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I need to send US$500 to someone in US. The bank charge is 3%+currency rate. Does anyone know a cheaper way to do it? The person on the other side does not have a paypal yet.

have found that a cheque written on my Westoba US chequing account is the cheapest way. You pay the exchange rate and $1.20 for the cheque service charge.  
I checked out PayPal but it would cost me more in fees than my Westoba cheque. When I checked the PayPal exchange rate was comparable-a little higher but not bad-but they do charge a conversion fee.

this is the old fashioned way, but it still works, I believe you can do it through the WalMart Service Desk, but there are likely other WU locations in town.

just checking in case no ones asked, but you know the person you're sending money to? not a scam?

Asking the question not giving a definitive answer,  
 
Those of us who use internet banking have the option of just sending money to each other via an email. In Canada I have had people pay me substantive amounts with an e transfer. If the party in the USA does internet banking you should simply be able to send an etransfer.  
 
As this question at your bank to confirm if I am right. I know if the sum is greater than a thousand dollars the USA Homeland security people have amounts flagged. If you are talking 500 the only issue is calculating the amount.  
 
If you are sending money from Canada on an etransfer I suspect you will be sending Canadian Funds.  
 
Again I am speculating not speaking with full authority.

In Canada we use interac for etransfers. I don't believe the US deals with interac

KissMyAsthma99 said "In Canada we use interac for etransfers. I don't believe the US deals with interac "

I believe RBC recently started allowing US etransfers, have to check for sure tho