How much does the foreign transaction fee cost in Cuba?

Most Canadian cards add about 2.5% to every foreign-currency purchase. On roughly $1,500 of Cuban peso spending that is about $38 in pure fees, which a no-FX card avoids entirely. You still pay the card network's exchange rate.

Should I let the terminal charge me in Canadian dollars in Cuba?

No. That is dynamic currency conversion, and the merchant's rate is almost always worse than your card network's. Always choose to be charged in the local currency and let your card convert it.

How current is this list?

Card fees and offers are checked against official issuer pages and were last refreshed 2026-06-20. Always confirm details on the issuer's site before applying. Nothing here is financial advice.

Travel money

Best credit card for spending in Cuba

No foreign transaction fee, ranked for Cuba with card-network acceptance in mind. Updated 2026-06-20.

The best credit card to use in Cuba is one with no foreign transaction fee, so you skip the 2.5% surcharge most Canadian cards add to every Cuban peso purchase. On about $1,500 of spending that fee alone is roughly $38. By our value ranking the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card leads for Cuba. Card acceptance is very limited and American Express is not usable; cards issued by US banks do not work, though Canadian-issued Visa and Mastercard sometimes do at hotels. Plan to rely mostly on cash, and never count on a single card.

Skip the 2.5% FX fee

~$38 saved

on about $1,500 of Cuban peso spending, versus a typical card's 2.5% foreign transaction fee.

0No-FX cards

0%Fee you skip

06-20Last updated

$0Affiliate bias

Frequently asked

What is the best credit card to use in Cuba?: A no-foreign-transaction-fee card is the right choice, and by our value ranking the Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card from Scotiabank currently leads for Cuba ($150 annual fee). Card acceptance is very limited and American Express is not usable; cards issued by US banks do not work, though Canadian-issued Visa and Mastercard sometimes do at hotels. Plan to rely mostly on cash, and never count on a single card.
How much does the foreign transaction fee cost in Cuba?: Most Canadian cards add about 2.5% to every foreign-currency purchase. On roughly $1,500 of Cuban peso spending that is about $38 in pure fees, which a no-FX card avoids entirely. You still pay the card network's exchange rate.
Should I let the terminal charge me in Canadian dollars in Cuba?: No. That is dynamic currency conversion, and the merchant's rate is almost always worse than your card network's. Always choose to be charged in the local currency and let your card convert it.
How current is this list?: Card fees and offers are checked against official issuer pages and were last refreshed 2026-06-20. Always confirm details on the issuer's site before applying. Nothing here is financial advice.

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Best credit card for spending in Cuba

Scotiabank Passport Visa Infinite Card

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