Money at N'djili International (FIH)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Kinshasa, Democratic Republic of the Congo.
Kinshasa uses the CDF (FC). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly USD 25–40. USD widely accepted; small clean USD bills preferred.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at N'djili International (FIH)?
Democratic Republic of the Congo uses the CDF (FC). Airport ATMs dispense CDF directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from FIH to the city cost?
Expected fare on the FIH → Gombe (central) route is roughly USD 25–40. Around USD 50+ is already high, and USD 80+ 'VIP' quote is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at FIH?
Not expected. Drivers in Democratic Republic of the Congo don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at FIH?
USD widely accepted; small clean USD bills preferred. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of CDF notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at FIH?
Only if you need $10–20 of CDF to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.