Tipping Around the World 2026: 48 Countries, Service Charges and Taxes

September 2026 · Based on Earn Here, Spend There city data

In the US and Canada tipping is effectively required (15–20% at restaurants) and menu prices exclude tax.
Japan, Korea and China have no tipping culture.
Across much of Southeast Asia and Europe tipping is optional, but service and tax are often added ("++").

The bigger surprise than tipping is often the gap between the menu and the bill: where tax and service are added, you can pay 10–25% more. Here are tipping and menu-price rules by country.

Asia

🇰🇭 CambodiaNot required. $1–2 for tuk-tuk drivers, guides and massages is common. Local places charge the menu price; hotels and upscale restaurants may add tax and service.

🇨🇳 ChinaNo tipping. Prices are usually as listed.

🇭🇰 Hong KongRestaurants add 10% service, so extra tipping is unnecessary. Most restaurants add a 10% service charge; many local cha chaan tengs do not.

🇮🇳 India5–10% at restaurants; small tips for drivers and guides are normal. GST is often added on top of menu prices. Service charges can't be made mandatory, so you may ask to remove them.

🇮🇩 IndonesiaNot expected. Where no service charge is added, rounding up or 5–10% is plenty. A "++" on the menu means 10% tax plus a 5–10% service charge on top, so the bill runs 15–21% above menu prices.

🇯🇵 JapanNo tipping; offering one can cause confusion. Displayed prices include tax. Izakayas may add a table charge (otoshi).

🇰🇿 KazakhstanRestaurants often add 10–15% service. Check the bill for a service line.

🇱🇦 LaosNot expected; leaving change is enough. Menu prices are usually final.

🇲🇾 MalaysiaNot expected; skip it if a service charge is on the bill. Restaurants and hotels often add 10% service plus SST. Look for "SC" and "SST" lines on the bill.

🇲🇳 MongoliaNot required, though tipping tour guides and drivers is normal. Menu prices are usually final.

🇳🇵 NepalAbout 10% if no service charge; tipping trekking guides and porters is customary. Tourist restaurants often add 10% service plus 13% VAT.

🇵🇭 PhilippinesAbout 10% where no service charge is added; small change if it is. Many restaurants add a 10% service charge; VAT is usually in the listed price.

🇸🇬 SingaporeNo tipping culture; service is already included. A "++" means 10% service plus GST on top; hawker centres charge the posted price.

🇰🇷 South KoreaNo tipping. Prices include VAT.

🇱🇰 Sri LankaAbout 10% where no service is added; small tips for drivers and guides. Restaurants and hotels often add 10% service plus taxes.

🇹🇼 TaiwanNo tipping. Upscale restaurants and hotels add 10% service; local eateries charge the listed price.

🇹🇭 ThailandNot required. Leave small change at restaurants; 50–100 baht after a massage is typical. Upscale restaurants and hotels add "++" (10% service + 7% VAT). Local eateries charge what the menu says.

🇻🇳 VietnamNot expected, though small tips for massage and tour guides are common. Local eateries charge the menu price. Upscale places and hotels may add 8–10% VAT and a 5% service charge.

Europe

🇦🇲 ArmeniaRestaurants often add about 10% service; no extra tip needed if it is on the bill. Check the bill for a service line.

🇦🇹 Austria5–10% at restaurants; you tell the server the total you want to pay. Prices include tax and service.

🇧🇬 BulgariaAbout 10% at restaurants. Prices include tax.

🇭🇷 CroatiaAbout 10% at restaurants. Prices include tax.

🇨🇿 CzechiaAbout 10% at restaurants. Prices include tax; bread or nuts left on the table may be charged if eaten.

🇩🇰 DenmarkService is included; rounding up is plenty. Prices include tax and service; alcohol is especially expensive.

🇪🇪 EstoniaNot required; 5–10% for good service. Prices include tax.

🇫🇷 FranceService is included (service compris); leave change or ~5% if happy. Prices include tax and service. Coffee is cheaper standing at the bar.

🇬🇪 GeorgiaRestaurants often add a 10–18% service charge; no extra tip needed if it is on the bill. Check the bill for a service charge line.

🇩🇪 GermanyRound up or 5–10% at restaurants; you tell the server the total you want to pay. Prices include tax and service. Bottles carry a deposit (Pfand) you get back on return.

🇬🇷 Greece5–10% at restaurants. Prices include tax; some places charge for bread.

🇭🇺 HungaryAbout 10–15% if no service is added. Budapest restaurants often add 10–15% service; no extra tip needed if it is on the bill.

🇮🇹 ItalyNot expected; leave small change. A cover charge (coperto) or service may be added; check the bottom of the menu. Coffee at the bar is cheapest.

🇳🇱 NetherlandsNot required; round up or 5–10%. Prices include tax and service.

🇳🇴 NorwayService is included; rounding up is plenty. Prices include tax and service; alcohol is especially expensive.

🇵🇱 PolandAbout 10% at restaurants. Prices include tax.

🇵🇹 PortugalNot expected; change or 5–10%. Bread, olives and cheese placed on the table (couvert) are charged if eaten; send them back if you do not want them.

🇷🇸 SerbiaAbout 10% at restaurants; leaving change is common. Prices include tax.

🇪🇸 SpainNot expected; change or 5–10% is plenty. Prices include VAT; terrace seating can cost more.

🇸🇪 SwedenService is included; rounding up is plenty. Prices include tax and service; alcohol is especially expensive.

🇨🇭 SwitzerlandService is included; round up. Prices include tax and service.

🇹🇷 Türkiye5–10% at restaurants. Prices are usually as listed, though some tourist restaurants add service or charge for bread and meze.

🇬🇧 United KingdomAround 10–12.5% at restaurants; skip it if an "optional service charge" is already on the bill. Prices include VAT; many London restaurants add 12.5% service automatically.

Americas

🇦🇷 ArgentinaAbout 10% at restaurants. Prices include tax; some restaurants add a table charge (cubierto).

🇧🇷 BrazilA 10% service charge ("serviço") on restaurant bills is standard. The 10% service appears as a separate line on the bill.

🇨🇦 Canada15–20% of the pre-tax bill at restaurants. Listed prices exclude tax; federal and provincial taxes are added at checkout.

🇨🇴 ColombiaBills suggest a voluntary 10% tip ("propina voluntaria"); you may ask to remove it. Prices include tax.

🇲🇽 Mexico10–15% at restaurants. Prices include VAT (IVA).

🇵🇪 PeruAbout 10% at restaurants. Upscale restaurants may add a 10% service charge.

🇺🇸 United States18–20% of the pre-tax bill is effectively standard at restaurants; $1–2 a drink at bars, ~15% for taxis and Uber. Listed prices exclude sales tax; tax (varies by state and city) and tip are added at checkout.

Middle East & Africa

🇪🇬 EgyptBaksheesh is expected widely: toilets, luggage, even photos. Restaurants often add 12% service plus 14% VAT.

🇰🇪 KenyaAbout 10% at restaurants. VAT is usually included in listed prices.

🇲🇦 MoroccoAbout 10% at restaurants; small tips for guides and porters are customary. Prices are usually as listed.

🇿🇦 South Africa10–15% at restaurants; small tips for car guards and petrol attendants are customary. Prices include VAT.

🇦🇪 UAEAbout 10% where no service is included. The 5% VAT is usually included; hotels and some restaurants add service and tourism fees.

Oceania

🇦🇺 AustraliaNot required; about 10% for great service. Prices include GST. Some cafés and restaurants add a Sunday or public-holiday surcharge.

🇬🇺 GuamAs in the US, 15–20% at restaurants is normal. Prices are usually as listed.

🇳🇿 New ZealandNot required. Prices include GST; some places add a public-holiday surcharge.

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Figures come from the app: estimates built from public cost-of-living data, corrected over time by traveler reports. Exchange rates as of September 2026.

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