Heading south? The right card eliminates the 2.5% foreign transaction fee on every US purchase, earns cash back or points, and covers you with emergency travel insurance. Here are the best options for Canadian visitors to the United States.
The Canadian dollar has been trading around $0.72–$0.74 USD in 2026, meaning every US dollar costs Canadians roughly $1.35–$1.39 CAD. That's before your bank adds its 2.5% foreign transaction fee — pushing the effective cost of every USD to nearly $1.42 CAD. On a $3,000 USD road trip, that 2.5% fee costs you $75 CAD for nothing.
The solution is simple: use a card with no foreign transaction fee. Several excellent Canadian cards offer this, and the right one depends on how often you travel and whether you want points or cash back.
No FX fees, 3x Scotia Rewards on grocery and dining (including US restaurants), 6 airport lounge passes, and comprehensive travel insurance. Visa is universally accepted in the US — gas stations, toll roads, restaurants, and stores. The $150 annual fee is recovered in 2 months of moderate US spending.
The Rogers World Elite earns 3% cash back on US dollar purchases — eliminating the 2.5% FX fee and netting you 0.5% cash back on every USD transaction. Mastercard is accepted nearly everywhere Visa is in the US. Free card with strong US-specific rewards.
KOHO Extra eliminates the FX fee on all US and international purchases. As a prepaid Mastercard, it works everywhere Mastercard is accepted — which in the US is virtually everywhere. Load it with CAD and spend at the day's exchange rate with no added fee. No credit check needed.
No FX fees, no annual fee, no rewards. The Home Trust Preferred Visa is the perfect backup card for Canadians in the US — carry it in case your primary card gets declined or lost. Zero cost, maximum simplicity.
Gas Stations: US pay-at-the-pump terminals require a US ZIP code for credit cards. Canadian cards often fail at unattended pumps. Solution: go inside and pay with an attendant, or use a prepaid card like KOHO.
Hotel Pre-authorizations: US hotels routinely place $100–$200 pre-authorization holds on cards. Ensure your card has sufficient available credit or load your KOHO accordingly.
Tipping: US tipping culture means 18–25% is standard at restaurants. A no-FX card ensures you're not also paying 2.5% on top of tips.
Emergency Medical: Canadian provincial health insurance provides limited coverage in the US. A medical emergency in the US can cost $50,000–$500,000. Always have travel medical insurance — either through your credit card or a separate plan.
KOHO's premium plans include no foreign transaction fees — save 2.5% on every US and international purchase. Perfect for snowbirds and frequent travellers.
Get KOHO Free — Code 45ET55JSYA| Card | FX Fee | Annual Fee | US Rewards | Medical Insurance |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite | 0% | $150 | 3x points dining/grocery | Up to $1M |
| Rogers World Elite MC | 0% | $0 | 3% cash back USD | Emergency medical |
| KOHO Extra | 0% | $108/yr | 0.25% cash back | None |
| Home Trust Preferred Visa | 0% | $0 | None | None |
| Most Canadian bank cards | 2.5% | varies | varies | varies |
A Canadian making a 2-week Florida vacation with $2,500 USD in spending saves $62.50 by using a no-FX card. A snowbird spending $20,000 USD over a 4-month winter saves $500. Over 10 years of snowbirding, that's $5,000 in eliminated fees — easily enough to cover an entire extra trip.
Yes — Visa and Mastercard Canadian cards work everywhere in the US. However, most Canadian cards charge a 2.5% foreign transaction fee on every USD purchase. Use a no-FX card to avoid this fee.
US pay-at-pump terminals require a billing ZIP code. Canadian postal codes don't work. Go inside to pay, or use a prepaid card like KOHO which sometimes bypasses this requirement.
Yes. KOHO is a Mastercard and is accepted wherever Mastercard is accepted in the US — virtually everywhere. Load CAD and spend at the exchange rate with no FX fee on KOHO Extra or KOHO Everything plans.
See also: Snowbird Banking Canada USA | Spending Money in the USA as a Canadian | Travel Medical Insurance Canada