Really stupid question about exchange rates...

NuclearNed

Raconteur
May 18, 2001
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What is really embarrassing is that I majored in math in college...

monetary exchange rates

I'm not sure how to read the chart on that site. What I want to know is how much 1 United States dollar is worth in Canadian dollars.

Is it 0.876117 or 1.1414?
 

WildHorse

Diamond Member
Jun 29, 2003
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That table has a poor layout.

Read it down the column.

1 USD = 1.1414 Canadian dollar
 

NuclearNed

Raconteur
May 18, 2001
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Originally posted by: scott
That table has a poor layout.

Read it down the column.

1 USD = 1.1414 Canadian dollar

Good - I'm glad you also don't like that table. It gives me hope that I'm not stupid.
 

Pepsei

Lifer
Dec 14, 2001
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Originally posted by: NuclearNed
Originally posted by: scott
That table has a poor layout.

Read it down the column.

1 USD = 1.1414 Canadian dollar

Good - I'm glad you also don't like that table. It gives me hope that I'm not stupid.


i ignored the table... we pretty much already know that one canadian dollar is of less value compare to one us dollar.... so just go from there.

euros' a bit tricky..they used to be worth more but less now right? correct me if i'm wrong...
 

PhoenixOrion

Diamond Member
May 4, 2004
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Originally posted by: Xstatic1
it's the 1.14164 CAD----use this website instead

:thumbsup:

but go into any bank and they have that table layout which makes it hard to tell how much they're selling and how much they're buying for a certain currency.
 

Paperdoc

Platinum Member
Aug 17, 2006
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Good rule of thumb now and for the next year or several: for $1.00 US you should be getting MORE than $1.00 Canadian.

Now, that chart is also misleading in this way: it uses the exact same exchange rate going both ways. In fact, if you go to a bank and ask them to sell you Canadian Dollars for your US cash, they will take a couple percentage points' profit on the transaction. So although this chart says you should pay US$100.00 and get in return C$114.14, the bank proably will only give you about C$112.00, maybe less. And if you go back and buy US$ with that, they'll charge you a margin again, and you'll end up with about $95 US!!

Additional hint: in my experience, a bank in Canada will take a smaller profit margin on these transactions than most US banks will charge. So if you have the choice, you might do better on exchange after you get to Canada. On the other hand, I have found that the excahnge rates VISA uses when you charge Canadian purchases on a US-based VISA card are reasonably good, sometimes better than a US bank would do.

I'm a Canadian working in the USA, so I deal with this stuff often.