If you’re standing at a border crossing in Windsor or just staring at an online shopping cart, the question of how much is 100 Canadian in US dollars usually hits with a bit of a sting. You see $100 in your bank account, but by the time it crosses the 49th parallel, it feels like it’s gone on a crash diet.
Right now, as of mid-January 2026, the math is pretty blunt. $100 CAD is getting you roughly **$71.87 USD**.
But wait. Don't just take that number to the bank.
If you actually walk into a TD branch or a currency booth at Pearson Airport, you aren't getting $71.87. You’ll probably walk away with $68 or $69 after they take their cut. Exchange rates are slippery. They change while you’re drinking your coffee, and the "mid-market rate" you see on Google isn't what humans actually pay.
Why 100 Canadian in US dollars feels so low right now
It’s been a weird few years for the loonie. We saw a massive roller coaster in 2025 where the dollar briefly tanked to nearly 60 cents in April following some aggressive tariff talk, only to claw its way back. Now, in early 2026, we’re hovering in this 71-to-73 cent range.
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Why? Oil is a huge part of it.
Canada is basically an oil company with a flag. When West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude prices dip—like they did recently down toward the $60 mark—the Canadian dollar usually follows it down the drain. Then you’ve got the central banks playing a game of chicken. The Bank of Canada, led by Tiff Macklem, has been hinting at keeping rates steady, while the US Federal Reserve is dealing with "sticky" inflation that keeps the US dollar looking like a safe haven for investors.
Basically, the US economy is currently a bodybuilder on protein shakes, and Canada is trying to keep up on a treadmill. It's a tough race.
The "Real" cost of exchanging your money
Let's talk about the "hidden" tax of being a tourist or a cross-border shopper. If you want to know how much is 100 Canadian in US dollars in your actual pocket, you have to look at the spread.
- Big Banks: Honestly, they’re the worst. RBC, BMO, and the rest usually charge a 2.5% to 4% markup. Your $100 CAD might only net you **$68.50 USD**.
- Credit Cards: Most "travel" cards give you the decent rate, but watch out for that 2.5% foreign transaction fee. It eats your lunch.
- Digital Apps: Tools like Wise or Revolut are usually the winners here. They get you closest to that $71.87 figure, minus a tiny, transparent fee.
- Airport Kiosks: Just don't. Unless it’s a total emergency, you’re basically donating 10% of your money to the airport's lighting fund.
I remember talking to a friend who lives in Niagara Falls. She crosses for groceries because milk is cheaper in New York, but she stopped last month. Why? Because by the time she did the conversion on her $200 grocery bill, the "savings" had vanished into the exchange rate.
What to expect for the rest of 2026
Predictions are a fool's game, but analysts at firms like CIBC and TD are actually somewhat bullish for later this year. There’s a lot of talk about the USMCA trade pact review. If that goes smoothly, the loonie might climb back toward 74 or 75 cents.
However, if we see more geopolitical friction or if the US keeps outperforming every other economy on the planet, we might be stuck in this 70-cent basement for a long time.
How to get the most out of your 100 bucks
If you need to move money across the border, stop using the "convenient" option.
- Check the "Mid-Market" rate first. Use a site like XE or OANDA. That is your baseline.
- Use a No-FX Fee Credit Card. If you travel often, cards like the Scotiabank Passport or the EQ Bank Card save you that 2.5% fee every time you tap.
- Norbert’s Gambit. If you’re moving thousands, look this up. It’s a way to swap CAD for USD using ETFs in a brokerage account to bypass bank fees almost entirely. It's a bit of a headache, but for $10,000, it’s worth $300 in savings.
- Wait for the mid-week. Currencies can be more volatile on Fridays or Sunday nights when markets are opening or closing. Tuesdays and Wednesdays are often "quieter."
At the end of the day, knowing how much is 100 Canadian in US dollars is just the start. The real trick is making sure the banks don't take a bite out of that $71.87 before it reaches your wallet. Keep an eye on the oil charts and the Fed announcements; they’ll tell you more about your next vacation budget than a currency converter ever will.
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Actionable Insights:
- For Travelers: Download a currency tracking app and set an alert for when the CAD hits $0.73 USD.
- For Shoppers: If the CAD is below $0.72, most "deals" in the US aren't actually deals once you factor in the 30% premium.
- For Investors: Consider hedging your US dollar exposure if you think the Bank of Canada will hold rates while the Fed starts to cut.