Exchange USD at airport or withdraw from ATM in Turks and Caicos Islands?

I live here full-time and always tell visitors to skip the airport exchange desks unless they’re really stuck. The rates are inflated and usually come with a service fee. ATMs from Scotiabank and CIBC work fine with most foreign cards and give better value. I recommend withdrawing during the day and inside bank branches for extra security. Bring small bills - a lot of smaller vendors and taxis won’t have change for large ones.

I tested both methods out of curiosity. Used the exchange desk at Providenciales Airport, then made a withdrawal from a Butterfield ATM the next day. My Wise statement showed the ATM gave me a better rate by about 6%, even with a small fee. The airport booths are convenient but expensive - mostly targeting tourists. If you’re comfortable using your card, go with ATM withdrawal every time, just remember to decline dynamic currency conversion if prompted.

I landed with no cash and had to change $50 at the airport - not ideal, but I needed taxi fare. The rate wasn’t awful, but you lose a few bucks in the process. Later, I pulled out USD from a Scotiabank ATM and checked the rate against my Revolut - much better. No local currency here since they use USD, so ATM withdrawals are easiest. Airport exchange is fine for a buffer, but city ATMs are way more cost-effective.

Exchanged $100 at the airport counter at PLS, and the rate was honestly terrible. They gave me fewer bills than expected and tacked on a fee. Two days later, I used my Wise card at a CIBC ATM in Grace Bay, and the rate was way better. If you’re asking what gives the best exchange rate in Turks and Caicos, it's definitely ATMs over airport counters - just decline conversion if asked.