Convert AUD to CAD Australian dollar ↔ Canadian dollar Free Online Secure
Type an amount in Australian dollar and read it in Canadian dollar at once. The page uses the European Central Bank's reference rate, and tells you which day that rate is from.
Nothing uploaded
Common amounts — Convert AUD to CAD (Australian dollar ↔ Canadian dollar)
| AUD | CAD |
|---|---|
| 1 | |
| 5 | |
| 10 | |
| 20 | |
| 50 | |
| 100 | |
| 250 | |
| 500 | |
| 1000 | |
| 5000 |
The last thirty days
Where these codes and rates come from
The three letters in EUR, USD or JPY are not an abbreviation someone invented for a website: they are ISO 4217, a standard in which the first two letters are the country's own code and the third is usually the initial of the currency. The figures on this page come from the European Central Bank, which publishes one set of reference rates each working day, around 16:00 Central European time, agreed between the central banks of the Eurosystem. They are a daily snapshot meant for statistics and accounting, not a live trading feed — which is exactly why they are the same number for everyone, rather than whatever one bank happened to quote at one moment.
Where you meet an exchange rate
You meet an exchange rate four or five times a year without thinking about it: booking a trip, paying an invoice issued abroad, buying from a foreign shop, reading a salary offer in another currency, or checking what a card charge really cost. In all of these the reference rate is the honest middle, and the price you actually pay sits a little to one side of it. Knowing the middle is what lets you see how wide that margin is.
Questions people ask
Is this the rate my bank will give me?
No, and no page can promise one. This is the European Central Bank's reference rate: the midpoint published once a day for statistics. A bank, a card scheme or an exchange office adds its own margin on top — usually between half a percent and three percent, sometimes more at an airport counter. Use this figure to judge the offer you are given, not to predict it.
How often does the figure change, and what happens at weekends?
The European Central Bank publishes once each working day, in the afternoon, Central European time. There is no publication on Saturdays, Sundays or TARGET holidays, so on those days the page shows the last working day's rate and says which day it belongs to. The chart alongside is one year of the same daily series.
Is the answer exact?
Where both units are defined in terms of one another by whole numbers, yes — the page says so above the figure, and the only rounding is in how many digits are shown. Where the ratio has no finite decimal, the page shows twelve significant digits and says the relation is approximate rather than pretending otherwise.
Does anything I type leave my device?
No. The arithmetic runs in your browser; nothing is uploaded and there is no server to upload it to. Load the page once and it keeps working with the network switched off.
Whistler, the Rockies and a working winter: an Australian in Canada, priced in Canadian dollars
Every winter, thousands of young Australians arrive in the Canadian mountain town of Whistler. They come on working holiday visas, take jobs as lift operators, bartenders, chefs and ski instructors, share crowded apartments, ski every free day and make friends from all over the world. So many have done it that locals joke about Whistralia. Others come in summer, for hiking and mountain biking, or travel the national parks of the Rockies in a rented motorhome. For all of them the first practical question is how many Canadian dollars an Australian dollar buys. The two currencies share a name, a similar look and a close value, which makes it tempting to assume they are the same. They are not, and the rate between them shifts every day. This page gives you the figure. Use it to Convert AUD to CAD with the daily reference rates published by the European Central Bank, in which both dollars are quoted against the euro; the page combines them into a dollar-dollar figure and prints its date under the result. The amount you type never leaves your browser.
Using the converter
Australian dollars in, Canadian dollars out
Type your budget, Convert AUD to CAD, and write the date beside the answer, because the figure and its date belong together.
Type an amount in Australian dollars and read the result in Canadian dollars and cents, with the date of the fixing used. An Australian dollar is worth roughly 0.87 to 0.95 Canadian dollars, so the answer is a little below the number you typed. A fixing is published once on each working day; on weekends and public holidays the page repeats the last one and says so. A table of round sums and a graph of the last thirty days sit beneath the box. For the opposite direction, open Convert CAD to AUD.
What the figure hides
At any counter, Convert AUD to CAD first and divide their offer by the result to see the margin.
The number shown is the wholesale mid-market rate, with no provider's margin added. Everyone who serves you keeps a slice, and the slice is the real cost. Divide the amount you are offered by the amount on this page: 0.99 is outstanding, 0.97 is common for a good card, and under 0.95 you should ask elsewhere. The sums below use an invented, tidy rate of 0.90 Canadian dollars to the Australian dollar. It is not a forecast and not today's price, so replace it with the live figure.
Working in a mountain town
The International Experience visa
Australians aged 18 to 35 can apply for an open work permit under Canada's International Experience programme, valid for up to two years, which lets them work for almost any employer. Applicants must show savings of a few thousand Canadian dollars, hold health insurance and pay a participation fee. Places are limited and allocated through a pool, so apply early. The official website carries the current rules and fees, and no intermediary is necessary.
Jobs and wages
Before accepting a job, Convert AUD to CAD for the wage and compare it with the rent.
Ski resorts employ seasonal workers in lift operations, rental shops, restaurants, hotels and ski schools. Wages in British Columbia start around 17 to 19 Canadian dollars an hour for entry-level jobs, with tips adding a third or more in hospitality. Many employers offer a free or discounted season pass, staff meals or subsidised housing. A bartender with tips can earn 2,500 to 4,000 dollars a month, a lift operator 2,200 to 2,800. At the invented rate, 3,000 Canadian dollars is 3,333 Australian dollars.
Housing
Rent is the largest cost, so Convert AUD to CAD for two towns and compare the monthly totals.
Rent in mountain towns is among the highest in Canada. A shared room in Whistler costs 900 to 1,500 dollars a month, a one-bedroom apartment 2,500 to 3,500, and staff housing less. Many workers live four to a room. Start looking in September for the winter season, avoid advance payments for rooms you have not seen and read your contract.
The Rockies
Banff and Jasper
A park pass and a motorhome look modest in dollars, but Convert AUD to CAD for a week of them.
The national parks of Banff and Jasper form part of a World Heritage site of glaciers, turquoise lakes and peaks above 3,000 metres. Lake Louise and Moraine Lake are the most photographed spots, and the Icefields Parkway, a 230-kilometre road between Banff and Jasper, is among the most scenic drives in the world. A park pass costs about 11 Canadian dollars per adult per day or 75 for a year. Parking at the best lakes needs a shuttle or an early start, and bookings are essential in July and August.
Wildlife and safety
Bears, elk, moose and bighorn sheep are common, and a bear can be dangerous. Carry bear spray, keep a large distance from all wildlife, never feed animals and store food securely. Hikers make noise on trails and travel in groups. Weather can turn quickly, with snow even in July at high elevations. Carry layers and water. Rescue is by helicopter and costly, so insurance is essential.
Motorhomes and camping
A motorhome costs 200 to 350 Canadian dollars a day plus fuel and campsite fees of 30 to 50 dollars a night. Campgrounds in the parks must be booked months ahead. Wild camping is generally not allowed in parks. Small cabins and hostels are a cheaper alternative, at 40 to 70 dollars a bed.
Cities
Vancouver and Victoria
Vancouver sits between mountains and sea, with a huge park, a seawall for walking and cycling and a food scene shaped by Asian communities. A day pass for public transport costs about 11 dollars. Ferries link it to Vancouver Island and the city of Victoria, with its Butchart Gardens and British feel. Whale watching trips cost 130 to 180 dollars. Hotels are expensive in summer, and hostels are good value.
Toronto and Montreal
In the east, Toronto has a skyline dominated by the CN Tower, Niagara Falls within two hours and neighbourhoods from every culture. Montreal is bilingual, with a European air, an old harbour and a famous food and festival scene. A coffee costs 3.5 to 5 dollars, a lunch 15 to 25, a dinner 30 to 60. Flights between the coasts take five hours and cost 200 to 500 dollars.
Money in Canada
Tax and tip
Before you pay, add tax and tip to the menu price and then Convert AUD to CAD for the total.
Prices in Canadian shops and restaurants exclude sales tax, which ranges from 5 per cent in Alberta to about 15 per cent in the Atlantic provinces, and a tip of 15 to 20 per cent is expected in restaurants, bars and taxis. A 40-dollar meal becomes about 48 to 52 at the end. Australians used to prices that include tax and tips that are optional must adjust. Add a fifth before you Convert AUD to CAD for any menu price.
Cards and cash
Cards and contactless payment are accepted nearly everywhere, and notes are made of polymer. Australian cards charge a foreign-transaction fee of about 3 per cent, so a travel card may save money. Cash machines may charge a fee and offer to convert into Australian dollars at a poor rate; refuse and take Canadian dollars. Opening a Canadian account on arrival is easy with a work permit and a passport.
Time, units and weather
Vancouver is eighteen to nineteen hours behind Sydney, Toronto fifteen to sixteen. Convert EST to PST shows the gap between the Canadian coasts. Canada uses the metric system but also imperial measures for heights and recipes: Convert cm to in and Convert °C to °F are useful. Winter in the mountains is cold, often below minus ten.
Skiing in the Canadian winter
Whistler Blackcomb
A lift ticket is a large daily cost, so Convert AUD to CAD for a day, a week and a season pass and compare.
Whistler Blackcomb, in the Coast Mountains, is the largest ski resort in North America, with 8,100 acres of terrain, 200 marked runs and two mountains linked by a gondola that spans a valley. The season runs from late November to April. A day lift ticket costs 150 to 250 Canadian dollars at the window and less when bought online in advance, while a season pass costs about 1,500 dollars. Equipment hire costs 60 to 100 dollars a day, a lesson 150 to 250. At the invented rate, a 200-dollar ticket costs 222 Australian dollars, more than at Thredbo, but the snow is deeper and the runs longer.
Alternatives
Smaller resorts such as Revelstoke, Fernie, Kicking Horse and Red Mountain offer deep powder, fewer crowds and lower prices, at 100 to 150 dollars a day. In Alberta, Sunshine Village, Lake Louise and Norquay lie within Banff National Park; the Ski Big 3 pass covers all three. Eastern resorts in Quebec, such as Mont-Tremblant, are smaller and icier but charming, with a French atmosphere.
Cold weather clothing
Canadian winters are colder than Australian ski fields. Wear a base layer of wool or synthetic fabric, a fleece, a waterproof shell, insulated gloves, a neck warmer and goggles. In cold snaps, minus twenty or lower, protect exposed skin. Buy winter gear on arrival, as outlet shops sell jackets and boots cheaper than in Australia, and sales run after Christmas.
A season, with figures
An example
Suppose an Australian works a five-month winter season in Whistler. Income: 2,800 dollars a month net, or 14,000 in total. Costs: shared room at 1,100 a month, 5,500; food 500 a month, 2,500; phone and transport 150 a month, 750; a staff pass at 600; equipment 400; entertainment 300 a month, 1,500; insurance 700. Total costs are 11,950, leaving 2,050 dollars, which at the invented rate is 2,278 Australian dollars. Flights and the visa fee are extra. Convert AUD to CAD for each line and see how it fits your plans.
Staying healthy and insured
Canadian provincial health plans cover residents, not visitors. Working holiday makers must buy private health insurance for the whole stay. A policy costs 60 to 150 dollars a month, with higher cover for winter sports. Check that it includes mountain rescue and repatriation. Emergency number 911 works across Canada.
Banking
Opening a bank account on arrival is easy with a passport, work permit and proof of address. A social insurance number is required for work and tax, and the application is made at a service centre. Salaries are paid by direct deposit. Convert AUD to CAD when you transfer savings and compare the margin of your provider with the figure on this page.
Language and manners
Canadian English
Canadian English mixes British and American habits. A toque is a woolly hat, a loonie a one-dollar coin, a toonie a two-dollar coin, a double-double a coffee with two creams and two sugars. Canadians say sorry often, queue politely and thank bus drivers. Australians are well received and often asked about kangaroos and Vegemite.
Seasons and holidays
Seasons are reversed compared with Australia: summer from June to August, winter from December to March. Public holidays include New Year's Day, Family Day in February, Good Friday, Victoria Day in May, Canada Day on 1 July, Labour Day, Thanksgiving in October and Christmas. Banks and shops close, and ski resorts are very busy at Christmas and in February.
Etiquette in nature
Leave no trace: pack out rubbish, stay on trails, give wildlife space and do not feed animals. Fires are restricted in dry weather. Respect Indigenous lands and cultural sites, where signs provide guidance.
Food, drink and daily life
What Canadians eat
Canadian food is a mix of British, French, Indigenous and world influences. Poutine, a dish of chips, cheese curds and gravy, comes from Quebec. Maple syrup is poured over pancakes, bacon and ice cream, and butter tarts and Nanaimo bars are sweet classics. Vancouver is renowned for sushi and dim sum, Montreal for smoked meat and bagels, and the east coast for lobster and oysters. A main course in a restaurant costs 20 to 38 dollars, a burger and fries 16 to 24, a coffee 3.5 to 5.
Drink
Coffee is usually served in large cups, with free refills in diners. Craft beer is everywhere, at 7 to 10 dollars a pint. Alcohol is sold in government or licensed shops in most provinces, and the legal age is 18 or 19. Canadian wines from British Columbia and Ontario, including ice wine made from frozen grapes, are worth trying at 25 to 80 dollars a bottle.
Grocery shopping
Supermarkets are large, with prices slightly higher than in Australia for many items. A weekly shop for one person costs 80 to 130 dollars. Staff housing often includes shared kitchens, and bulk shopping at warehouse clubs saves money. Remember that sales tax is added to some items but not to basic groceries.
Travelling around
Distances and transport
Canada is vast, and distances are long. Buses link towns in the mountains, with a ticket from Vancouver to Whistler costing 20 to 40 dollars for a two-hour ride. Domestic flights cost 150 to 500 dollars one way. A rental car costs 50 to 120 a day, and fuel about 1.6 dollars a litre. Driving is on the right, speed limits are 100 to 110 kilometres per hour on highways, and winter tyres are compulsory in some provinces.
Driving in snow
Australians who have never driven on ice should practise before taking a long trip. Brake gently, leave a large distance, and keep an emergency kit with a blanket, water and a shovel. Check road conditions on official websites before leaving. In mountain passes, chains may be required in storms, and avalanche control can close roads for hours.
Flights from Australia
Direct flights link Sydney and Melbourne with Vancouver in about fourteen hours, and a return ticket costs 1,500 to 2,800 Australian dollars. Prices are higher in December and January. Many travellers also fly into Toronto, via Los Angeles or Asia. Check the electronic travel authorisation requirement for Australians before travelling.
Safety and practicalities
Phones and power
Roaming from an Australian plan costs 5 to 10 dollars a day. A prepaid SIM with data costs 30 to 60 Canadian dollars, and plans for workers with long contracts cost 40 to 70 a month. Canada uses the same plugs and voltage as the United States, 120 volts and flat two-pin plugs, so Australian chargers need an adapter, and some devices a converter.
Emergencies
The emergency number is 911. In mountain areas, mobile coverage is patchy, so download offline maps and tell someone your route. Carry bear spray and learn how to use it. Wear a helmet when skiing, and ski within your limits. Avalanche risk is posted at resorts and in backcountry bulletins; never ski off-piste without training and equipment.
Time zones
Vancouver is eighteen to nineteen hours behind Sydney and Toronto fifteen to sixteen. Calls home work best in the morning in Canada, which is the evening in Australia. A messaging app on wireless costs nothing.
Other conversions
If the trip goes on
Travellers who continue to the United States can use Convert AUD to USD, those who cross to Britain Convert AUD to GBP, and those who go on to Europe Convert AUD to EUR. For the Canadian dollar against the euro, see Convert EUR to CAD.
A small routine
Write down the rate and date each time you send or receive money, and compare the note with the statement later.
Mistakes to avoid
Treating the dollars as equal
A dollar is not a dollar, so Convert AUD to CAD before you decide that a price is fair.
The two dollars differ in value. Convert AUD to CAD before you decide that a price is fair.
Paying in Australian dollars
A terminal that offers to charge you in Australian dollars uses its own rate. Pay in Canadian dollars.
Using an old rate
A rate from last month can be several per cent out. The date beside the result protects you whenever you Convert AUD to CAD.
In short
The only thing fetched from the network is the table of daily rates; your amount stays in the browser and no account is needed. From a lift line in Whistler to a lake in Banff, one habit pays: Convert AUD to CAD, read the date and weigh every offer against the figure on this page.