Costs & Budget
Canada is not a budget travel destination — the cost of living is similar to the USA, sometimes even slightly higher. However, the quality is almost always right, and tips are more moderate than in the USA.
Daily budget per person (in CAD and €)
| Style | CAD/Day | €/Day | Accommodation | Food | Transport |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Backpacker | 70–100 CAD | 48–69 € | Hostel / Camping | Supermarket + Fast Food | Bus / Rideshare |
| Budget | 100–160 CAD | 69–110 € | Motel / Airbnb | Diner + 1× Restaurant | Shared rental car |
| Mid-range | 160–280 CAD | 110–193 € | 3★ Hotel / B&B | 2× Restaurant | Own rental car |
| Comfort | 280–450 CAD | 193–310 € | 4★ Hotel / Lodge | Fine dining restaurants | Rental car + domestic flights |
| Luxury | 450 CAD+ | 310 €+ | Fairmont / Resort | Fine Dining | SUV rental car + flights |
Price examples (guidelines 2025/26)
| Item | Price (CAD) | Price (€) |
|---|---|---|
| Coffee (Tim Hortons, large) | 2.50–3.50 CAD | 1.70–2.40 € |
| Poutine (restaurant) | 10–16 CAD | 7–11 € |
| Craft Beer (pub) | 8–12 CAD | 5.50–8.30 € |
| Dinner (mid-range, per person) | 25–50 CAD | 17–34 € |
| Gasoline (liter) | 1.50–2.00 CAD | 1.03–1.38 € |
| National Park Entry (day pass, adult) | 10.50 CAD | 7.20 € |
| Hostel (dorm, night) | 35–55 CAD | 24–38 € |
| Hotel Midrange (Vancouver/Toronto) | 180–300 CAD | 124–207 € |
| Uber (5 km, big city) | 10–18 CAD | 7–12 € |
| Maple syrup (250 ml, souvenir) | 8–15 CAD | 5.50–10 € |
💡 Tipp
In Canada, prices are displayed WITHOUT taxes. At the checkout, GST (5% nationwide) plus PST (depending on the province 0–10%) or HST (13–15%) are added. In Ontario, you effectively pay 13% more than what is on the price tag!
Achtung
Tipping in Canada is customary like in the USA: restaurants 15–20%, bars 1–2 CAD per drink, taxis 10–15%. Unlike in Europe, tipping is NOT a voluntary extra, but a fixed part of the income for service staff.
