New in SF A guide for Belgians in San Francisco Made by Julie Coorevits
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Section 3 of 10

Money and payments

Cards, sending money, moving your first lump sum over, tipping and sales tax.

Money works a little differently here: new apps, new habits like checks and Venmo and tax that gets added at the register. Here's how to get comfortable with it quickly.

Cards and accounts

  • Pay for everything with the Chase Freedom Unlimited card for good rates and cashback. Once you have a credit score, you can apply for other cards with better cashback percentages depending on your spending.
  • Revolut works best if you don't have an SSN yet (depending on your visa). Select the right region to unlock the right memberships and perks.
  • Do not pay with your European credit card at restaurants, since it often gets blocked.
  • Bring a European bank card with you just in case and don't forget an electronic card reader and an E-ID reader too.
  • You don't really need cash in SF.

Sending money to people

  • Venmo: used for larger amounts. You need the person's username. To download the app you need a US Apple ID (a European one won't work): log out of your European Apple ID, log in with a US account (just add the US as the region), download the Venmo app, then log back in with your European account.
  • To get apps that are only on the US App Store when the European store blocks them, you can set up a US Apple business account and assign the apps to yourself.
  • Zelle: similar to Payconiq. It is built into the Chase app and you only need the person's phone number. The first time you send money to someone the amount is limited and the limit rises the more you use it. Handy for rent.
  • Check: new to most Belgians. You ask your bank for a few blank checks (this often costs $3 for 3 checks), fill in the amount and your details by hand and your landlord cashes it through their bank or app.
Example of a filled-out check showing where to write the date, who to pay, the amount in numbers and in words, a memo line and your signature.
How to fill out a check (example for rent).

Moving your first money over

  • To bring your initial lump sum from Belgium, Wise or Revolut usually beats a bank wire on both fees and rate.

Tipping

  • No need to tip Uber or Lyft. Only tip when you get table service.
  • No need to tip in takeaway coffee shops.
  • At restaurants the norm has moved up: 15% to 20% is now standard.
  • With a larger group (around 5 or 6 people) the tip is often already included. Check the menu, since it's usually noted there and you don't need to add more.

Sales tax

  • Items that are not food usually have tax added at the register, so the price on the tag is not what you pay.
  • San Francisco's combined sales tax is 8.625% (2026). Groceries are generally exempt.
  • Small extras to expect: paper bags cost $0.25 each (plastic bags are banned) and restaurant bills often carry a small SF health surcharge on top of tax and tip.