10 Countries Where the Canadian Dollar is Surprisingly Strong

$1 CAD = $41.97 rubles

500 rubles = $11.91 CAD

The Russian ruble has had a tumultuous ride in recent years, and is currently at a very affordable $41.91 rubles to $1 Canadian. The average cost of a meal at a mid-range Moscow restaurant for two people is estimated at about $2,500 rubles — or about $60 Canadian, about $10 less than it would cost in Toronto.

$1 CAD = 81.86 yen

1,000 yen = $12.22 CAD

While Tokyo has a reputation for being one of the most expensive cities in the world, the tumbling yen is good news for the Canadian dollar. A domestic beer in Tokyo, for example, will cost an average of about $300 yen, just over $4 Canadian, while a meal at McDonald’s will cost about $8 Canadian.

$1 CAD = 2.33 real

100 real = $42.92 CAD

The strength of the Canadian dollar in Brazil means bargain travelling. For example, a three-course meal in a mid-range restaurant in Rio will run you about $42, while a cappuccino costs about $2.50 — a lot less than you’d pay in a Canadian coffee shop. Plus, we find Brazilian Portuguese one of the sexiest accents in the world, so you're in for a treat if you travel there!

$1 CAD = 24,359.20 rial

The cost of a typical dinner for two in the capital of Tehran is a whopping $650,000 Iranian rial — which converts to a very affordable $26 Canadian, indicative of how far the Canadian dollar goes when travelling in Iran. There's a reason we list it as one of the the 50 best countries to stretch your dollar.

Another European nation with a rich history, Hungary offers galleries, museums and stunning architecture, at a fraction of the cost of other European nations. For example, the average cost of a domestic beer in the capital of Budapest is under $2 Canadian, while a three-course dinner at a mid-level restaurant will run just under $37.

$1 CAD = 1676.11 shillings

10,000 shillings = $5.97 CAD

The Tanzanian shilling hasn’t been doing well for some time now, and it’s dropped even lower than it was a couple of years ago, meaning the African nation is a great choice for a safari destination. In Dar es Salaam, Tanzania’s largest city, the average cost of a nice dinner for two is about 64,000 shillings, or about $38 Canadian. Why not make it one of the trips you need to take before you die?

$1 CAD = 2141.79 pesos

10,000 pesos = $4.69 CAD

The cost of travelling in Colombia remains low for Canadian travellers. There's a reason it's high on many lists for Canadians looking for places to retire if you hate the cold. The average cost of a domestic beer in the capital of Bogota is 31 pesos ($1.40 CAD), while a typical dinner for two will run about $30 Canadian.

$1 CAD = 2740.42 riel

100,000 Riel = $36.51 CAD

Cambodia remains a value destination for Canadian travellers (especially those looking for the best trips to take after retirement) as a great place in Southeast Asia to stretch the loonie. If visiting Phnom Penh, a domestic beer will cost about a buck and a half, while an average dinner for two will run less than $23 CAD.

$1 CAD = 13.89 pesos

100 Mexican peso = $7.20 CAD

The low Mexican peso continues to be a draw for Canadian snowbirds, and why wouldn’t it? When a dinner for two at a mid-range restaurant costing an average of $32 in the resort city of Puerto Vallarta (where English is spoken pretty much everywhere) and the rental of a one-bedroom apartment in the city centre costing an average of $400, the Canadian dollar stretches far.

$1 CAD = 3.20 leu

100 Romanian leu = $31.26 CAD

Romania is an ancient land, full of stunning castles and historical antiquities, and the exchange rate presents some serious bargains for Canadians. For example, a typical meal for two in the capital of Bucharest will run you under $35 Canadian, the cost of living is estimated to be nearly 40 per cent lower than living in Toronto.