Convert CHF to CAD Swiss franc ↔ Canadian dollar Free Online Secure
Type an amount in Swiss franc 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.
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Common amounts — Convert CHF to CAD (Swiss franc ↔ Canadian dollar)
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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.
Swiss emigrants and Canadian maple: a trail of cheese, chalets and francs from Quebec to British Columbia
The Swiss have been coming to Canada for more than two centuries. Some arrived in the early nineteenth century as part of the Red River settlement in Manitoba, others as farmers in Ontario and the Prairies, as hotel workers in the Rockies, and as mountain guides hired by the Canadian Pacific Railway in the 1890s to lead climbers in the new national parks. Their legacy is easy to find on the map: place names, cheese factories, ski resorts and a few Alpine-style lodges. Today thousands of Swiss people live in Canada, and many more visit. For all of them, a simple question comes up: how many Canadian dollars is a franc worth? This page answers it. It takes the European Central Bank's reference rates, in which the franc and the Canadian dollar are each quoted against the euro, combines them into a franc-to-dollar rate, shows the result with the date and keeps your amount in your browser. The text below follows the Swiss trail across Canada, and each stop is a reason to Convert CHF to CAD and to understand what the figure means.
Using the converter
Francs in, dollars out
For a first estimate of any Canadian price, Convert CHF to CAD and write the figure beside the date, then compare it later.
Type an amount in Swiss francs and the page returns the value in Canadian dollars, with the date of the rate beneath it. At weekends it uses Friday's figure and says so. A table of round amounts and a thirty-day line complete the page. For dollars into francs, use Convert CAD to CHF.
The meaning of mid-market
The reference rate is the middle of the market, published once on each working day, with no margin for a bank or card network. What you pay at a till or at a cash machine is somewhat different, and the gap is the price of the service. Keep this page as a benchmark: under one per cent is excellent, two or three per cent is usual for banks, and four or more is a prompt to compare. Each time you Convert CHF to CAD here, you obtain the benchmark.
Stop one: the Red River and the Swiss settlers of 1821
A hard start
In 1821, about 170 Swiss emigrants, mostly from the cantons of Neuchâtel, Bern and Graubünden, reached the Red River Colony near what is now Winnipeg, after a long voyage through Hudson Bay. They had been promised fertile land and a good life by the colony's founder, Lord Selkirk. The reality was floods, locusts, frost and hunger. Many left within a few years for the United States, but some stayed, and their descendants helped to build Manitoba. The story is a reminder that moving money and people across the ocean has always had risks.
Winnipeg today
At the hotel desk in Winnipeg, Convert CHF to CAD for the nightly rate and compare it with a similar room in Basel.
Winnipeg is a modern prairie city with a famous museum of human rights, a historic exchange district and a lively food scene. A visitor can eat well for 20 to 40 dollars, stay in a hotel for 150 to 250 and rent a car for 60 to 100 a day. Winters are bitterly cold, with temperatures falling below minus 30 degrees Celsius. Convert °C to °F helps American readers translate. Convert CHF to CAD for your trip budget, and you will find the prairie provinces among the cheapest in the country.
Fur, forts and early banking
The Red River colony depended on the fur trade and on the Hudson's Bay Company, whose stores sold goods for a mixture of coin, credit and furs. Money was scarce, and the company issued its own notes. Today the company's former stores are department stores or museums. The Forks, in Winnipeg, preserves the junction where the settlers' boats arrived.
Stop two: Quebec's cheese country and the Eastern Townships
Cheese from the Alps in Quebec
At a cheese farm, Convert CHF to CAD for the wheel you are tempted to buy and compare it with a Swiss supermarket shelf.
Swiss cheesemakers settled in Quebec's Eastern Townships and in Ontario in the nineteenth century, building the first cheese factories. Their craft survives in places like St-Hyacinthe, where small producers make Gruyère-style and Emmental-style cheeses. A wheel of such a cheese costs 30 to 80 dollars, a slice at a market stall 5 to 8. Visiting a cheese farm costs little and often includes a tasting. Quebec's cheese route is a good way to combine landscape and eating.
The Eastern Townships
South of Montreal, rolling hills, orchards, vineyards and small lakes make the Eastern Townships a favourite weekend destination. Guesthouses cost 150 to 300 dollars a night, a good dinner for two 100 to 180. The region is French-speaking, with prices in dollars and signs in French. Distances are in kilometres; for miles, Convert km to mi.
Stop three: Banff, Lake Louise and the Swiss guides
Edward Feuz and the climbing guides
In 1899 the Canadian Pacific Railway brought two Swiss mountain guides, Edward Feuz Sr. and Christian Häsler, to the Rocky Mountains to lead tourists on climbs. They were joined by more Swiss guides, and the family Feuz guided in the Canadian Rockies for decades. The railway built chalet-style lodges for the guides at Glacier House and at Lake Louise. Their guidance made mountaineering safe and popular, and many Canadian peaks were first climbed with them.
Banff and the lakes today
For a national-park holiday, Convert CHF to CAD for the pass, the campsite and the gondola, and add them for a daily cost.
Banff and Lake Louise are the stars of the Canadian Rockies. A national parks pass costs about 11 dollars per adult per day, or around 75 for a year-long family pass. Hotels at Lake Louise run to 400 or more dollars in summer, while campsites in the park cost 30 to 50. A gondola ride at Banff costs about 70. A guided hike is 100 to 250 for a half day. A Swiss traveller who compares with a day in Grindelwald will find that prices are roughly similar for lodging and lower for food.
Skiing in the Rockies
A day on the slopes has many parts, so Convert CHF to CAD for each: pass, hire, lunch and the lesson for the children.
Resorts such as Lake Louise, Sunshine Village and Norquay offer dry powder snow and long seasons. A day lift ticket costs 120 to 160 dollars, ski hire 60 to 90, a lesson 150 to 250. Compare with a Swiss day at 80 to 100 francs. The dollar price is higher, but with the exchange rate the cost is close.
Stop four: Vancouver and the Pacific coast
The city between mountains and sea
Vancouver is the most expensive Canadian city for housing and one of the most scenic. A hotel room costs 200 to 400 dollars, a dinner for two 100 to 200, a day on the transit system about 11. Stanley Park, Granville Island and the Capilano Suspension Bridge are the highlights. The latter costs about 70 dollars. A ferry to Vancouver Island, with its capital Victoria, takes 90 minutes and costs 20 to 25 dollars per passenger.
Whistler, the Swiss-style village
Before booking a week in Whistler, Convert CHF to CAD for the lodging and the lift passes together.
Two hours north, Whistler, a village built for the 2010 Winter Olympics, resembles an Alpine resort with its pedestrian centre, chalets and fondue restaurants. A lift pass costs 150 to 200 dollars a day, and lodging 250 to 600 a night. The village is expensive but popular with Europeans. A Swiss skier will find the terrain huge, the snow wet and the après-ski lively.
Swiss people in Canada today
Montreal, Toronto and Calgary
Roughly twenty thousand Swiss citizens live in Canada, with the largest groups in Quebec, Ontario, British Columbia and Alberta. Many work in finance, engineering, hospitality and research; others run farms and small businesses. Swiss clubs in Montreal and Toronto organise yodelling evenings, Swiss National Day picnics on 1 August and language classes for children. The Swiss consulates in Montreal and Toronto help with passports and civil registrations. For a Swiss person living in Canada, the question of converting between the two currencies arises when sending money home, paying for family visits and managing a Swiss pension.
The pension question
A retiree in Canada should Convert CHF to CAD each month and write down the date, the rate and the amount received.
Swiss state pensions can be paid to residents of Canada, in francs, into a Swiss or a Canadian account. Retirees spend dollars, so the exchange rate affects their income. A fall in the franc against the dollar reduces the pension in Canadian terms, and a rise increases it. Many retirees convert on a fixed date each month, and a few keep a franc balance for trips home. Compare quotes against the reference figure, and keep a note of the effective rate.
Taxes in both countries
Canada taxes residents on worldwide income. A Swiss pension is reported in Canadian dollars, converted at the rate of the day or an annual average set by the tax authority. A treaty between the two countries prevents double taxation. Keep pension slips and exchange-rate records, and consult an adviser who knows both systems.
Studying and working in Canada from Switzerland
Exchange semesters and degrees
For a semester abroad, Convert CHF to CAD for the rent, groceries and transport, and then for the flights and insurance.
Swiss students go to Canada for exchange semesters at universities such as McGill, Toronto and British Columbia. Exchange programmes often waive tuition, leaving living costs. A room in a shared flat costs 800 to 1,500 dollars a month, groceries 400 to 600, a transit pass 100 to 150. For a semester of five months, the budget is 8,000 to 14,000 dollars. Convert CHF to CAD for the total, and compare it with a semester in Zurich or Lausanne.
Working holidays and jobs
A seasonal worker should Convert CHF to CAD for wages and rent separately, and see how many weeks of work cover a month.
Switzerland and Canada have a youth mobility agreement that lets young people from either country live and work in the other for up to a year, subject to quotas and rules. Typical jobs are in ski resorts, hospitality and tourism. Wages start at the minimum for the province, 15 to 18 dollars an hour, plus tips. A worker in a Whistler restaurant may earn 3,000 to 4,500 dollars a month, but rent is high.
Skilled workers
Swiss engineers, scientists and health professionals are in demand in Canada. Immigration is through the points system or employer-sponsored permits. Credential recognition and language testing add costs. Salaries are high in technology and healthcare, but taxes, health insurance and housing absorb part. A comparison should be made with net income after costs, not with the gross figure.
Canada's Swiss food and drink
Fondue, raclette and chocolate
Fondue and raclette restaurants exist in all the major Canadian cities. A fondue for two costs 60 to 100 dollars, raclette 35 to 50 a head. Swiss chocolate is sold in supermarkets at 3 to 6 dollars a bar, and artisan shops have praline boxes at 25 to 60. Swiss expats often stock up on products from home when family visit. Convert CHF to CAD for the price of a box of chocolates, and you see how modest the sum is.
Canadian products for Swiss kitchens
At the till, Convert CHF to CAD for the bottle of ice wine and decide if it fits the duty-free allowance.
Swiss visitors bring home maple syrup, smoked salmon, wild blueberry products and ice wine, a sweet wine made from frozen grapes in Ontario and British Columbia. A bottle of ice wine costs 50 to 150 dollars for a half-litre. Duty-free limits for alcohol in Switzerland are five litres up to 18 per cent and one litre above. Maple syrup is cheap and travels well. Pack bottles carefully.
Coffee, doughnuts and poutine
Canadian food culture includes the national coffee chain with its doughnuts, poutine, a dish of fries with cheese curds and gravy, and butter tarts. A coffee and a doughnut cost 4 to 6 dollars, a poutine 8 to 14. These are cheap thrills for a Swiss visitor.
Canada's natural wonders and their costs
Niagara, Algonquin and Gros Morne
Canada's landscapes are huge. Niagara Falls attracts visitors to its boat tours, which cost about 30 to 40 dollars. Algonquin Park in Ontario is famed for canoeing, with permits and rentals of 40 to 80 dollars a day. Gros Morne National Park in Newfoundland, a UNESCO site, shows exposed earth's mantle. Parks passes cost 11 dollars a day per adult. The country rewards patient travellers.
Wildlife and safety
Moose, bears and wolves live in Canadian forests. Keep your distance, store food properly and follow park rules. Bear spray costs 40 to 60 dollars. Mosquitoes in summer are fierce, so carry repellent. In winter, avalanche risk in the mountains is real; take advice from rangers. Costs for guided tours include safety equipment.
Camping and cabins
Camping in national and provincial parks costs 25 to 50 dollars a night, with reservations opening months ahead. Cabins and yurts cost 100 to 250. Back-country sites need a permit. A Swiss family accustomed to the Alps will find Canadian camping spacious and relatively cheap. For distances and heights, Convert m to ft gives the figures in feet.
Money matters in Canada
Taxes, tips and the price you see
Add 30 per cent to the menu price, then Convert CHF to CAD, and you have a realistic cost for a Canadian dinner.
Prices are shown before sales tax, which varies by province from five to fifteen per cent. Restaurants expect a tip of fifteen to twenty per cent. A bill of 100 dollars becomes about 135 dollars after tax and tip. This is a difference from Switzerland, where prices include service and tax. Convert CHF to CAD for the menu price and add 30 per cent to see the real cost of a meal.
Cards, cash and cash machines
Cards are accepted almost everywhere, including contactless payment. Cash is needed only for small markets, tips and some rural places. Withdraw from bank cash machines, and decline the machine's offer to convert into francs. A card without foreign-transaction fees is best.
Health and insurance
Medical insurance is quoted in dollars, so Convert CHF to CAD for the premium and for the emergency cover limit.
Visitors are not covered by provincial health insurance, so travel insurance is vital. A visit to an emergency room can cost hundreds or thousands of dollars. A policy for two weeks costs 60 to 150 Canadian dollars. Keep the documents with you.
The franc and the Canadian dollar
A safe haven and a commodity currency
The franc is a safe-haven currency, and the Canadian dollar a commodity currency that rises and falls with the prices of oil, gas, metals and timber. The two often move in opposite directions: when the world is nervous, the franc rises and the Canadian dollar falls. The pair therefore has a reputation for being volatile, with swings of several per cent in a month. Use the thirty-day line on this page to see how restless the pair has been before a large conversion.
Interest rates
The Bank of Canada and the Swiss National Bank follow different paths. Canada's rates have generally been higher than Switzerland's, which attracts investors to Canadian assets but is offset by the franc's safe-haven demand. The combination makes forecasting risky. A saver who needs to convert should aim for an average rate by splitting purchases over time.
Related conversions
Other currencies on the trail
For the American dollar, which many travellers need on a trip through North America, Convert CHF to USD. For the euro and the pound, Convert CHF to EUR and Convert CHF to GBP. For Australia, another country with Swiss emigrants, Convert CHF to AUD. For the time difference with Vancouver, Convert CET to PST.
Mistakes to avoid
Forgetting tax and tip
Canadian prices exclude tax and service. Add them before comparing with Swiss prices.
The terminal's offer
If a card machine offers to charge you in francs, say no. Pay in Canadian dollars and let your bank convert.
Old rates
A rate noted last month may be a percentage point or more away from today's. The date beside the result protects you.
End of the trail
The page downloads only the table of daily reference rates. The amount you type never leaves your device, and no account is needed. From the Red River to the Pacific, the habit is the same: Convert CHF to CAD, read the date, compare any offer against the figure and keep a note.