The official currency is the United States dollar. The most popular and practical denominations are $5, $10, and $20. They do not have to be in mint condition, but may be difficult to use if damaged – the exception being $1 notes, which become ripped and dirty after a few months of arriving in Dili and may be readily spent in that state (small notes, or coins, are particularly useful for taxis, warungs and street sellers). At hotels, stores, and expat restaurants, $50 and $100 notes are accepted. Bring no notes issued before to 2004 or $2 notes (unless you want to bewilder the locals). American coins are not used; instead, centavo coins are used, notably the new 100 centavo coin that is assisting the nation in phasing off its filthy $1 notes. Outside Timor-Leste, these coins are worthless.
It is recommended that you carry USD (remember that you will need $30 upon arrival for the visa). Certain currencies (e.g., AUD, NZD, GBP, Euro, and IDR) may be exchanged at banks (be prepared for lengthy lineups) and at a booth at Timor Plaza, however the exchange rates are bad. In Dili, there are various ATMs, the most dependable of which are the ANZ machines in front of Timor Plaza. You do not need an ANZ account to use the ATM, but you will need a bank card (eg Visa). However, using these ATMs might be costly As ANZ charges USD$7 every withdrawal.
Additionally, there is a USD$25 cost for transferring funds from an ANZ abroad account to an ANZ account in Dili. It is prudent to contact your bank in advance for guidance on the most cost-effective and efficient method of transferring funds across accounts.
Bank Mandiri, one of Indonesia’s largest banks, maintains a branch in Dili. The bank is situated near Dili’s Government Building. Additionally, they have various ATMs located across town, including at Timor Plaza and Tiger Fuel.
Caixa Geral de Depositos, a Portuguese bank operating under the brand name BNU, also maintains a branch in Dili and numerous other sites around East Timor. The alleged Dili airport branch consists of an empty desk and window and is never manned.
- Timor Plaza, Rua Presidente Nicolau Lobato (between airport and Dili centre). Dili’s retail center. ATMs, SIM cards, souvenirs, ice cream, theater, and Friday after-work happy hour are all available here. Located 1.5 kilometers east of the airport.
- Arte Moris, Rua Presidente Nicolau Lobato (between Timor Plaza and the airport). A gallery that offers Timorese artworks, many of which were created directly on Tais. Local symbols of life and death under Indonesian domination are recurring topics.
- Tais Market, Colmera (two laneways lead to it, one from near Harvey World Travel and one from the large T-junction). A central location for collecting Tais, antique coins, woodwork, ceramics, and other oddities. Be cautious of fake Tais, which are sometimes imported from Indonesia. There are other shops with largely comparable offers, so browse and select a seller at random or depending on who is willing to educate you on regional differences. A big tais will cost between $40 and $60 (depending on how elegant it is), while a smaller tais will cost $30. Because intense haggling is uncommon, it’s tough to negotiate a reduction of 10% -20% off the first price, however discounts for repeated purchases are typical.
- Alola Esperansa, Av. Bpo. de Madeiros (A bit south of the Mercado Lama roundabout), +670 7723 6363. is the shop of Alola Foundation, East Timor’s non-governmental organisation for women and children. At Mercado Lama (Mascarenhas), you may discover a variety of high-quality handicrafts created by weavers from all across East Timor. Bags, wallets, shoes, and apparel, as well as a variety of other local handicrafts (all materials derived from Tais), as well as Timorese coffee. A lovely memento or present for family and friends, while also aiding women and children in East Timor. The store is open everyday from 9:00 a.m. to 7:00 p.m. A second outlet is located in Dili’s retail complex Timor Plaza in Comoro. You can be certain that you are purchasing genuine quality tais that are being sold for a worthy purpose, but the costs are five times more than at the tais market.
- Audian, Rua Audian (east of the Mercado Lama roundabout). This is an excellent location for small grocers and hardware/home improvement companies. You may need to visit many locations to locate what you are looking for.
- Colmera, Near corner of Rua Nicolau dos Reis Lobato and Estrada de Balidae (aka Colmera Road). This neighborhood is home to a variety of electrical and general retailers.
Small supermarkets and convenience shops are scattered around the city (with a concentration of small supermarkets in Audian), although they will provide a limited selection and will cater to Asian preferences. Even larger stores that cater to foreigners will have a limited selection, and you may need to visit many to get what you’re looking for (if you can actually get it – months-long shortages are common). Supermarkets have a limited selection of fruits and vegetables and charge a premium over marketplaces. The following are the major supermarkets of note:
- Leader, Av. Presidente Nicolau Lobato (next to Timor Plaza). 9:30AM-9:30PM. Probably the finest supermarket in the area for expats, with a large selection of domestic products.
- Kmanek, Timor Plaza, level 1. Excellent bargain, but with a restricted selection.
- W Four, Timor Plaza (other side of the car park). Asian-oriented establishment with a nice selection and reasonable costs.
- Landmark, Av. Presidente Nicolau Lobato. Although a large supermarket, it is deficient in a number of commodities.
- Pateo, R. D Fernando. Portuguese supermarket. Unlike the majority of stores in this area, this one is well ventilated. Appropriate for Portuguese products such as tinned fish, cheese, chorizo, wine, and beer. However, it is rather costly.
- Lita, Av. dos Direitos Humanos (Lecidere beachfront). The greatest grocery in downtown. Directly across the street is a fruit market.
- Dilimart, Av. dos Direitos Humanos (next to Lita Store). Downtown, a large new supermarket has opened.
- Kmanek, Rua Belarmino Lobo (near the Burger King corner). A good value grocery in the downtown area, although with a restricted selection. Usually has outdoor fruit and vegetable vendors.