Despite the island’s relatively pricey side, you can always do things that could help your budget a little bit. A good traveler is a resourceful one. There are plenty of ways how to go around the island’s possible high prices, plus, you can always find comfort that Martinique will always have something for everyone.
What Currency Do They Use in Martinique?
Being an official overseas department of France, just like other metropolitan departments in Europe, Martinique uses the Euro as the official currency. Martinique may seem a separate body from France altogether but it’s not. It is practically one country.
Therefore, the Euro’s power and influence stretch even up to the Caribbean in Martinique and Guadaloupe, as well as French Guiana, and Reunion. On the other hand, this can be disadvantageous for US dollar users, as the euro holds more value than the US dollar. Plus, Martinique isn’t famous for being cheap.
Can You Use Us Dollars in Martinique?
While some hotels and restaurants can accept US dollars, it is not a guarantee that most of the establishments on the island will. Other businesses, like stores and shops, will most likely only accept euros. So, it’s best to have your money exchanged for euros before coming to the island.
If you plan on spending a lot but you wouldn’t want to bring a huge amount of euro cash with you, you can always use credit cards for your purchases, withdraw from the many ATMs speckled across the cities, especially in Fort-de-France. Just be sure to check with your issuing bank first, before coming and spending.
Is Martinique a Rich or Poor Country?
First off, Martinique may seem like a separate body from France, but it isn’t, it’s an overseas department of France much like the ones on the mainland. Martinique is an island, but it isn’t a country in itself. However, a lot of Martinique’s income is anchored in three different sectors, mainly services, agriculture, and industrial.
The services sector is the island’s main economic driver, mainly centered around tourism, which has overweighed the value of agricultural exports because of the huge influx of foreign exchange the industry brings. Agricultural exports, mainly bananas come third, and the industrial sector comprises construction, rum, cement, petroleum refining, and sugar.
You can already tell, though lagging behind its sovereign state, France, is considered a developed nation. Martinique is clearly isn’t as rich as its European counterparts, but slightly more prosperous than its neighbors. However, the island does have a significant percentage of unemployment of 26.4%.
How Expensive Is Martinique?
The best budget to go about in Martinique is around 130 to 150 Euros or 138 or 183 USD, per day. If you’re someone who has been to other tourist meccas across the Caribbean, like the famous Cancun, in Mexico’s Yucatan Peninsula, or Aruba in the Dutch Caribbean, you can explicitly see how expensive it can actually be.
A sit-down meal in a cheap restaurant can cost you 7 USD and up in Cancun, while it can set you back a whole 14 USD in Aruba, and 13 USD in Martinique. A liter of milk, if you ever plan to buy groceries, for example, can cost you around a dollar in Cancun, while for Aruba it costs almost 2 USD, and 1.15 USD in Martinique.
A weekly budget for a single person in Cancun can be around 688 USD, while you’re going to need around 1,822 USD for Aruba, and around 1,122 USD for Martinique. You can already tell that Martinique can be expensive, but it isn’t the most expensive, the Dutch Caribbean still holds that crown in the region.
However, there are several ways you can make the most out of your budget and find ways around the high prices in Martinique. One way is to book a trip outside of Martinique’s peak season, or book accommodations and tickets, a month before, or even a season before you’re planned dates.
How Much Does It Cost to Go to Martinique?
For a single person, you have to have a weekly budget of 1,122 USD, and if you’re traveling as a couple, double that to 2,243 USD. Airplane ticket prices can cost around 105 to 600+ USD, round trip, depending on where you’re from. The cheapest tickets are usually for flights coming from the USA, Canada, Central, and South America, the rest of the Caribbean, and France.
Is It Expensive to Live in Martinique?
Prices vary from one touristy place to another, and you can see subtle differences when it comes to the costs. A meal in a cheap restaurant can cost you around 7 USD in Cancun, while it can cost up to 14 USD in Aruba, and 13 USD in Martinique. If you buy a liter of milk in the groceries can cost you around a dollar in Cancun, while for Aruba it costs almost 2 USD, and 1.15 USD in Martinique.
If you’re traveling alone, a weekly budget in Cancun can be around 688 USD, and a staggering 1,822 USD for Aruba, and around 1,122 USD for Martinique. By comparison, you can already surmise that Martinique can be expensive, but it isn’t the most expensive, the Dutch Caribbean still holds that crown in the region.
How Much Does It Cost to Live in Martinique?
A weekly budget for a single person in Cancun can be around 688 USD, while you’re going to need around 1,822 USD for Aruba, and around 1,122 USD for Martinique. You can already tell that Martinique can be expensive, but it isn’t the most expensive, the Dutch Caribbean still holds that crown in the region.
