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Everydaytravel

Currency Exchange with Fees Calculator

The true cost of a currency exchange, separating the rate markup from the visible fees. The spread is almost always the largest component and is the one not shown to you.

Also called: currency exchange fee, forex markup calculator.

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Total cost of the exchange
$17,351.69

$17,351.69 total, which is 8.68% of the amount. The spread alone is $6,101.69, more than the 0.5% commission you were quoted. You receive 2,192.98 in foreign currency.

Hidden in the rate
$6,101.69
Stated commission
$1,000.00
Tax collected at source
$10,000.00
Spread as a percentage
3.05%
Total cost as a percentage
8.68%
Foreign currency received
2,192.98
What you would get at the interbank rate
2,259.89
Method and background

How this is calculated

The interbank rate is what banks trade at; the rate you are offered includes a markup. That markup is a real cost and it is usually several times the stated commission, which is why a zero commission offer can be the more expensive one. Comparing providers means comparing the total, and India also applies tax collected at source on foreign remittances above a threshold, which is creditable against your tax liability rather than lost.

the markup hidden in the exchange rate, which is usually larger than the visible commission
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Rates

Method and limits

What it assumes

  • A single transaction at the rate you enter.

What it deliberately does not model

  • The TCS threshold and rate depend on the purpose of the remittance and are simplified here.
  • Card networks apply their own rate, which differs again from both figures.

Formula version 1.0.0 · definition 1.0.0 · United States · Report a problem with this calculator

Frequently asked questions

Why is zero commission not free?
Because the cost is in the exchange rate. A provider quoting no commission and a rate three percent off interbank is charging you three percent.
Is TCS an extra cost?
No. It is creditable against your income tax, so it affects cash flow rather than total tax paid, provided you claim it.