. There is also a “fried” version of this product.

≈ 150 JMD≈ 28 UAH

Juici Patties (juicy pies)

Traditional Jamaican pies are very popular in Jamaica - Juici Patties, which means “juicy pies”. The cafe chain under the same name is the Jamaican version of McDonald's; You will recognize these small establishments by their bright red inscription on a yellow background. There are even queues here during lunch hours, but there are few tourists, mostly local residents. Try these large and delicious pies and sandwiches with a variety of vegetable, meat and fish fillings - you will definitely want more! The price for one pie is ~150 Jamaican dollars.

Drinks

≈ 500 JMD≈ 92 UAH

Jamaican rum

As a result of the addition of caramel, it has a dark color and belongs to the class of heavy rums (high bodied). Basically, Jamaican rum is aged for 5-7 years. Alcohol content - 40-48.5%. The best brands are Appleton and Myers. One liter of this drink on the island costs about 500 Jamaican dollars.

≈ 400 JMD≈ 73 UAH

Skyjuice

The most popular refreshing drink in Jamaica, which consists of syrup and crushed ice. It can be ordered with or without rum. The alcoholic version costs about 500 Jamaican dollars, the non-alcoholic version costs about 300.

≈ 200 JMD≈ 37 UAH

Beer

The most famous Jamaican beer is Red Stripe (light beer), whose trademark is a red diagonal stripe. It is also known for its original pot-bellied bottle with a capacity of only 0.375 liters, costing 200 Jamaican dollars.

Souvenirs

≈ 600 JMD≈ 110 UAH

Cigars Macanudo

Macanudo is a Spanish word meaning "excellent". To produce the Maduro line of cigars with a luxurious dark chocolate colored wrapper, a special variety of Connecticut Broadleaf tobacco is used. The average price of one cigar is ~600 Jamaican dollars.

≈ 8500 JMD≈ 1561 UAH

Bob Marle coins

Gold and silver coins featuring Bob Marley, the legendary Jamaican-born reggae musician, make an excellent keepsake. The nominal price for one such coin is 8,500 Jamaican dollars, however, most likely, a higher price will be requested upon sale.

Household items/Clothing

≈ 1800 JMD≈ 331 UAH

Rastafarian hat

The cost of one machine-knitted hat is from 500 Jamaican dollars, hand-knitted from 1800 Jamaican dollars. A real Rastafarian's hat is colorful, with a visor, reminiscent of not even a beret, but simply a bag so that the voluminous Rasta can fit in there without leaving a trace.

≈ 1500 JMD≈ 276 UAH

Fabrics

At fabric dealers you will find a huge amount of fabrics - velvet, silk, organza, tulle. The cost of one linear meter varies from 1000 Jamaican dollars and above.

≈ 4000 JMD≈ 735 UAH

Bamboo furniture items

This is one-of-a-kind handmade bamboo furniture made from very strong, durable wood of rich red or yellow color. It is hand polished and engraved and is easy to maintain. The simplest item from the proposed series will cost you 4,000 Jamaican dollars.

≈ 10000 JMD≈ 1837 UAH

Women's clothing

Girls should pay attention to clothing from Jamaican brands: Cooyah and La Pluma Negra, and designer Sun Island T-shirts, as well as buy at least one Bob Marley branded T-shirt. Prices range from 4,000 to 25,000 Jamaican dollars.

Services

≈ 6000 JMD≈ 1102 UAH

Car rental

Required age - over 23, but not over 70 years old, must have an international driver's license obtained at least a year ago, a credit card. Insurance is required. Attention, traffic on the island of Jamaica is on the left! Speed in cities is limited to 35-50 km/h, on highways - 80 km/h. Road signs are virtually non-existent, especially in inland areas. The main roads are in good condition, but washed out or dilapidated roads are common. The cost of renting a car depends on the model and brand of the rented car, as well as the rental period. The average cost of renting a car per day is 6,000 Jamaican dollars.

≈ 10000 JMD≈ 1837 UAH

Taxi

Local taxis do not use meters, but there are clear fares between certain points. Licensed JUTA vehicles operate between airports and most hotels. At the entrances to large hotels and in other tourist areas there are taxi stands (most often owned by a specific company), and the cars of large companies are maintained in better technical condition than those of small carriers, which is important in local conditions. Most taxi drivers will gladly agree to an intercity trip, since in this case a double fee will be charged (Kingston - Port Antonio ~ 10,000 Jamaican dollars). For trips within the city, you can use the services of private drivers, but the price of the trip should be agreed upon in advance, before getting into the car.

≈ 1700 JMD≈ 312 UAH

Braiding

The main offer on the local service market is braids. For a reasonable fee, the natives will decorate any head with them. Even if there is no hair on it, it will be woven from multi-colored threads. For a dozen freshly braided braids you will be asked for 1500-2000 Jamaican dollars.

CURRENCY OF JAMAICA

The monetary unit of Jamaica is the Jamaican dollar (JMD, code 388).

The exchange rate of the Jamaican dollar to the ruble and to other currencies can be viewed on the currency converter on the right.

There are banknotes in circulation in denominations of 1, 2, 5, 10, 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1000 Jamaican dollars, as well as coins in denominations of 5, 10, 20, 25, 50 cents, 1, 5, 10 and 20 dollars.

Jamaican dollar banknotes look like this:

According to local laws, all goods and services on the island must be paid for in local currency only. However, the US dollar is accepted almost everywhere. Many prices (especially for expensive items) are quoted in US dollars.

Currency exchange in Jamaica

You can exchange currency in Jamaica at airports, hotels, banks and exchange offices. Almost every Jamaican town or village has at least one licensed money changer. The amount of the exchange commission charged is on average from 2 to 5 percent. When exchanging, it is recommended to receive at least part of the amount in small denomination bills - often local stores do not have small money for change.

Banks in Jamaica are open Monday to Thursday from 9.00 to 14.00; on Fridays – from 9.00 to 12.00 and from 14.30 to 17.00. Some exchangers work 24 hours a day.

Credit cards (American Express, Diners Club, MasterCard and Visa) are accepted in many locations throughout the island.

Capital: Kingston

Population: 2.9 million people

Currency: Jamaican dollar

Symbol: J.M.D.

Bank: Bank of Jamaica

Jamaica - by the way, this is an ancient, pre-European name for the island - was opened to the Old World at the end of the 15th century. Over 60 thousand Indians of the Arawak tribe lived on these lands, but by the beginning of the 17th century the census counted just over 50 people - this was the result of the aggressive colonial policy of the Spaniards.

However, Spain relatively soon lost interest in this colony, focusing on more economically profitable areas in America. But in Jamaica the British became more active: African slaves were imported, sugar cane plantations and pastures were established, settlements and forts were built. Soon the island was declared a British colony.

At the same time, Jamaica became the largest pirate center. By the end of the 17th century, coastal Port Royal acquired the status of the capital of sea robbers: at least a third of the inhabitants were pirates. Due to the rich booty of pirates, the city developed, almost completely destroyed by a strong earthquake in 1692.

Jamaica prospered economically until 1833, when slavery was abolished. The colony began to decline as Asian migrants had to be paid for their labor, making sugar production less profitable. However, by the beginning of the 20th century, the situation improved again, helped by American investment in new plantations. The Americans began cultivating bananas, coconuts and coffee, building railways and developing tourism infrastructure.

Since 1962, the country gained independence from Great Britain, maintaining formal subordination to the English monarchical dynasty. Today, Jamaica is a popular recreation area attracting tourists from all over the planet. Agriculture also remains an important component of the economy, as do remittances from native migrant workers.

Note to Bonista

Jamaica has been issuing its own money since 1822, when the first banknotes were issued. The Jamaican pound, the issue of which was controlled by the British authorities, was in circulation until the country gained independence - and for several years after this event. In 1996, the Bank of Jamaica issued the Jamaican dollar. For some time - until 1972 - this monetary unit was also used in the Cayman Islands.

In our numismatic store you can buy Jamaican dollar banknotes of different denominations and series. The dollars of the latest issue are excellently made - both in terms of the quality of printing and materials, and in terms of design. The obverses depict prominent natives of the island, and the reverses depict beautiful views of Jamaica.

Every music lover knows that this sunny island is the birthplace of the reggae music style. The famous Bob Marley and other stars of the genre were born here. In addition, soul, ska, dub and many other genres were invented in Jamaica.
Local laws do not provide for an age limit for drinking alcohol. Anti-drug legislation is also extremely loyal. At the same time, alcoholism and drug addiction are not any serious problems. Perhaps the reason lies in religiosity: the island has the largest number of churches per capita in the world.
The islanders' love for football is clear and easy to explain. Surprisingly, winter sports are also popular on the tropical island. The national team has been participating in the Winter Olympics since 1988.