Canada has a high cost of living comparable to France or Germany — even higher in the Rockies and major cities (Vancouver, Toronto in particular). The reference budget of €110/day/person allows a comfortable stay in 3-4* hotels, mid-range restaurants, car rental included.
A mid-range traveller for two in summer will budget: 3-4* hotel CAD 150-300/night depending on city (more expensive in Banff/Lake Louise: CAD 250-500/night), restaurant meals CAD 35-70/person excluding drinks, car rental CAD 50-80/day + CAD 20-30/day fuel, museums and parks entries CAD 15-30. The budget traveller can get by on €70-90/day choosing: hostels CAD 35-60/dorm bed (HI Canada reliable network, present in Banff, Whistler, Vancouver, Toronto), food court or fast-casual meals CAD 15-20, public transport + walking, annual national park Discovery pass (CAD 89 for the whole family by car).
By expense category: accommodation (40-50% of budget) — 3* hotel CAD 100-180/night, 4* CAD 200-350, 4* boutique hotel in Banff CAD 350-600 in summer, Rockies lodge CAD 250-500, Airbnb CAD 80-180/night, HI hostel CAD 35-60/dorm bed. Food (20-25%) — café breakfast CAD 8-15, lunch CAD 15-25, restaurant dinner CAD 35-70, fast food CAD 15, pub beer CAD 7-10. Sites and activities (10-15%) — National park Discovery pass CAD 89/year/vehicle (essential for Banff-Jasper-Yoho), CN Tower Toronto CAD 43, Tadoussac whale cruise CAD 90-110, Banff Gondola cable car CAD 64, Whistler skiing CAD 150-220/day. Transport (15-20%) — car rental CAD 50-80/day, fuel CAD 1.60-2.00/litre, Toronto-Montreal train CAD 100-200, domestic flight CAD 250-500.
The currency is the Canadian dollar (CAD), €1 ≈ CAD 1.47. Visa and Mastercard accepted everywhere, contactless payment widespread, Apple Pay and Google Pay omnipresent. Withdraw cash at ATMs (often CAD 3-5 fee per withdrawal). Tips are mandatory at restaurants and bars (15-20% of pre-tax bill, sometimes suggested at checkout), CAD 1-2 per bag at hotels, CAD 1-2 at barber. Taxes are added to displayed prices (federal GST 5% + variable provincial PST, e.g. QST 9.975% in Quebec, HST 13% in Ontario, GST only 5% in Alberta) — actual total is about 13-15% above displayed price.
110V voltage (US A/B plugs) requires an adapter for European travellers (€5-10 in store or airport). Wifi and 4G/5G are excellent everywhere, except in isolated Rockies and far north zones. A prepaid SIM card (Public Mobile, Lucky Mobile, Chatr) costs CAD 35-50 for a 1-month unlimited data plan — useful for stays longer than 10 days.
Read also
- Quebec — Cosmopolitan Montreal, UNESCO Old Quebec, Charlevoix and Tadoussac: French-speaking Canada 7h30 from Paris.
- Ontario — Multicultural Toronto, Niagara Falls, Ottawa the federal capital: the economic and institutional heart.
- Canadian Rockies — Banff, Lake Louise, Jasper: among the world's most beautiful alpine landscapes, turquoise lakes and glaciers.
- British Columbia — Vancouver facing the Pacific, legendary Whistler ski resort, Vancouver Island and British Victoria.