Cash, Card, Currency - What work and what doesn't in Siquijor

I have never hold so much cash in my life before

Ahh, the Philippines.

The first time I arrived, I had no idea what I was walking into.

Why the shock?

Because 99% of transactions here are in CASH.

Yes… that old piece of paper you probably haven’t used in years. I didn’t even have a wallet when I first landed!

How Do You Get Cash in Siquijor?

ATM in Siquijor

You’ll find plenty of ATMs around the island where you can withdraw money from your international bank account. But there’s a catch…

💰 Max withdrawal per transaction: 10,000 pesos (~160 euros)

💸 ATM fee per withdrawal: 300 pesos (~5 euros)

If you need to withdraw more, you’ll have to repeat the process and pay the fee again. Yeah, not ideal.

An Alternative: GCash

G-cash in Siquijor

Some businesses accept GCash, the Philippines' version of a mobile wallet. It allows you to transfer money instantly.

How do you use it?

I’ve found Remitly to be the best way. It has:

✔️ No transaction fees

✔️ A fair exchange rate

So you can transfer money from your Remitly account, straight to their Gcash account, instantly. I know is sounds a bit complicated, but once you try it you will see that is actually quick and easy.

So my recommendation is

For large expenses like:

🏠 Accommodation

🏍️ Scooter rental

🍽️ Other large payments

I just transfer money via Remitly.

For everyday expenses, I still withdraw cash from ATMs, despite the 300-peso fee.

Another Option: Western Union

Pawnshop that works as Western Union in Siquijor

A friend of mine prefers Western Union, where you can withdraw larger amounts with lower fees. The downside?

🚩 There aren’t many Western Union locations on the island.

Which means withdrawing a big sum and carrying it around—or hiding it somewhere in your hotel. And we all know the risks of that.

I don't know about you, but most of the Digital Nomads I know don't like to be walking around with ridiculous amount of cash in their pockets.

What about our Coworking Space in Siquijor?

We'll follow the island rules—cash and GCash accepted.

But I’m working on something better.

I’m trying to find a way for you to simply tap your international card and pay hassle-free.

I can’t promise it yet… but I’m trying. 😉

Got Questions? Drop them below! I’ll try to reply the same day. 🚀