Buy US Dollars (USD) Always at the Best Rate
Get your currency fast 💸 Buy USD with AUD online or in-store
ASIC regulatedAustralian owned
ASIC regulatedAustralian owned
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See why S Money provides the best value
How to buy US dollars
1. Place your order
Choose between store pick up or secure home delivery.
2. Receive notifications
SMS messages & emails with instructions on how to pay and when it's ready.
3. Get your currency
You must show your photo I.D when you collect your order.
How long does it take?

- Confirm
- You'll receive a text and email confirming we've received your payment
- Delivery
- Once your payment is confirmed, delivery takes 2-3 business days depending on where you are in Australia
- Updates
- You'll receive updates on when your order is coming. We'll also let you know if there is any unexpected delays
More Frequently Asked Questions
When you place an order with S Money, you can choose either Store Pickup, Home Delivery or Post Office Collection.
Is home delivery safe?
Absolutely. We use StarTrack by Australia Post. The driver will require you to provide I.D before handing the order over. It will not be left unattended or given to anyone else.
What if I’m not home?
If you are not going to be home, choose Post Office Collection.
Your order will go to your local post office. You will be notified and can head down and collect your order when it’s convenient. Just remember to bring your I.D.
We process your order as soon as we’ve received payment and we try our best to get this to you.
Home delivery and Post Office collections orders usually arrive the within 2-3 business days once we have received your payment.
Store Pickup orders are available on same day or the next business day at the latest – once we have received your payment.
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You will be notified by email and text as soon as your currency is ready for collection or delivery.
We have stores in Sydney and Melbourne plus a number of collection locations including Brisbane.
If you don’t live in these areas, we offer safe, fast home delivery to every address in Australia.
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The S Money Melbourne CBD store is located at 44 Spencer Street, Melbourne VIC 3000.
The store is right next to the Great Southern Hotel and less than 100 metres from Southern Cross Train Station.
It is open 9am to 5pm – Monday to Friday and 10am to 3:30pm on Saturday.
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The S Money Sydney CBD store is located at Wharf 6, Circular Quay.
The store is on the wharf nearest to The Museum of Contemporary Art at The Rocks.
It is open 9am to 5pm – Monday to Friday and 10am to 3:30pm on Saturday.
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We also have partnered with other leading currency exchange brands to offer you pickup store locations in Brisbane.
With these stores in Brisbane and Sydney, you must order online and pay before you head into store.
You can sell us your foreign currency at our Melbourne store.
It’s located at 44 Spencer Street, Melbourne right next to the Great Southern Hotel.
Once you have placed your order, you will receive an email with instructions on how to pay. Most customers pay us by an internet banking transfer. We do not accept cash, cheque or Paypal.
We don’t have a minimum order amount.
For Home delivery or Post Office Collection orders, you can order up to $6,000 AUD in one order, and up to $9,500 AUD per day.
For Store Pick orders, you can order up to $20,000 AUD in one order.
Yes! You can call or email us if you have specific denomination requirements and we will do our very best to meet them.
Our fees depend on the currency and amount you order.
We aim to be upfront and transparent about what we charge and what it’s for.
Unlike other businesses we don’t try to hide this charge in the exchange rate. All orders will incur a service fee. This covers the cost of buying the currency and GST, along with a small profit.
Service and delivery fees

Service Fee
The Service Fee depends on the currency and amount you order.

Delivery Fee
It's a flat fee for secure delivery to your door with StarTrack by Australia Post.

Paying by Card in Store
In-store card transactions are subject to a merchant fee.
Buying US Dollars (USD) in Australia
Where is the best place to buy US dollars?
If you like the reassurance of having the local currency readily available from the moment you step off the plane, you have three options to pick up the cash before you go:
- Buying foreign currency online and either collect it in-store or have it delivered to you.
- Collect from a currency exchange store.
- Most expensively, buy the currency at the airport.
Online money changers like S Money are often an easy and cheap way to buy USD online but it may not necessary be as quick as walking into a store. Companies like Travelex also offer a foreign exchange service online but it takes between two and five business days before the currency is ready for pick-up or delivery so you need to be organised!
Alternatively, buying your currency in-store can be a good option but it all depends on where you go. The money changers in the centre of the main cities like Sydney or Melbourne tend to be more competitive than smaller stores in the suburbs.
Only change money at the airport as a last resort. The exchange rates and fees at Australian airports are among the worst in the world so avoid it at all costs if you want to get the best bang for your buck.
Learn more: The Best Places to Buy US dollars Australia
Should you buy US dollars now or later?
As a rule of thumb, if you are buying USD with Australian dollars, you want the AUD/USD exchange rate to be as high as possible. The higher the rate, the better it is for you. It means that you will receive more American dollars for the same amount of Australian dollars.
Unfortunately there isn't a particular day of the week or time of the day that is the best time.
While it's impossible to pick the perfect time, you can set up a free rate tracker to keep an eye on the rate.
Also keep in mind that if you buy it online, it may take 2-4 business days to arrive so make sure you finalise your financial transaction at least a week before you are due to travel overseas.
Learn more: When is the best time to buy US dollars with Australian dollars?
How much US dollars do you need?
It’s not an easy task to figure out how much spending money to take to the USA. The United States keeps you on your toes with every American state (and sometimes even individual cities within states) imposing its own tax rates and rules.
Those rates and rules will affect everything you buy, from your Statue of Liberty souvenirs to tickets to a baseball game. In Montana, for instance, there’s no sales tax. But in Louisiana, it’s 10%.
All of that means there’s no standard budget you can apply to every state. On top of that, how much you spend will depend upon the length of time you’re away and how you prefer to travel.
So the first steps to calculating your spending money budget is to figure out:
- How long you’re staying for
- How you plan to travel
- Where you want to go
If you are confused about how much money to take to the USA for 1, 2 or 4 weeks, read our detailed review to answer all your questions.
The cheapest ways to buy US dollars
If you are heading overseas or just want to purchase some US dollars to keep on hand, it's important to find the best way to exchange your money. Here are 5 top ways currently available in Australia
- Online - The cheapest way to buy US dollars under $10,000 is online. It's similar to buying anything else online but you will need some ID on hand. Online money changers, like S Money, have the best exchange rates. Most will either deliver it to your home or allow click and collect. For amounts over $10,000 the cheapest way is to go in-store.
- In-store -Â this is one of the best ways to get your currency fast. Just locate a store near you and bring your ID. It's a good idea to call ahead to check their rates and to make sure they have enough banknotes in stock.
- Overseas -Â Sometimes it can actually be cheaper to buy your US dollars abroad. Countries like Singapore have very competitive money changers if you are willing to go out of your way to find them.
- International money transfers - If you are sending money from Australia to the US, using a money transfer service like Wise or OFX is a great way to convert your currency. These online services are a much cheaper option than using an Australian bank.
- Travel money cards - These cards used to have terrible exchange rates and a heaps of hidden fees. While this is still the case with most bank travel cards, there are much better options available. These include Revolut and Wise.
About US Dollars


The currency used in the US is called the US dollar (USD) and is represented by the symbol $. It is the most recognised, traded and accepted currency in the world. Other names it is called include the ‘greenback’ (financial settings) or ‘buck’ (informal settings).
US banknote denominations
US dollars are available in many different denominations. This includes seven denominations in notes, as seen in our pictures.
American banknotes are made with a blend of 25% linen and 75% cotton, making them a little less impervious to wear and tear than plastic money. Their distinctive green colour gives the currency the popular name the ‘greenback’.
American dollar bills come in common denominations of $1, $5, $10, $20, and $100. Less common bills include the $2 and the $50 note.
US coins
There are 7 coins within the US. Common coin denominations include 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢ and $1. One dollar coins are rare; in fact, the United States is the only developed country that still has a $1 bill in popular circulation (a bill which is considered the most recognised currency in the world).
However people rarely refer to coins by their nominal value, instead, they have 'nicknames' that have become part of everyday use. The local lingo for these coins:
- One cent coin = a penny
- Five cent coin = a nickel
- Ten cent coin = a dime
- 25 cent coin = a quarter
- 50 cent coin = a half dollar
US dollars are available in many different denominations. This includes seven denominations in notes, as seen in our pictures.
American banknotes are made with a blend of 25% linen and 75% cotton, making them a little less impervious to wear and tear than plastic money. Their distinctive green colour gives the currency the popular name the ‘greenback’.
American dollar bills come in common denominations of $1, $5, $10, $20, and $100. Less common bills include the $2 and the $50 note.
There are 7 coins within the US. Common coin denominations include 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢ and $1. One dollar coins are rare; in fact, the United States is the only developed country that still has a $1 bill in popular circulation (a bill which is considered the most recognised currency in the world).
However people rarely refer to coins by their nominal value, instead, they have ‘nicknames’ that have become part of everyday use. The local lingo for these coins:
- One cent coin = a penny
- Five cent coin = a nickel
- Ten cent coin = a dime
- 25 cent coin = a quarter
- 50 cent coin = a half dollar

Where US dollars (USD) are accepted
According to Investopedia, the US dollar is accepted in many countries due to its stability. It is the world's most popular currency and be used officially and unofficially in many countries.
Countries the US dollar is officially used include :
- USA
- Puerto Rico
- Ecuador
- El Salvador
- Zimbabwe
- Guam
- Virgin Islands
- Timor Leste
- American Samoa
- Northern Mariana Islands
- Federated States of Micronesia
- Palau
- Marshal Islands
Country | United States of America |
Official Currency | US dollars |
Currency Code | USD |
Currency Symbol | $ |
Banknote Denominations | $1, $2, $5, $10, $20, $50 and $100 |
Coin Denominations | 1¢, 5¢, 10¢, 25¢, 50¢ and $1 |
In Stock | Yes |
Current Rate | 0.6577 |
5 Everyday Things You’ll Need US Dollar Cash for

If you are heading overseas, it's handy to carry some US Dollar cash with you along with your debit, credit or travel card. Here are 5 common things you may need cash for:
- Tipping - Having small denominations like 1 dollar or 5 dollar banknotes makes it so much easier to show your appreciation.
- If your card doesn't work - If your card gets frozen by your bank while you are overseas, having some cash on hand to get you through a few days until the problem is fixed is always handy.
- Markets -Â One of the best local experiences is heading down to a market. A lot of vendors will have card facilities but many will only accept cash.
- Tours - A great way to see a new city is to take a tour. Some of these "Free" walking tours still rely on a cash tip at the end of the day.
- Cash only - Some shops and venues just aren't set up for cards. This could be anything from the local ice cream truck, a local bus or even a toilet!
Travel Money Tips to Get You Through Your Next Trip
Millions of travellers head to the US each year. Sadly, many waste their money on unnecessary foreign currency conversion. So here are a few practical tips to help you get the most bang for your buck:
- Avoid the airports! Currency exchange bureaux at the airport charge epic fees. If you like a good deal – or even just a reasonable one – avoid these at all costs.
- Only carry what you need – It can be expensive to change USDs back into AUDs so only take what you think you will spend. Not only this – nobody likes to tuck wads of notes into their socks and toiletries for safekeeping on longer journeys.
- Ask for a mix of denominations – It’s always hard to get rid of those pesky $100 bills so try to get a mix of $20 and $10 notes.
- Check your exchange rate – Google and XE.com are the standard market exchange rate but you’ll notice how wildly bank and currency exchanges can vary their rates. Try to get as close to the market rate as possible.
- Look out for hidden fees – The bane of our (financial) existence, hidden fees will often make a huge difference to the cost of your holiday. Be particularly wary of hidden bank fees for overseas card usage.
- The right card makes all the difference – Having a card is convenient but it can take a hit to the bank account if you have the wrong card. Research and arm yourself with the best card for travel for big savings.
- Mix it up! Many travellers only use their credit card while some only think about cash. But the best option depends on your situation. Save the card for huge purchases such as hotels and car hire and reserve your cash for smaller wins – transport, attractions, or meals out. Don’t forget Americans love their tipping so it’s always a good idea to have spare change on hand.
