13% HST + 15-20% Tips: Toronto Money Guide for World Cup 2026
Ontario adds 13% HST at checkout (not shown on the sticker price) and restaurants expect a 15-20% tip on the pre-tax total. Here's how to handle CAD, tap payments, and fees as a World Cup 2026 fan in Toronto.
Published June 22, 2026·5 min read
Summary
Ontario adds 13% HST at checkout — never shown on the sticker or menu price — and restaurants expect a 15-20% tip on the pre-tax total. So a C$100 dinner can cost about C$130 once tax and tip are in. Here's how to handle Canadian dollars, tap payments, and hidden fees as a World Cup 2026 fan in Toronto, plus the eSIM that keeps your banking app and currency converter online.
The 13% HST you won't see on the price tag
Ontario's Harmonized Sales Tax is 13% — 5% federal GST plus an 8% provincial portion — and it is added at the register, not built into displayed prices. A C$50 jersey rings up at about C$56.50, and a C$250 hotel night is roughly C$282 after tax. Unlike some countries, Canada offers no general visitor refund, so the tax is a true cost. Build it into your budget — our Toronto budget stay guide uses after-tax figures throughout.
Tax + tip at a glance
| Spend | Typical tip | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Sit-down restaurant | 15–20% pre-tax | Terminal suggests 18/20/22% |
| Bar / pub | 15–18% | C$1–2 per drink is fine at the bar |
| Taxi / rideshare | 10–15% | In-app tip for Uber/Lyft |
| Counter / fast food | Optional | No tip expected |
Tap everything: cards, Apple Pay, and TTC
Toronto is effectively cashless. Contactless Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay work at shops, restaurants, and BMO Field's cashless concessions, and you can tap a credit or debit card straight onto the TTC — one tap covers streetcar, subway, and bus transfers for two hours. Watch your home bank's foreign-transaction fee (often 2.5%); a no-FX-fee card saves real money across a two-week trip. Still carry C$20–40 in cash for the rare cash-only vendor or a bartender tip.
eSIM vs roaming vs pocket Wi-Fi for World Cup travel
| Option | Cost | Setup time | Coverage |
|---|---|---|---|
| eSIM | Low | ~5 min (pre-install on Wi-Fi) | Excellent (local carrier) |
| Carrier roaming | High | Instant (already enabled) | Medium (partner-dependent) |
| Pocket Wi-Fi | Medium | Airport pickup / rental | Good (extra device to charge) |
Cashless payment only works if your phone is online: contactless cards need no data, but your banking app, fraud alerts, currency converter, and Uber tip screen all do. A North America eSIM puts you on Rogers or Bell the moment you land at Toronto Pearson — from US$5 with Apple Pay, Google Pay, or card — and follows you to other host cities without a plan swap. See our Toronto connectivity guide.
FAQ
QHow much sales tax do I pay in Toronto?
AOntario charges 13% HST (5% federal GST plus 8% provincial), added at the register on most goods and services. Sticker and menu prices do not include it, so a C$100 item rings up at about C$113.
QIs tipping expected in Toronto for World Cup 2026?
AYes. Restaurants, bars, and taxis expect 15-20% on the pre-tax amount. Many card terminals suggest 18%, 20%, and 22% — you can choose a custom amount or no tip for counter service.
QCan I tap my card or phone everywhere in Toronto?
AAlmost everywhere. Contactless Visa, Mastercard, Apple Pay, and Google Pay are accepted at shops, restaurants, TTC, and BMO Field's cashless concessions. Carry a small amount of CAD as a backup for tips and small vendors.
QWill tourists get an HST refund in Canada?
ANo. Canada ended its general visitor tax-refund program years ago, so the 13% HST you pay in Ontario is not recoverable. Budget the tax into every purchase rather than expecting a refund at the airport.
Bottom line
Add roughly 13% tax and 15-20% tip to your mental price tags, tap your phone for almost everything, and carry a little CAD as backup. Then grab a World Cup 2026 eSIM so your banking app and rideshare tip screen stay online from the airport to the final whistle. Next, sort match-day transport.