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Bookmark & shareWidely different income levels in Canada mean you can find accommodation, food and entertainment to suit any budget. In general the Yukon, Northern Territories and Nunavut in the far north are the costliest, followed by Ontario, Alberta and British Columbia. Manitoba, Saskatchewan, Québec and the Maritimes will put the least pressure on your wallet. For most visitors, the largest expense will be accommodation. Food prices are generally much lower than those in Western Europe, but are a little higher than those in the USA. If you stay in budget accommodation and eat in cafes, expect to spend around US$60.00 a day. If you stay in motels and eat at restaurants occasionally, you're looking at around US$100.00 a day.
A 7% Goods & Services Tax (GST) is applicable to all transport, accommodation, restaurant meals and just about anything else you're likely to purchase, including newspapers. On top of this, in most of Canada, a provincial sales tax also must be paid. This can, in some provinces, add a total of 17% to the quoted price, so factor it into your expenses to avoid getting a nasty surprise at the cash register.
Money Preferred Form
You can easily get by with a credit/debit card in all but the smallest towns. Keep an extra card and a couple of travellers cheques if you're the precautious type.
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Currency
- Name
- Canadian Dollar
- Symbol
- C$
Paper currency comes in denominations of five (blue), 10 (purple), 20 (green) and 50 (red). The brown C$100.00 bill and larger bills are less common and can be difficult to change.
Canadian coins come in denominations of one (penny), five (nickel), 10 (dime) and 25 (quarter) cent pieces. There are also the gold C$1.00 (loonie) and C$2.00 (toonie) pieces. The gold-coloured loonie features the loon, a common Canadian water bird, while the two-toned toonie is jauntily decorated with a polar bear.
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Changing Your Money
It's best to change money at companies such as American Express or Thomas Cook/Travelex, which specialise in international transactions. If you can't find a money exchange office or booth, try a bank. American Express and Thomas Cook are the best travellers cheques to have, and you should make sure they are either in US or Canadian dollar denominations. Credit cards are widely accepted, especially Visa, MasterCard and American Express. ABMs (ATMs) are common throughout Canada.
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Money Tips
You will find ATMs in many grocery stores, malls, airports and so on, and most are linked to the international networks, the most common being Cirrus, Plus, Star and Maestro. You can also grab cash from an ATM if you use a major credit card although this method tends to be more expensive because, in addition to a service fee, you'll be charged interest immediately.
Be aware that shops and businesses rarely accept personal cheques, but credit cards are widely accepted (except perhaps in remote, rural communities where cash is king). Still, you'll find it hard or impossible to rent a car, book a room or order tickets over the phone without having a piece of plastic.
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Sample Price Guide
- litre of milk
- C$ 1.40
- t-bone steak per kg
- C$ 22.00
- litre of petrol
- C$ 0.90
- litre of bottled water
- C$ 0.90
- souvenir t-shirt
- C$ 10.00
- cup of coffee and donut
- C$ 2.00
- bottle of Molson
- C$ 2.00-3.00
- hotel double room
- C$ 70.00-120.00
- pack of cigarettes
- C$ 5.00-7.00
- roll of 36 exposure print film
- C$ 6.50
- newspaper
- C$ 1.00
- movie ticket
- C$ 9.00
Average Room Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe C$30-70 C$70-125 C$125-175 C$175+ Average Meal Prices
Low Mid High Deluxe C$4-10 C$10-20 C$20-40 C$40+ -
Tipping
It's considered normal to tip 10-15% of a restaurant bill. Tips are also usually given to bell hops, concierges, room cleaners, cab drivers, hairdressers, hotel attendants and, by savvy drinkers, bar staff.
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Disclaimer: We've tried to make the information on this web site as accurate as possible, but it is provided 'as is' and we accept no responsibility for any loss, injury or inconvenience sustained by anyone resulting from this information. You should verify critical information (like visas, health and safety, customs and transportation) with the relevant authorities before you travel.
