Consider carrying between $50 and $100 a day on average, but remember that cash can bring fees and thieves along with it. Payment cards often have lower fees and are far easier to carry with you while travelling.

For a one-week trip to Canada in 2026, a solo traveler should bring approximately $200 to $300 CAD in cash as a backup, while relying on credit/debit cards for nearly all other expenses. Canada is an almost entirely "cashless" society; from major retailers and hotels to small coffee shops and even parking meters, contactless "Tap-to-Pay" is the standard. However, cash is still useful for tipping tour guides, small purchases at rural farmers' markets, or in the rare event of a digital network outage. If you plan to visit remote areas of the Yukon or the Maritimes, you may want to increase this to $400 CAD. Your daily budget (spent via card) should be around $150–$250 CAD for a mid-range experience including dining and local transport. It is a peer-to-peer best practice to use an ATM at a major Canadian bank (like RBC, TD, or Scotiabank) upon arrival to get the best exchange rate, as "currency exchange" booths in airports often charge excessive fees. Avoid using USD cash in Canada; while some border shops accept it, they often use a poor exchange rate and will give you change in Canadian dollars.