Regional guide

For US travelers

Money in the Americas, country by country.

The Americas run the whole range. Canada and Brazil are close to cashless and card friendly almost everywhere, while much of Latin America and the Caribbean is card in the cities and cash for the rest, so how much local cash you carry depends heavily on where you land. Two habits pay off everywhere here: the US dollar is welcome at many Caribbean and Latin resorts, but you almost always lose a few percent when the merchant sets the rate, so pay in the local currency instead, and the ATMs can bite, with low withdrawal limits and steep flat fees in places like Argentina, Colombia and Mexico.

Watch two more things, on the bill and before you fly: Caribbean and Mexican resort stays often add service charges, sales tax and local lodging or eco fees at checkout rather than in the quoted rate, and a couple of countries now want an entry authorization or e-visa paid ahead, Brazil and Canada among them. Below is every country we cover in the Americas, with a quick read on how card friendly it is and what to watch, then a full money guide for each. Start with where you are headed.

ArgentinaThe blue-dollar bargain is over: your card now gets a fair rate, so tap for most things, keep some cash for taxis and small spots, skip the pricey ATMs, and carry travel insurance.Cards in citiesWatch ATM feesArubaAruba is one of the easiest Caribbean islands for money, since US dollars are accepted almost everywhere alongside the florin and cards are widely taken, so you rarely need to exchange. The catch is the hotel bill: a 12.5% tourist levy, a service charge and a resort fee stack on top of the room, and every visitor pays a US$20 ED Card fee online before you fly.Card-friendlyTourist tax to expectBrazilOne of the most cashless places anywhere: tap your card almost everywhere, keep a little cash for the beach, always pay in reais, and sort your e-visa before you fly.Card-friendlyTourist tax to expectCanadaAs card-friendly as the US, but the sticker price hides sales tax and a US-style tip.Card-friendlyTourist tax to expectWatch ATM feesColombiaCard-friendly in the cities, but carry cash for the coast and small towns, dodge the steep ATM fees, and skip the hotel tax you should not be paying.Cards in citiesWatch ATM feesCosta RicaDollars work almost everywhere, but paying in colones quietly saves you money.Cards in citiesDominican RepublicDollars work in the resort zones, but pesos and a watch for the 28% checkout jump save you money.Cards in citiesTourist tax to expectEcuadorEcuador uses the US dollar as its official currency, so there is nothing to exchange and prices are already in dollars. Tap your card in Quito, Guayaquil and Cuenca, carry small bills for taxis, markets and the countryside, and bring cash for the Galapagos, where the park fees are cash only.Cards in citiesJamaicaTwo currencies, one simple rule: pay in Jamaican dollars or by card, not US dollars, since paying in USD quietly costs you 5 to 10% on the vendor's rate. Keep JMD cash for taxis, jerk stands and tips.Cards in citiesTourist tax to expectWatch ATM feesMexicoMexico is card-friendly in resorts and cities, but cash still runs daily life.Cash-firstTourist tax to expectWatch ATM feesThe BahamasThe Bahamian dollar is pegged 1 to 1 with the US dollar, so USD and local notes are used interchangeably at par, no exchange needed. Tap your card in Nassau and the resorts, and carry small bills for taxis, the straw market, the Out Islands and tips.Cards in citiesTourist tax to expectWatch ATM fees

Compare across countries: the cost of a day, ranked,where Americans travel most, and how tipping compares to home.