Money at San José Mineta International (SJC)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at San Jose, United States.
San Jose uses the USD ($). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly $15–$30 rideshare SJ; $80–$130 rideshare SF. Card everywhere; cash still fine. Tip is not optional for taxi drivers.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at San José Mineta International (SJC)?
United States uses the USD ($). Airport ATMs dispense USD directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from SJC to the city cost?
Expected fare on the SJC → downtown San Jose / SF route is roughly $15–$30 rideshare SJ; $80–$130 rideshare SF. Around $40+ SJ is already high, and $150 SF 'town car' is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at SJC?
15–20% is expected. Drivers in United States 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 SJC?
Card everywhere; cash still fine. Tip is not optional for taxi drivers. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of USD notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at SJC?
Only if you need $10–20 of USD 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.