Travel · North America
🇨🇦Canada
Card-friendly like the USA — watch for ATM fees and use a zero-forex card.
Canada is highly card-friendly with near-universal acceptance. Foreign cards pay the card's forex markup (typically 2–3% for standard cards) plus potential ATM operator fees (C$2–5). Zero-forex cards eliminate the first cost. The main networks are Interac (Canadian-only) and Visa/Mastercard.
Best cards for Canada
ATM guide
RBC, TD, Scotiabank, CIBC, and BMO ATMs are widespread. Foreign Visa/Mastercard cards work at all of them. Fees vary: some charge C$2–5 per foreign withdrawal. The Big 5 bank ATMs are reliable. Avoid white-label ATMs in convenience stores.
Card acceptance
Excellent. Contactless very widely adopted. Interac Debit is the local network — foreign cards use Visa/Mastercard instead which works everywhere. Tip prompts appear on most restaurant terminals (15–20% is standard).
Money tips for Canada
Tip culture similar to the USA: 15–20% at restaurants is standard.
Scotiabank has ATM partnerships globally — check if your card is in their network.
Vancouver, Toronto, and Montreal are effectively cashless — you rarely need CAD cash.
Ski resorts accept card but lift operators may add 2% card surcharge.
Parking in cities: apps like HotSpot and PayByPhone accept international cards.
Cards and options to avoid
Standard UK cards with 2.75% non-sterling fee
Frequently asked questions
Cash in Canada
C$50–100 for farmers markets, small stalls, and parking meters. Cities are effectively cashless.
Local currency
Wise Card
Mid-market rate with transparent fees — one of the lowest true costs for spending abroad.