Short answer: On the ground in Canada, plan on roughly C$90–160 (about $65–115) per person per day on a hostel budget, C$250–300 (about $175–210) in a city hotel room shared by two, and from about C$450–555 (about $315–390) for a room of your own, restaurant dinners and taxis. A week costs roughly C$630–1,120 ($445–790) on a budget, C$1,750–2,100 ($1,230–1,480) mid-range and from about C$3,150 ($2,220) in comfort, before flights, car hire and long-distance trains.
Canada is not a cheap destination, but its prices are familiar to anyone from the United States, and a weaker Canadian dollar helps: about C$1.42 to the US dollar in the Federal Reserve’s rates for early October 2026. The biggest costs are hotels in the big cities and mountain parks, restaurant meals with tax and tip on top, and the sheer distances. This guide breaks it all down with official figures where they exist, so you can build a realistic budget for your trip to Canada. Dollar prices are rounded at C$1.42 = $1; use our Money exchange tool for today’s rate.
Canada daily costs at a glance
These example days are built from the sourced prices further down this page: one person, one day in a big city such as Toronto, Vancouver or Montreal. They leave out flights, car hire, long-distance trains and shopping. Sales and accommodation taxes come on top of most listed prices in Canada.
| Per person, per day | Budget | Mid-range | Comfort |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bed | Hostel dorm bed: C$35–60 | Half of a hotel room at the national average of C$216–253: C$110–130 | A room to yourself at C$216–253, or half of an upscale room |
| Food | Groceries plus two cheap meals: C$45–60 | Café, cheap lunch, half of a C$110 dinner for two, tip: C$95–105 | Café, lunch, half of a C$150 dinner for two, drinks, tips: C$145–160 |
| Local transport | A few rides or a day pass: C$7–14 | Day pass: C$11.25–13.50 | Taxis or rideshares: C$40–60 |
| Sights | Free parks and neighborhoods, one ticket: C$0–25 | One big attraction: C$35–50 | Two attractions or a premium ticket: C$50–80 |
| Total | About C$90–160 ($65–115) | About C$250–300 ($175–210) | From about C$450–555 ($315–390) |
Hotel figures are national average daily rates from hotel industry reports; hostel and meal prices are typical October 2026 figures from hostel guides and the crowd-sourced Numbeo index for Toronto and Vancouver. Treat them as typical ranges, not quotes.
What visitors actually spend in Canada
Statistics Canada surveys international visitors every quarter, which gives an official picture of what a trip really costs, flights excluded:
| Visitors to Canada, 2025 | Average spend per trip | Average stay | Per night (about) |
|---|---|---|---|
| US residents, overnight trips, April–June | C$1,191 | 5.1 nights | C$235 ($165) |
| US residents, overnight trips, October–December | C$1,132 | 5.7 nights | C$200 ($140) |
| Overseas residents, April–June | C$1,957 | 16.8 nights | C$115 ($80) |
| Overseas residents, October–December | C$1,791 | 15.8 nights | C$115 ($80) |
Americans on a typical five- or six-night trip spend roughly C$200–235 a night each, in line with our mid-range example day. Visitors from overseas stay about three times as long, so their spending per night is much lower. On our Travel costs by country scale, Canada scores 108 for travel prices (hotels, restaurants and transport) against 100 for the United States: in plain words, a vacation in Canada costs about the same as one at home, or a little more, while everyday prices in general (83) are lower.
Accommodation costs and accommodation taxes
Hotels are the biggest line in most Canadian budgets, and prices peak in summer. Industry reports put the national average daily rate at about C$216 for 2025 (Horwath HTL) and C$252.63 in June 2026 (CoStar), with Nova Scotia rates up sharply that month when the SailGP event came to Halifax. Big-city downtowns, Banff and Jasper in July and August, and festival weekends cost more than these averages; winter in the cities is usually cheaper. Hostels are the budget option: in Toronto, hostel guides put a dorm bed at roughly C$35–60 a night, higher in summer.
Room rates are quoted before tax, and accommodation taxes vary by province and city. Some examples, as of October 2026:
- Toronto: 13% HST plus the city’s 6% Municipal Accommodation Tax.
- British Columbia: 8% provincial sales tax on short-term accommodation plus up to 3% municipal and regional district tax (3% in Vancouver, which also has a 2.5% major events tax until January 2030), plus 5% GST.
- Alberta: a 6% tourism levy on stays booked after 31 March 2026 (4% before), plus 5% GST; Alberta has no provincial sales tax.
- Quebec: a lodging tax, usually 3.5% of the nightly price, on top of GST and Quebec sales tax.
Food and drink costs
Numbeo’s October 2026 figures show a meal at an inexpensive restaurant at about C$25 in both Toronto (range C$18–35) and Vancouver (C$20–50). A three-course dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant, without drinks, runs about C$110 in Toronto (range C$70–150) and C$100 in Vancouver. A fast-food combo costs about C$15, a regular cappuccino about C$5.65 and a half-liter of local draft beer C$8–9.
Remember that menu prices do not include sales tax or the tip, which together add roughly a quarter or more to a sit-down meal in most provinces. Food markets such as Toronto’s St. Lawrence Market, Vancouver’s Granville Island Public Market and Montreal’s Jean-Talon Market are good places for a cheaper lunch.
Getting around: city transit, ferries and trains
City transit is easy and reasonably priced, and most systems now take a tap of your bank card. Official fares as of October 2026:
| Route or ticket (adult) | Fare |
|---|---|
| Toronto TTC, one ride by bank card or PRESTO | C$3.30 (day pass C$13.50) |
| UP Express, Toronto Pearson airport to Union Station | C$12.35 one way |
| Montreal, one trip, all modes (zone A) | C$3.75 (24 hours C$11.25, also valid on the 747 airport bus) |
| Vancouver TransLink, one to three zones (cash or contactless) | C$3.50 / C$5.10 / C$6.70, plus C$6.50 from the airport |
| Quebec City RTC, one fare | C$3.85 (1-day pass C$10.50) |
| BC Ferries, Vancouver (Tsawwassen) to Victoria (Swartz Bay) | C$21 per adult; standard vehicle C$89 |
| Roam Transit, Banff to Lake Louise express | C$12.50 one way |
Canada is huge, so long trips need planning. VIA Rail links Toronto, Ottawa, Montreal and Quebec City, with Toronto to Montreal taking just over five hours; fares change with demand, so book early. For the Rockies, Prince Edward Island and other road trips, most visitors rent a car; gasoline cost about C$1.76 a liter in Toronto in early October 2026 (Numbeo). Our Canada itinerary shows how to combine cities and parks without wasting days in transit.
Sightseeing fees and free things to do
Canada’s national parks charge a modest daily fee, and regular Parks Canada fees apply again since 8 September 2026, when the free-admission Canada Strong Pass offer ended. Adult prices as of October 2026, before tax where the attraction adds it:
| Sight or pass | Adult price |
|---|---|
| Banff or Jasper National Park, daily admission | C$12.25 (youth 17 and under free; C$24.50 per vehicle group of up to 7) |
| Parks Canada Discovery Pass, 12 months, 80+ places | C$83.50 (family or group C$167.50) |
| CN Tower, timed general admission, Toronto | C$47 |
| Journey Behind the Falls, Niagara Falls | C$33 |
| The Butchart Gardens, near Victoria (October) | C$36.75 |
| La Citadelle de Québec guided visit | C$22 |
| Halifax Citadel National Historic Site | C$22 |
| Toronto Island ferry, round trip | C$9.57 |
| Stanley Park and the Seawall, Vancouver | Free |
| BC Parliament Buildings guided tours, Victoria | Free |
If you will spend more than about a week in national parks, or visit several historic sites such as the Halifax Citadel, the Discovery Pass usually pays for itself. More free and cheap ideas: hike Mount Royal in Montreal, walk the old streets of Quebec City, explore Halifax‘s waterfront, and pick lakes and viewpoints in the Rockies that need only the park pass. See our top places to visit in Canada for ideas.
Taxes and fees visitors pay
- Sales tax: added at the till, and it depends on the province: 5% GST in Alberta and the territories; 12% in British Columbia (5% GST + 7% PST); 13% HST in Ontario; about 14.975% in Quebec (5% GST + 9.975% QST); 14% HST in Nova Scotia; 15% HST in New Brunswick, Newfoundland and Labrador and Prince Edward Island.
- No tax refund for tourists: Canada has no general sales tax refund for visitors on shopping or hotels, so budget with the tax included.
- Electronic Travel Authorization (eTA): C$7 for visa-exempt travelers flying to Canada; US citizens do not need one. Apply only on the official Government of Canada site.
- Park and parking fees: park admission as above, plus some popular spots charge for parking, such as C$42 a day at the Lake Louise lakeshore from 15 May to 12 October in 2026.
Tipping in Canada
Tipping works much as in the US. In restaurants, 15–20% of the bill before tax is usual, and a dollar or two per drink at a bar. Taxi drivers, tour guides, hairdressers and hotel housekeeping are usually tipped too. Card machines often suggest higher percentages, and you can choose your own amount. Our tip calculator does the math for you.
Money-saving tips for Canada
- Travel outside July and August. June to September is high season in the Rockies; city hotels are usually cheaper in winter, and fall is a lovely value season in the east. See our best time to visit Canada guide.
- Compare totals, not room rates. Accommodation and sales taxes can add 15% or more to a hotel bill.
- Buy a Discovery Pass if you will spend more than about a week in national parks or visit several historic sites.
- Use transit day passes on busy sightseeing days, and the train or bus from the airport.
- Eat a big lunch. Markets, food courts and lunch menus cost less than dinner with tax and tip.
- Book ferries and popular park shuttles early, as Saver fares on BC Ferries are well below standard fares.
To compare Canada with other countries, see Travel costs by country.
Plan your trip: our free trip planner can build a day-by-day plan for Canada from our guides, including Toronto, Montreal, Quebec City, Vancouver and Banff. Then use the Money exchange tool to turn Canadian dollars into your own currency, and the Destination weather tool to pick your dates.
Frequently asked questions
How much money do I need for a week in Canada?
Using the example days above, seven days on the ground cost roughly C$630–1,120 (about $445–790) per person on a tight budget, C$1,750–2,100 (about $1,230–1,480) mid-range, and from about C$3,150–3,885 (about $2,220–2,735) in comfort, before flights, car hire and long-distance trains. For comparison, US visitors spent an average of C$1,132–1,191 per overnight trip of five to six nights in 2025.
Is Canada expensive?
For US travelers, about as expensive as a trip at home: Canada scores 108 for travel prices on our scale, against 100 for the US. The weaker Canadian dollar helps, but sales tax, accommodation taxes and tips add to most bills, and summer hotel rates in the Rockies and big cities are high.
Do I need cash in Canada?
Hardly. Cards and phone payments work almost everywhere, including city transit in Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. Carry a little cash for small purchases; Quebec City’s Old Town funicular, for example, takes cash only at the station.
Is the Parks Canada Discovery Pass worth it?
For an adult, the pass costs C$83.50 against C$12.25 a day in Banff or Jasper, so it pays off after seven park days, or sooner if you also visit historic sites like the Halifax Citadel (C$22). A family or group pass costs C$167.50, and youth 17 and under enter free.
What is the cheapest month to visit Canada?
Summer is the most expensive season: the national average hotel rate was C$252.63 in June 2026, against about C$216 for 2025 as a whole. Late fall and winter, outside ski resorts and the holidays, are usually the cheapest times in the cities, and spring and fall shoulder months bring lower rates in the parks.
Can visitors get the sales tax back in Canada?
No. Canada ended its general visitor tax rebate in 2007, so GST, HST and provincial sales taxes are part of your trip cost. Check which province you are in: tax ranges from 5% in Alberta to 15% in parts of Atlantic Canada.