North America

Money, cards and tipping in United States

Capital: WashingtonEnglish, Spanish, FrenchUpdated October 2026

USDDollar

Money in United States

Cards almost everywhere Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Displayed prices usually exclude sales tax, which is added at checkout and varies by state and city.

Key facts

Tipping: Expected: 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, 15–20% for taxis and rideshare, US$1–2 per bar drink, US$2–5 per night for hotel housekeeping.
ATMs: Bank ATMs charge foreign cards about US$3–5; standalone ATMs in shops often more. Decline the ATM's currency conversion.
Paying by phone: Apple Pay and Google Pay are widely accepted. Venmo, Cash App and Zelle generally need a US bank account.
Price level: about 100% of US prices (World Bank PPP).

Cash or card, by place

Place	Cards	Notes
New York City	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and phone pay work almost everywhere including the subway; keep a few dollars for tips, some delis and food carts.
Las Vegas	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work almost everywhere. Keep small bills for tips to dealers, bellhops and valets; resort fees are charged to the room.
Los Angeles	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and phone pay are accepted almost everywhere; keep small bills for tips, street vendors and some taco stands.
Orlando	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and phone pay work almost everywhere, including theme parks; keep small bills for tips and some food stands.
Miami	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and phone pay work almost everywhere; carry small bills for valet, tips and some Little Havana cafés.
San Francisco	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and phone pay work almost everywhere; some cafés and stores in SF are cashless. Carry a little cash for small shops.
Honolulu	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work everywhere; carry cash for food trucks, farmers markets, local shops and beach vendors.
Washington, D.C.	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and phone pay work almost everywhere; keep small bills for tips, food trucks and some bars.
Chicago	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and phone pay work almost everywhere; carry small bills for tips, food trucks and some bars.
Boston	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and phone pay work almost everywhere; carry small bills for tips, food stalls and some North End cafés.
New Orleans	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work almost everywhere; carry small bills for tips to street musicians, bars and some po'boy shops.
San Diego	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and phone pay work almost everywhere; carry small bills for tips, taco stands and some beach shops.
Seattle	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and phone pay work almost everywhere; a few cafés and shops are card-only, so keep a card handy.
Maui	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work almost everywhere; carry cash for farm stands, roadside food trucks on the Road to Hana, and beach vendors.
Nashville	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and phone pay work almost everywhere; carry small bills to tip live musicians on Broadway.
Austin	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and phone pay work almost everywhere; carry small bills for tips to buskers and a few food trucks.
Miami Beach	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and phone pay work almost everywhere; carry cash for valet tips and some beach vendors.
Key West	Cards almost everywhere	Cards are accepted nearly everywhere. Carry a few dollars for tips, pedicabs and some beach vendors.
Denver	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere; carry a few dollars for tips, farmers markets and parking meters.
Philadelphia	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless nearly everywhere. Some cheesesteak stands, markets and food trucks prefer cash.
Portland	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless nearly everywhere, including food carts. Carry a little cash for tips and farmers markets.
Atlanta	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere. Carry cash for tips, some food stands and parking attendants.
San Antonio	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless nearly everywhere. Carry a few dollars for tips, parking and taco stands.
Charleston	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere; carry some cash for tips and market vendors.
Savannah	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless nearly everywhere. Carry small cash for tips, street performers and some bars.
Fort Lauderdale	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere. Carry a few dollars for tips, beach vendors and parking meters.
Kauai	Cards almost everywhere	Cards almost everywhere. Carry a few dollars for farmers markets, shave ice stands and some beach parking.
Big Island	Cards almost everywhere	Cards almost everywhere. Carry a few dollars for farmers markets, shave ice stands and some beach parking.
Sedona	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere. Carry small bills for trailhead fees and Red Rock Pass kiosks.
Scottsdale	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere. Carry small bills for tips and some food trucks.
Lake Tahoe	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere. Carry small bills for ski rental tips, trailhead fees and some beach vendors.
Napa Valley	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless nearly everywhere. Carry small bills for tips at tastings and for farmers markets.
Aspen	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere. Carry small bills for ski-valet tips and some drivers.
Palm Springs	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere. Carry small bills for tips and some desert vendors.
Dallas	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere; small cash for tips in some bars and parking attendants.
Houston	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work nearly everywhere; some food trucks and market vendors prefer cash.
Phoenix	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere; a few taco stands and swap meets take cash only.
Tampa	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere; cash helps for parking attendants and some food stands.
Santa Fe	Cards almost everywhere	Cards accepted almost everywhere; cash helps at Native American vendors under the Palace of the Governors portal and some farmers' stands.
Jackson Hole	Cards almost everywhere	Cards accepted almost everywhere; carry small cash for tips and some park-gate stands.
Salt Lake City	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere; cash for tips and some farmers' market stalls.
Grand Canyon	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work at lodges, shops and restaurants. Carry a little cash for entry-gate coffee stalls and trail-town shops.
Yosemite	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work at lodges, stores and cafés. Some campground and trail-town vendors prefer cash.
Park City	Cards almost everywhere	Cards accepted almost everywhere; carry small cash for tips.
Asheville	Cards almost everywhere	Cards accepted almost everywhere; cash helps for tips, buskers and some farmers' market stalls.
Santa Barbara	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; cash for tips and the Saturday farmers' market.
Vail	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere; carry small cash for tips.
Boulder	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere; cash for tips and some farmers' market stalls.
Anchorage	Cards almost everywhere	Cards accepted almost everywhere; cash for tips and some farmers' market and fishing-charter stands.
St. Petersburg	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless work almost everywhere; cash helps for parking attendants and some food stands.
Minneapolis	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere; cash for tips and some farmers' market stalls.
Pittsburgh	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere; cash for tips, the Strip District stalls and some corner bars.
San Jose	Practically cashless	Cards and contactless accepted almost everywhere; a few places and farmers' market stalls take cash only.
Memphis	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere; carry small bills for tips, street musicians and barbecue joints that prefer cash.
Detroit	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere; carry some cash for tips, parking and farmers markets.
Moab	Cards almost everywhere	Cards work in town, parks and outfitters; carry small bills for farmers markets and campground fees.
Charlotte	Cards almost everywhere	Cards and contactless almost everywhere; carry small bills for tips and farmers markets.

Quick answers

Do you tip in United States?

Expected: 18–20% at sit-down restaurants, 15–20% for taxis and rideshare, US$1–2 per bar drink, US$2–5 per night for hotel housekeeping.

Is United States cashless?

Cards almost everywhere. Cards and contactless work almost everywhere. Displayed prices usually exclude sales tax, which is added at checkout and varies by state and city.

What currency does United States use?

The Dollar (USD).

Sources

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