The Danish Krone
The official currency of Denmark is the Danish Krone (plural: Kroner), abbreviated DKK or Kr.
1 Krone is divided into 100 øre (plural and singular)
The current currency conversion rate is as follows (as of December 20, 2021).
1 US Dollar = 6.61 Danish Kroner
For up-to-date conversion rates see here
Danish Cost of Living
The average cost of living in Denmark is higher than in the United States. This is because overall salaries in Denmark are higher and most public services we pay for in the US are covered by taxes in Denmark. For example, Denmark’s “minimum wage” is established through collective bargaining and is around Kr 140.00/hr or US$21.00/hr compared to the (federal minimum) US$7.25 in the United States.
That said, also keep in mind that the prices you see in Denmark ALREADY include all taxes. So when a cool Danish sweater is listed as Kr 190.00 you pay EXACTLY Kr 190.00.
In addition, because service charges are already included in listed prices and wait staff and bar tenders are paid a living wage, tipping is not expected in most situations. See here for a closer look at Danish tipping etiquette.
Cash
To get the best exchange rate, it is generally recommended that you withdraw your cash from a bank-affiliated ATM, preferably a bank affiliated with your OWN bank in the US. Contact your bank before the trip and find out if they are present throughout Denmark, or whether they have an affiliate abroad. Find out whether your card can be used in Denmark to withdraw cash from an ATM and be sure to get a 4-digit PIN for it.
I do not recommend exchanging money at an airport exchange or before departing (again unless your bank gives you a good deal) because the fees are usually (much) higher than ATM withdrawals.
Credit Cards
Credit cards are accepted by most vendors and businesses in Denmark, VISA and MasterCard being more widely accepted than American Express. Depositing the funds you wish to access onto your credit cards before departing is a good way to avoid cash advance charges and give you easy access to money within Denmark. Also be aware that some businesses have a minimum purchase requirement for credit cards (much more widespread than in the US). If your purchase is below that total they will charge you a small additional fee.
Travellers’ Cheques
You are not serious, right? Next thing, you are going to ask me whether you could trade with wool, clay, wood, wheat, or rock, aren’t you? Or perhaps seashells? Don’t bring Travellers’ Cheques!
