It doesn’t make sense to use ATMs in Burundi because the bank rate is so low, so it is best to change money on the black market.
Here I describe how to change your US Dollars to Burundi Francs.
Why Does The Currency Black Market Exist
In short, in some countries, certain products and services can only be bought using US Dollars, so people will pay a premium for them.
So the black market rate is much higher than the official rate.
Burundi has a currency black market.
When I was there in 2023, 1 USD, according to Google, was 2800 BFr. At a licensed money changer, you could get 2900 BFr. But on the black market, you could get between 3800 BFr and 4000 BFr.
Quite a sizeable difference, don’t you think?
Where to change money on the black market in Burundi?
So, as a tourist, where can you go to change your money on the black market?
Your best option is to get the hotel to organise it. They make a call, and a guy will turn up, and you make the transaction. You get better rates for 100 USD bills.
I also changed Euros at a store in Gitega. And I wasn’t even asking. The owner simply suggested that if I needed to, she could change. Real cloak and dagger stuff.
On August 2025,in Bujumbura, you get 7300 BFr. for 100 USD, on the black market.Ask help at your hotel in order to go with a local in order to get real money, not counterfeit.
At Eco Bank Bujumbura there is ATM. You can withdraw 100 USD bill (3 USD tax).
Thanks for the update.. nice rate!!!
Correction:7300 BFr. for 1$.🙂Yes,nice rate. But consider the extremely high price of the taxi, because of the price at which they import fuel. It is a paradox: they buy it at the price of $ from the black market, but they have salaries of $ at the legal exchange rate. It is incredible poverty. From the airport to the center, you pay 15$, that’s if you bargain, otherwise it costs you 20$. I had to stay 2 weeks in Bujumbura. For the first 3 days, I paid taxis like a foreigner, then I found a taxi driver who took me half price for the distance I had to do.Hotels are paid in $. Food is paid in their currency, but the price is as if 7300 BFr.for1$ is the legal price.To explain better,let me give you an example: chicken breast+potatoes+salad=50,000 BFr. If you change legally or pay by card, they convert $=2700 BFr and take 21$ from your card. But if you changed on the black market and pay in cash, in their currency, this meal costs you 7$. I didn’t read online anything about all this,prior to arrive there.I had to discover everything step by step (of course,after I exchanged the first 100$ bill for 2300 BFr. at the exchange office at the airport where no one was there. I was really wondering why everyone was waiting for their luggage and looking at me with such interest. Now I know. They were thinking: first time in Burundi!😀).
Of course, if you use a bank card, you get the bank rate. I paid cash everywhere I went. Infact, I had no opportunity to use a card.
I think that is a typo error and should be 7300 per one (1.00 USD) instead of per one hundred 100 USD. The official exchange rate is now almost 3000 francs per 1 USD. I saw someone getting 7500 francs per 1 USD in September 2025.
The author of the comment corrected it. ;))thanks for that
where can I change Burundi francs in Zambia
No one wants Burundi Francs. My best bet would be to find travellers heading that way, or in the border towns. Failing that, keep them as souvenirs.
As of November 25th 2025, the exchange rate on the black market is 1USD= 6300BIF. And it will continue to go down.
Thanks for the update.. hope this helps someone..