Bring $100-200 in US cash per person for a typical 1-week trip. The USA is overwhelmingly card-based — tap-to-pay works almost everywhere — but you will need small bills for tips, food trucks, farmers markets, laundromats, some taxis, and valet parking. Never carry large amounts of cash. Use ATMs for more mid-trip, and a Wise or Revolut card for zero-fee card spending.
The Short Answer
For a 7-day trip: $100-200 cash. For 2 weeks: $200-300. Anything beyond that, pull more from an ATM. Keep $1 and $5 bills on hand for tips; $20s for taxis or small stores that do not take card. Everything else goes on a card — preferably one with no foreign transaction fee.
Full Explanation
The USA has leapfrogged most of Europe on contactless payments. Apple Pay, Google Pay, tap-to-pay cards work at nearly every retailer. But a handful of traditional cash situations persist, and they will catch you out if you arrive with no bills.
- Tips for hotel staff: $2-5 per bag for porters, $2-5 per day for housekeeping, $1-2 for valets — all cash
- Taxi & shuttle drivers: 15-20% tip, cash preferred (or via card reader)
- Street vendors & food trucks: Many take card now, but smaller cities still cash-only
- Farmers markets: Cash-only stalls are common
- Laundromats & vending: Quarters or $1 bills
- Bars with old tills: Rare but cash cover charge ($5-10) still exists
🧮
USA Trip Cost Calculator
Estimate your total USA trip budget including cash and cards
Common Exceptions
Some trips need more cash than others.
| Trip type | Cash to bring |
|---|
| City trip, staying in hotels | $100-150 / week |
| Road trip with motels | $200-300 / week |
| National park camping | $250-400 / week (park fees, firewood) |
| Casino trip (Vegas) | $200+ for tips to dealers/servers |
| NYC / SF only | $100 is usually enough |
| Rural South / West | $200+ (more cash-only spots) |
Do not carry more than $300-400 cash at once. Use a hotel safe for the rest. US pickpocketing is rare but not zero, and lost cash is lost forever. Cards can be frozen and replaced.
- US bills are all the same size and green — double-check before handing over
- Tip jars at cafes are voluntary but appreciated with $1 for a coffee
- ATMs are abundant — every CVS, Walgreens, and gas station has one
- Wise, Revolut, and Chase Sapphire cards offer 0% foreign transaction fees
- $100 bills are sometimes refused at gas stations and small shops
- Many newer US buses and subways are cashless — use contactless card or app
Load a
Wise card with USD before you fly. You get the real exchange rate, no foreign transaction fees, and free ATM withdrawals up to $100/month.
Bring $100-200 in US cash per person for a typical 1-week trip. The USA is overwhelmingly card-based — tap-to-pay works almost everywhere — but you will need small bills for tips, food trucks, farmers markets, laundromats, some taxis, and valet parking. Never carry large amounts of cash. Use ATMs for more mid-trip, and a Wise or Revolut card for zero-fee card spending.
The Short Answer
For a 7-day trip: $100-200 cash. For 2 weeks: $200-300. Anything beyond that, pull more from an ATM. Keep $1 and $5 bills on hand for tips; $20s for taxis or small stores that do not take card. Everything else goes on a card — preferably one with no foreign transaction fee.
Full Explanation
The USA has leapfrogged most of Europe on contactless payments. Apple Pay, Google Pay, tap-to-pay cards work at nearly every retailer. But a handful of traditional cash situations persist, and they will catch you out if you arrive with no bills.
- Tips for hotel staff: $2-5 per bag for porters, $2-5 per day for housekeeping, $1-2 for valets — all cash
- Taxi & shuttle drivers: 15-20% tip, cash preferred (or via card reader)
- Street vendors & food trucks: Many take card now, but smaller cities still cash-only
- Farmers markets: Cash-only stalls are common
- Laundromats & vending: Quarters or $1 bills
- Bars with old tills: Rare but cash cover charge ($5-10) still exists
🧮
USA Trip Cost Calculator
Estimate your total USA trip budget including cash and cards
Common Exceptions
Some trips need more cash than others.
| Trip type | Cash to bring |
|---|
| City trip, staying in hotels | $100-150 / week |
| Road trip with motels | $200-300 / week |
| National park camping | $250-400 / week (park fees, firewood) |
| Casino trip (Vegas) | $200+ for tips to dealers/servers |
| NYC / SF only | $100 is usually enough |
| Rural South / West | $200+ (more cash-only spots) |
Do not carry more than $300-400 cash at once. Use a hotel safe for the rest. US pickpocketing is rare but not zero, and lost cash is lost forever. Cards can be frozen and replaced.
- US bills are all the same size and green — double-check before handing over
- Tip jars at cafes are voluntary but appreciated with $1 for a coffee
- ATMs are abundant — every CVS, Walgreens, and gas station has one
- Wise, Revolut, and Chase Sapphire cards offer 0% foreign transaction fees
- $100 bills are sometimes refused at gas stations and small shops
- Many newer US buses and subways are cashless — use contactless card or app
Load a
Wise card with USD before you fly. You get the real exchange rate, no foreign transaction fees, and free ATM withdrawals up to $100/month.