Money in Canada
Canada uses the Canadian dollar. Here is how to pay there, whether to tip, and what common amounts are worth.
- Currency
- CADCanadian dollar
- Symbol
- C$
- Tipping
- Expected
Paying in Canada
Contactless is widely accepted. Tipping is customary.
- Cards
- Widely accepted
- Cash
- Cash is still useful for small vendors, remote areas, farmers' markets and tipping hotel staff. Canada Rail Vacations says taxis are mostly cash, and strongly recommends cash in remote areas.
- ATMs
- ATMs are common in cities and tourist towns, and Canada Spirit advises avoiding airport ATMs because of high fees. Canada Spirit reports a home-bank ATM fee of CAD 3 to 7 per withdrawal for foreign cards, plus possibly a 1 to 3% foreign transaction fee.
- Foreign currency
- Canada Spirit says US dollars are accepted only occasionally, in border areas and some tourist shops, and many businesses refuse them.
- Exchanging money
- Canada Spirit recommends exchanging at your home bank before departure, withdrawing from a Canadian ATM, or using exchange bureaus in major cities. It advises avoiding airport and hotel exchange desks.
- Watch out for
- Choose to be charged in Canadian dollars when a terminal offers your home currency, because dynamic currency conversion costs more (Canada Spirit). Foreign debit cards work on the Visa or Mastercard network, not Interac.
Tipping in Canada
15–20% in restaurants, and 10–15% for taxis. Tip hairdressers and bar staff too.
Expected: Tips are customary, and staff often rely on them.
Sources checked: Canada Spirit (Currency and tipping), Canada Rail Vacations (Tipping Guidelines in Canada), Wise (Best travel card for Canada), Canadian Train Vacations.
Convert to and from CAD
Quick reference
| Amount | USD | EUR | GBP |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 1.40 CAD | 1.57 CAD | 1.88 CAD |
| 10 | 13.98 CAD | 15.66 CAD | 18.75 CAD |
| 50 | 69.88 CAD | 78.28 CAD | 93.77 CAD |
| 100 | 140 CAD | 157 CAD | 188 CAD |
| 500 | 699 CAD | 783 CAD | 938 CAD |
What each amount is worth in CAD. Mid-market rates from 2 November 2026, 17:00 UTC.
Common questions
What currency does Canada use?
Canada uses the Canadian dollar (CAD).
Do you need to tip in Canada?
Expected. 15–20% in restaurants, and 10–15% for taxis. Tip hairdressers and bar staff too.
Can you pay by card in Canada?
Widely accepted. Cash is still useful for small vendors, remote areas, farmers' markets and tipping hotel staff. Canada Rail Vacations says taxis are mostly cash, and strongly recommends cash in remote areas.
Are there ATMs in Canada?
ATMs are common in cities and tourist towns, and Canada Spirit advises avoiding airport ATMs because of high fees. Canada Spirit reports a home-bank ATM fee of CAD 3 to 7 per withdrawal for foreign cards, plus possibly a 1 to 3% foreign transaction fee.