Money

Currency Converter (With Hidden Fees)

Calculate the true cost of spending abroad. Find out how bank markups, foreign transaction fees, and ATM withdrawal charges affect your actual exchange rate.

Price: Free · no signup
Reviewed: September 21, 2026

Convert Currency

Amount to Convert

From

Add Bank & Card Fees

Exchange Rate Markup (%)

Usually 1% - 5%

Foreign Transaction Fee (%)

Usually 0% or 3%

Fixed Fee (USD)

Exchange Results

Enter an amount to see the conversion.

How it works

We fetch live reference exchange rates (mid-market rates) provided by the European Central Bank via Frankfurter. These are the rates banks use to trade with each other.

Formulas:

Reference Conversion = Amount × Mid-Market Rate
Total Fees = (Amount × Bank Markup %) + (Amount × Card Fee %) + Fixed Fee
Final Amount Received = (Amount - Total Fees) × Mid-Market Rate
Effective Rate = Final Amount Received / Original Amount

Worked example

If you convert $100 USD to EUR at a mid-market rate of 0.90, you should get €90.00. However, if your card has a 3% foreign transaction fee, the bank keeps $3.00, meaning only $97 is converted, giving you just €87.30.

Limitations

This calculator provides estimates. Every bank, credit card, ATM, and airport kiosk sets their own specific exchange rates, margin rules, and fee structures at the exact moment of the transaction.

Frequently asked questions

What is a Bank Markup?

Many banks advertise "0% commission" but give you a worse exchange rate than the true mid-market rate. This difference is the markup (often 2% to 5%).

Should I let the foreign ATM do the conversion for me?

No! This is called Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC). Always choose to be charged in the local destination currency to ensure your own home bank does the conversion. DCC markups can be upwards of 7%.