5 Countries With Similar Tipping Cultures to the U.S.

Whether you’re an American traveling abroad or someone visiting the United States for the first time, it takes only a few days in a new country to realize how different U.S. tipping culture is. While gratuities are unheard of in many parts of the world, leaving a tip of at least 15% (but typically 20%) is essentially an unspoken rule when dining out in the States. But America isn’t alone in such customs. There are a number of other nations where tipping is part of the culture. Here’s a look at five regions of the world where local tipping culture is similar to that in the U.S.

Canada

America’s neighbor to the north is most similar to the U.S. when it comes to tipping. At restaurants, it’s standard to leave a gratuity of at least 15% of the total bill before taxes and 18% to 20% for good service. The same percentage is typical at bars where you order multiple drinks, though if you order a single beer, it’s common to leave just a loonie or a toonie (one or two Canadian dollars, roughly equal to 70 cents or $1.40 USD). It’s also customary to tip 10% to 15% for food delivery, including when ordering from an app like Doordash or Uber Eats.

Similarly, it’s standard to leave a 15% to 20% tip for taxis or rideshares. Tipping culture at hotels is also like the U.S. That means a few dollars for the bellhop if they help bring your luggage up to your room, some cash for the housekeeping staff, and a couple of dollars for the doorperson if they help you hail a taxi. If going to the spa or getting a haircut, Canadians typically leave between 10% to 20% in gratuity.

South Africa

The financial blog Wise notes that tipping is customary in South Africa, especially in places that have a reputation for catering to tourists. When dining out, expect to leave a 10% to 15% tip, though 20% will be appreciated for exceptional service. Tipping at hotels in South Africa is also quite common. As a rule of thumb, give between 5 and 10 South African rand (roughly 30 cents to 60 cents USD) for housekeeping services and valets, up to 15 rand if the concierge lends you a hand, and one rand per bag if the bellhop assists with your luggage.

Tips are also expected if you’re embarking on a safari. According to Yellow Zebra Safaris, a U.K.-based trip planning service, it’s typical to tip your South African safari guide 175 to 350 rand ($10 to $20 USD) per person, per day, and roughly half that to a safari spotter. It’s standard to tip employees at the lodge, too, so consider leaving between 90 and 260 rand in the communal tip box, which many lodges have.

Mexico

While tipping in Mexico is typically a bit less than the U.S., it is still expected for good service. At restaurants, diners should leave between 10% and 20% of the bill. However, check if the bill already includes a service charge, which is particularly common when dining out in a group; if it does, you don’t need to worry about tipping anything on top of that. Mexico is also known for its far more casual street stalls. If you pop into one of these spots to enjoy a tasty plate of tacos, a tip isn’t expected, but vendors will usually appreciate a few extra pesos.

One notable difference in Mexico’s tipping culture is that you’re not necessarily expected to tip taxi drivers. That said, you can tip them around 10 pesos if they help you with your luggage. Speaking of luggage, expect to tip hotel bellhops up to 50 pesos for their assistance and to leave 50 pesos for the cleaning staff at the end of your stay. Lastly, it’s customary to tip your tour guides in Mexico around 10% to 20% of the tour’s cost.

United Kingdom

Unlike in other parts of Europe where tipping is uncommon or even discouraged, it’s common to tip 10% to 15% of the total bill at restaurants in the U.K. Keep an eye out for service charges, though, as many eateries add between 12% and 15% to the bill, in which case you don’t have to tip any extra.

While tipping is less common when ordering drinks at the pub, as a gesture of goodwill, you can tell the bartender to “have one for yourself,” letting them know to charge you for another drink and keep the few extra bucks as a thank you for their good service.

Gratuities at British hotels are quite similar to those in the States. It’s common to tip the bellhop 1 to 2 pounds (roughly $1.33 to $2.66 USD), leave 2 to 3 pounds for housekeeping staff, and give 1 and 5 pounds each time the doorperson helps you hail a cab. While tipping for taxis isn’t necessarily expected, it’s common to tip cabbies 10% to 15% of the total fare for good service on metered rides. However, some cabs charge a pre-agreed fare, and tipping is quite uncommon in those cases.

The Caribbean

While the Caribbean isn’t one single country, tipping customs are quite similar across many Caribbean island nations. Before you leave a gratuity, however, it’s always important to check any bill for service charges between 10% and 20%. If you notice a service charge, then no extra tips are necessary on top of that, though you could always add more for great service.

Otherwise, leaving a tip of 10% to 20% is common at restaurants throughout Aruba, Barbados, the Dominican Republic, Jamaica, the Bahamas, and more. As for taxi drivers, it’s expected to tip 10% to 15% of the fare in the aforementioned countries, along with others such as Grenada and Trinidad and Tobago. Lastly, when checking in to your hotel, expect to give the bellhop $2 per bag as an appreciative gesture for their time and assistance.