Travel topic · Money
Best way to get cash abroad
Withdraw local currency from a bank ATM on arrival, decline the machine's own conversion, and pay in local currency everywhere; carry one backup card and a small cash float.
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The ATM-versus-bureau-versus-card decision, the fees that actually bite, and the mistakes that cost the most. Written for US, UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand and Irish travellers in 2026.
Key facts
- Cheapest routine source of cash
- A bank-branded ATM in the arrival hall, one larger withdrawal rather than several small ones
- The single biggest avoidable cost
- Accepting the ATM or card terminal's own conversion rate instead of your bank's
- Typical ATM feecheck
- Local operator fee roughly USD 2-7 equivalent per withdrawal, plus your own bank's fee (2026 estimate, check)
- Card network markupcheck
- Visa and Mastercard add roughly 0-1% over the mid-market rate; your bank adds its own margin (check)
- Cash still needed for
- Markets, small cafés, taxis, tips, temples, rural buses, some visa-on-arrival fees
- Before you fly
- Tell your bank you are travelling, know your PIN, and carry two cards from different networks
- Leftover currency
- Spend it or convert before you leave; airport buy-back rates are the worst of the trip
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Short answer
The best way to get cash abroad is to withdraw local currency from a bank-owned ATM after you land, take out a larger amount less often, and always choose to be charged in the local currency rather than your home currency. That one choice, made at the machine or the card terminal, usually saves more than any fee you can shop around for.
Cash is not dead, but it is no longer the default. In most of Europe, East Asia, North America and Australasia you can pay by card almost everywhere, so you need a float for the gaps rather than a wallet full of notes. In parts of Southeast Asia, South Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, cash still runs markets, small transport and tips, and some places have no card reader at all.
The plan that works almost everywhere: land with a small amount of local currency or a card that works, withdraw a meaningful sum from a bank ATM in the first day or two, pay by card where it is accepted and in local currency, and top up cash only when it runs low. Carry two cards from different networks and keep them in different bags.
| Method | Typical cost | Best for |
|---|---|---|
| Bank ATM abroad | Local operator fee plus your bank's fee, usually the cheapest routine option (2026 estimate, check) | Arrival cash, everyday top-ups |
| Airport bureau de change | Wide spread, often 5-10% worse than mid-market (check) | Emergencies only |
| City bureau de change | Spread varies; compare two or three counters (check) | Countries where ATMs are unreliable |
| Credit or debit card at the till | Network rate plus your bank's foreign transaction fee (check) | Most purchases in card-friendly countries |
| Prepaid travel card | Load and conversion fees; fixed rate at load time (check) | Budgeting in one currency |
| Cash from home | Whatever your bank charges, often poor (check) | A small arrival float only |
Fee levels change; treat every figure here as a 2026 estimate and confirm with your own bank.
Do
- Withdraw the equivalent of about USD 100-200 at a time in most countries; smaller amounts multiply fixed fees.
- Photograph your cards, front and back, and store the images somewhere you can reach without the cards.
SeeTravel topics: visas, money, health, transport and planning
Steps: before you fly, on arrival, day to day
Before you fly. Check what your bank charges for foreign ATM withdrawals and card purchases, and whether it adds a percentage on top of the network rate. Order a small amount of the destination currency if your bank offers a fair rate, or plan to use the airport ATM for a modest first withdrawal. Set a travel notice if your bank asks for one, confirm your PIN works overseas, and unlock contactless and online payments if they are switched off. Carry two cards from different networks, for example one Visa and one Mastercard, and store them separately.
On arrival. Use an ATM rather than a bureau if the airport has a bank-branded machine. Withdraw enough to cover transport, a meal and a tip, not your whole trip. If the machine offers to convert the amount into your home currency, decline and choose the local currency. If the airport has no ATM you trust, change a small amount at a counter and accept the poor rate as a one-off cost.
Day to day. Pay by card where it is accepted, and when the terminal asks whether to charge you in local currency or your own, pick local. Keep a cash float for markets, small vendors, tips, taxis and anywhere the reader is broken. Withdraw again from a bank ATM when cash runs low, ideally during business hours in a well-lit, busy location. Keep receipts or check your banking app so you notice duplicate charges or skimming early.
Before you leave. Spend down leftover notes on the last day, or convert them at a city bureau rather than the airport. Keep a few small notes and coins for the journey home.
| Stage | Do this | Avoid this |
|---|---|---|
| Before flying | Check fees, set a travel notice, carry two cards | Arriving with no working card and no cash |
| At the airport | Small withdrawal from a bank ATM | Changing a large sum at a bureau counter |
| Every transaction | Pay and withdraw in local currency | Accepting conversion into your home currency |
| When cash runs low | One larger withdrawal from a bank ATM | Repeated small withdrawals that stack fixed fees |
| Before leaving | Spend or convert leftovers in town | Converting at the airport on the way out |
Do
- Use ATMs attached to a bank branch, inside a terminal or a mall, rather than a freestanding machine on the street.
- Cover the keypad when entering your PIN, and cancel the transaction if the machine behaves oddly or the slot looks tampered with.
- If a machine eats your card, report it to your bank immediately and use your backup card.
Watch out
- Some ATMs abroad dispense large notes only; break them at a shop rather than carrying a thick stack.
- A card that works at home can still be blocked abroad if your bank has not been told.
Show 6 sectionsHideWhat it costs, Exceptions and special cases, The most common mistakes, FAQ, Questions people ask, Related
What it costs
Three charges can land on a single withdrawal: the local ATM operator's fee, your own bank's foreign withdrawal fee, and a currency conversion margin. The operator fee is usually a flat amount, so it hurts small withdrawals most. Your bank's fee is often a flat amount plus a percentage. The conversion margin is the quiet one: it is built into the rate you are given, and it is why the same withdrawal can cost noticeably different amounts depending on which option you tap.
The mid-market rate is the rate you see on a currency converter. Card networks use a rate close to it, with a small markup, and your bank may add more. A bureau or an ATM offering to convert for you typically uses a rate several percent worse. On a USD 200 withdrawal, a few percent is a few dollars, which is why the conversion choice matters more than hunting for the cheapest machine.
Practical arithmetic: if the operator fee is the equivalent of USD 5 and your bank charges USD 3 plus 3%, a USD 200 withdrawal costs about USD 14 in total, or roughly 7%. Withdraw USD 400 instead and the same fixed fees spread thinner. That is the whole argument for fewer, larger withdrawals.
| Charge | Who levies it | How to reduce it |
|---|---|---|
| ATM operator fee | The local bank | Fewer, larger withdrawals; use bank-branded machines |
| Your bank's foreign fee | Your bank | A card or account with no foreign transaction fee |
| Conversion margin | Whoever sets the rate you accept | Always choose local currency, never the converted amount |
| Bureau spread | The exchange counter | Compare counters in town; avoid airports |
| Cash advance interest | Your card issuer | Use a debit card, or repay a credit advance immediately |
All figures are 2026 estimates; confirm your own bank's schedule before you travel.
Exceptions and special cases
Cards that charge interest from day one. A credit card cash advance usually starts accruing interest immediately and may carry a higher rate plus a fee. If you must use one, repay it as soon as the balance appears. A debit card linked to a current account is normally the cheaper tool for ATM cash.
Countries where cash is still king. In much of Southeast Asia, South Asia, Latin America, Africa and the Middle East, small vendors, markets, rural buses and tips run on cash. Carry more than you would in Europe, keep small denominations, and expect some ATMs to be empty or offline, especially on weekends and holidays.
Countries that are nearly cashless. In the Nordics, the Netherlands, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, Japan's cities, South Korea, Singapore and much of urban China, card or phone payment covers almost everything. Carry a small float for the exceptions rather than a large one.
Closed currencies and controls. Some countries restrict taking local currency out, or require you to change money at official counters. Check the rules for your destination before you arrive, and keep exchange receipts if the country requires them.
Prepaid travel cards. These can suit a fixed budget in one currency, but loading, reloading and conversion fees vary widely, and some are poor value for ATM withdrawals. Read the fee schedule rather than the marketing.
Travellers with a US, UK, Canadian, Australian, New Zealand or Irish account. Fee-free foreign spending is a feature of some current accounts and credit cards in all six markets, but the details differ by product. Compare your own accounts before assuming you need a new card.
Watch out
- Never let a card out of your sight where you can avoid it; ask to pay at the terminal rather than handing it to a waiter who walks away.
- Skimming devices on standalone ATMs are a real risk in tourist areas; use machines inside banks or terminals.
The most common mistakes
Accepting the conversion. The single most expensive habit is tapping yes when a machine or terminal offers to charge you in your home currency. It feels helpful and it usually costs several percent.
Withdrawing small amounts often. Every withdrawal triggers the same fixed fees. Take out enough to last several days.
Arriving with no cash and no working card. A blocked card at midnight at an airport with one closed bureau is a bad start. Carry a small float and a backup card.
Changing money at the airport. Airport counters have the widest spreads. Change the minimum there and do the rest in town.
Using a credit card for cash advances without checking. Interest can start the same day, and the fee may be a percentage with a minimum.
Carrying everything in one place. Split cash and cards between a wallet, a bag and a hotel safe.
Ignoring the local rules. Some countries require you to declare large amounts of cash on entry or exit. Check the threshold before you travel.
Do
- Keep a note of your bank's overseas contact number somewhere offline.
- If you are robbed, report it to local police and get a report; insurers usually ask for one.
FAQ
The questions travellers ask most about getting cash abroad, answered directly.
Questions people ask
Best way to get cash abroad: what do I need to know?
Withdraw local currency from a bank-branded ATM, take larger amounts less often, and always choose to be charged in the local currency rather than your home currency. Carry two cards from different networks and a small cash float for the places that do not take cards. That covers the decision for almost every destination.
What are the most common mistakes?
Accepting the ATM or terminal's conversion into your home currency; making many small withdrawals so fixed fees stack up; changing a large sum at an airport counter; using a credit card for a cash advance without checking the interest; and carrying all your cards and cash in one place.
What should I do before I travel?
Check your bank's foreign withdrawal and purchase fees, set a travel notice if required, confirm your PIN works overseas, carry two cards from different networks stored separately, and arrange a small amount of destination currency or a plan to use a bank ATM on arrival.
Is it cheaper to use an ATM or a bureau de change?
Usually an ATM at a bank branch, because the rate is closer to mid-market and the fees are fixed and visible. Bureaus can be competitive in some countries, so compare two or three counters in town if you need a large amount.
How much cash should I carry?
Enough for a day or two of small purchases, transport and tips in card-friendly countries, and several days' worth in cash economies. Keep the rest on a card and top up from a bank ATM when you run low.
Should I use a credit card or a debit card for cash?
A debit card is normally cheaper for ATM withdrawals. Credit card cash advances often start charging interest immediately and add a fee, so use one only as a backup and repay it at once.
Deep dive
Every source; changeable facts are marked check and were last checked Sep 2026