If you are standing in a bustling market in Dakar or trying to settle a hotel bill in Yaoundé, the question of how much is $1 in franc CFA isn't just academic. It is the difference between a fair deal and getting fleeced.
As of January 17, 2026, the mid-market exchange rate is approximately 565.21 CFA francs per 1 US Dollar.
But here is the thing. That number is a moving target. If you check your phone an hour from now, it might be 564. If you go to a local bureau de change, they might offer you 540. The "official" rate and the "wallet" rate are rarely the same.
The Current Reality: Breaking Down the Rate
Honestly, most people assume there is just one "CFA." There isn't. You have the XOF (West African CFA franc) and the XAF (Central African CFA franc). While they technically hold the same value due to their peg to the Euro, they are issued by different central banks—the BCEAO in Dakar and the BEAC in Yaoundé.
Right now, $1 will get you:
- 565.21 XOF (West Africa: Senegal, Ivory Coast, Benin, etc.)
- 564.93 XAF (Central Africa: Cameroon, Gabon, Chad, etc.)
Wait. Why the tiny difference? It comes down to market liquidity and how different trading platforms track the two regional banks. For most travelers or business owners, this 0.28 difference is negligible, but if you're moving $100,000, those decimals start to bite.
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Why the Rate Doesn't Just Sit Still
You might wonder why a currency "guaranteed" by the French Treasury and pegged to the Euro fluctuates so much against the dollar.
The CFA is fixed to the Euro at exactly 655.957 CFA = 1 Euro. That never changes. Because the Euro "floats" against the US Dollar, the CFA is essentially a passenger on the Euro’s rollercoaster. When the Euro gets strong, your dollar buys fewer CFA francs. When the Euro tanking—like it has during various energy crises in Europe—your dollar goes much further in Abidjan.
Basically, if you want to know if today is a good day to exchange money, don't look at African news. Look at what the European Central Bank is doing.
What You’ll Actually Get at the Counter
Let's talk about the "tourist tax."
If Google says the rate is 565, don't expect the guy behind the glass at the airport to give you 565.
Exchange bureaus have to make money. They usually bake in a 3% to 7% margin. In reality, $1 in your hand often translates to about 530 or 540 CFA after fees and "spreads."
If you're using an ATM, you're usually getting a better deal, often within 1% of the mid-market rate, but your home bank might hit you with a $5 "out-of-network" fee. Suddenly, that $1 conversion looks a lot worse.
Real-world scenarios:
- Sending money via apps: Services like Wise or Remitly often give you something close to 563 XOF but charge a flat fee.
- Cash on the street: You might find a trader offering 570 XOF if they are desperate for dollars, but be careful. Counterfeits are a real risk in the informal market.
- Hotel Front Desks: The worst. They might offer you 500 CFA to $1 just for the convenience. Avoid this unless it's an emergency.
The Eco Transition: Will the Rate Change?
There has been a lot of talk about the CFA franc being replaced by the Eco.
Countries like Ivory Coast and Senegal have been pushing for this for years. The plan is to move away from the French Treasury's "oversight." However, as of 2026, the transition remains slow. Most experts, including those at the IMF, suggest that even if the name changes, the peg—at least initially—will stay. If the peg breaks and the currency begins to float freely, the answer to how much is $1 in franc CFA could become much more volatile.
Without the Euro's "safety net," the currency could devalue significantly, or, if managed well, reflect the true economic growth of West Africa.
Common Misconceptions
I hear this all the time: "The CFA is a weak currency."
Relative to the Dollar? Sure. But compared to the Nigerian Naira or the Ghanaian Cedi, the CFA is a rock. Because it's tied to the Euro, it doesn't suffer from the 50% or 100% inflation spikes seen in neighboring countries. It's "artificially" stable. This makes it great for saving money but harder for local manufacturers to export goods because their prices are stuck at European-level valuations.
Actionable Steps for Your Next Transaction
If you need to convert dollars to CFA today, follow these rules:
- Check the Euro-Dollar pair first. If the Euro is crashing, wait to buy CFA. If the Euro is surging, buy your CFA now before the dollar loses more power.
- Use "Mid-Market" as your North Star. Use a live tracker to find the current rate (like 565.21). If a provider offers you anything less than 550, keep walking.
- Avoid airport exchanges. This is universal advice, but in countries like Cameroon or Senegal, the spread at the airport is notoriously predatory.
- Carry crisp $100 bills. In West Africa, many exchange bureaus give a better rate for $100 bills than they do for $20 or $10 bills. They want the high-denomination notes for their own reserves.
- Look into digital wallets. Apps that allow you to hold "virtual" CFA are becoming more common in 2026, allowing you to lock in a good rate when the dollar is high and spend it later via QR codes in local shops.
Knowing how much is $1 in franc CFA is about more than just a number; it's about understanding the link between West Africa and the global economy. Keep an eye on the Euro, avoid the hotel lobby exchange, and always carry a mix of cash and digital options.