Money at O. R. Tambo International (JNB)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Johannesburg, South Africa.
Johannesburg uses the ZAR (R). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly R230 (Gautrain) · R350–R600 (Uber). Card accepted for Uber/Bolt; cash for metered.
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 O. R. Tambo International (JNB)?
South Africa uses the ZAR (R). Airport ATMs dispense ZAR directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from JNB to the city cost?
Expected fare on the JNB → Sandton route is roughly R230 (Gautrain) · R350–R600 (Uber). Around R800–R1100 is already high, and R1200+ is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at JNB?
10% is standard. Drivers in South Africa 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 JNB?
Card accepted for Uber/Bolt; cash for metered. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of ZAR notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at JNB?
Only if you need $10–20 of ZAR 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.
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