Currency Travel Budget Converter
Example: Trip budget (home currency): 2000 $ · Exchange rate (1 home = ? foreign): 0.92 · Foreign transaction / exchange fee: 3 % · Trip length: 10 days
| Local-currency spending money | 1,784.8 |
| Local currency per day | 178.48 |
| Fees cost you | $60 |
Worked example
You bring a $2,000 budget to a country where 1 of your home units buys 0.92 local units, but your card charges a 3% foreign-transaction fee. The effective rate becomes 0.92 times 0.97, about 0.8924, so your $2,000 converts to roughly 1,785 local units, or about 178 per day over 10 days. The 3% fee alone quietly cost you about $60 of spending power — enough to justify a no-foreign-fee card.
Frequently asked questions
What counts as a foreign transaction fee?
Many credit and debit cards add roughly 1 to 3% on purchases in another currency, and currency-exchange kiosks bake an even wider margin into their rates. Enter the total percentage you expect to lose so the local amount reflects reality.
How do I avoid these fees?
Use a card with no foreign-transaction fee, always choose to be charged in the local currency rather than your home currency at the terminal, and withdraw larger amounts less often from bank ATMs to spread flat fees. Those steps can recover most of the loss this tool shows.
Should I exchange cash before I travel?
Airport and hometown exchange counters usually offer the worst rates. A small amount of local cash for arrival is handy, but for the bulk of your budget, a low-fee card or a bank ATM abroad typically beats pre-trip cash exchange.
Does the exchange rate change during my trip?
Yes, rates float daily. This tool uses the single rate you enter, so for a long trip check the current rate near departure and build in a small cushion for adverse moves.