Travel Money Guides

How cards, cash, ATMs and tipping work in 20 popular destinations, with what the local currency is worth.

• Japan (JPY) — Japan remains a cash-friendly country despite its high-tech reputation. Smaller restaurants, temples, and rural inns may not accept cards.
• United Kingdom (GBP) — The UK is overwhelmingly card-based. You can travel for weeks without touching cash, especially in London and major cities.
• France (EUR) — France is well-equipped for card payments, though smaller bakeries, markets, and some cafés may have minimums or prefer cash.
• Germany (EUR) — Despite being highly developed, Germany is surprisingly cash-loving. Bring euros — many Berlin bars, bakeries, and restaurants are cash-only.
• Italy (EUR) — Italy has modernized fast — most places now take cards, but cash still rules in small towns, markets, and rural trattorias.
• Spain (EUR) — Spain is largely card-friendly, especially in cities. Small tapas bars and family-run restaurants may still prefer cash.
• Thailand (THB) — Thailand is a cash-first country outside major hotels and shopping malls. Bring or withdraw plenty of baht.
• Mexico (MXN) — Mexico operates on both cards and cash. Resorts and cities take cards everywhere; markets, taxis, and street food are pesos only.
• Australia (AUD) — Australia is one of the most card-friendly countries on Earth. You can travel for a month without ever touching cash.
• Canada (CAD) — Canada is fully digital. Cards and contactless work everywhere from Tim Hortons to remote ferry terminals.
• Switzerland (CHF) — Switzerland is expensive but extremely card-friendly. The franc is one of the world's strongest currencies — budget accordingly.
• South Korea (KRW) — South Korea is a digital powerhouse. Cards and mobile pay dominate — cash is rarely needed except at small markets.
• India (INR) — India has rapidly digitized via UPI, but cash is still essential for tuk-tuks, street food, and rural areas.
• United Arab Emirates (AED) — The UAE is fully modern and card-friendly. Dubai and Abu Dhabi accept contactless almost universally.
• Brazil (BRL) — Brazil is increasingly card-based but cash still matters for street food, markets, and small towns.
• South Africa (ZAR) — South Africa is well-developed for cards, especially in cities. Cash is useful for parking marshals and small vendors.
• Singapore (SGD) — Singapore is cashless heaven. Cards, contactless, and PayNow work everywhere from hawker centers to luxury malls.
• China (CNY) — China is the world's most cashless major economy — but it runs on Alipay and WeChat Pay, which are tricky for short visits.
• Turkey (TRY) — Turkey accepts cards in cities and tourist areas, but the lira's volatility means many merchants prefer cash or even euros/dollars.
• New Zealand (NZD) — New Zealand is fully card-friendly. EFTPOS and contactless dominate from Queenstown ski lifts to remote Coromandel cafés.