North America

Money, cards and tipping in Canada

Capital: OttawaEnglish, FrenchUpdated October 2026

CADDollar

Money in Canada

Cards almost everywhere Tap-to-pay works almost everywhere, including transit in Toronto and Vancouver. Shelf prices exclude sales tax (5–15% by province), added at checkout. US$1 ≈ C$1.42 (03 Oct 2026).

Key facts

Tipping: Expected: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis, a few dollars per night for hotel housekeeping. Card machines prompt for tips.
ATMs: Bank ATMs charge foreign cards about C$3–5; private ATMs in bars and shops often more. Decline the ATM's currency conversion.
Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted. Interac e-Transfer needs a Canadian bank account.
Price level: about 83% of US prices (World Bank PPP).

Cash or card, by place

Place	Cards	Notes
Toronto	Cards almost everywhere	Tap to pay works almost everywhere, including TTC. Carry a little cash for small Chinatown shops, markets and some tip jars.
Vancouver	Cards almost everywhere	Tap to pay works almost everywhere, including transit. Carry a small amount of cash for markets, food trucks and some tip jars.
Montreal	Cards almost everywhere	Contactless works almost everywhere. Carry a little cash for farmers' markets, food stands and some bars.
Banff	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and tap to pay work almost everywhere. Carry a little cash for tip jars and park machines that take coins.
Niagara Falls	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and tap to pay work almost everywhere. Carry small cash for parking machines and some tip jars.
Quebec City	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and tap to pay work almost everywhere. Carry small cash for markets and some bars.
Whistler	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and tap to pay work almost everywhere. Carry small cash for tips at lifts and mountain huts.
Ottawa	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and tap to pay work almost everywhere, including OC Transpo. Carry a little cash for ByWard Market stalls.
Calgary	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and tap to pay work almost everywhere. Carry a little cash for Stampede stalls and tip jars.
Victoria	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and tap to pay work almost everywhere. Carry small cash for farmers' markets and street performers.
Jasper	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and tap to pay work in town. Carry small cash for tips and remote trailhead machines.
Halifax	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and tap to pay work almost everywhere. Carry small cash for some pubs and markets.
Tofino	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and tap to pay work in town. Carry small cash for tips, parking meters and some surf shacks.
Edmonton	Practically cashless	Tap-to-pay works almost everywhere, including buses and LRT. Carry small cash only for some markets, tips and street vendors.
Kelowna	Practically cashless	Tap-to-pay works almost everywhere, including buses and farm stands. Carry small cash only for some markets and wineries.
Yellowknife	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; carry a little cash for tips, small vendors and some tours.
Mont-Tremblant	Practically cashless	Tap-to-pay works almost everywhere. Carry a few dollars for tips, small vendors and some trail fees.
Prince Edward Island	Practically cashless	Tap-to-pay works almost everywhere, including farm stands and lobster suppers; carry a few dollars for small stalls.

Quick answers

Do you tip in Canada?

Expected: 15–20% at restaurants and bars, 10–15% for taxis, a few dollars per night for hotel housekeeping. Card machines prompt for tips.

Is Canada cashless?

Cards almost everywhere. Tap-to-pay works almost everywhere, including transit in Toronto and Vancouver. Shelf prices exclude sales tax (5–15% by province), added at checkout.

What currency does Canada use?

The Dollar (CAD). US$1 ≈ C$1.42 (03 Oct 2026).

Sources

Compiled and reviewed by SoloSquare. How we compile and score this. Spotted something out of date? Tell us.