Travel money: cash, cards and overseas fees

Travel money costs come from two places: the fees you can see, and the margin built into the exchange rate, which you mostly can't. That's true whether you carry cash, load a travel card or use your everyday card. This page covers how each option is charged, using official guidance and two banks' published fee tables as examples. The fees below were checked on the providers' own pages and official pages on 30 October 2026.

FXRate.com.au is a general information site operated by Dominet BV. This page is general information only and is not financial advice. It does not consider your objectives, financial situation or needs. Dominet BV does not hold an Australian financial services licence (AFSL). We don't arrange transfers, recommend or rank providers, forecast exchange rates or receive payments from providers. Fees and rates change, so check the provider's own page and documents before you send or spend money. Facts were checked on 30 October 2026. Read our general information notice. Card fees quoted here are as each bank published them on that date.

Your four options

Cash, travel money cards, debit cards and credit cards are the options listed by myGov. Most have extra fees. Its guidance includes talking to your bank, reading the terms and keeping an eye on exchange rates.

The ACCC sets out four things to consider: acceptance, certainty of price, convenience and security.

Whichever you use, the fee list is only part of the cost. Cash, card loads and card purchases are all converted at a retail exchange rate, and the ACCC says retail rates include a margin.

Foreign cash

Cards aren't accepted everywhere, so cash can be essential. The ACCC says buying foreign cash in Australia before travelling avoids some card and overseas ATM fees.

Airport currency exchange can cost more. In its February 2019 research, the ACCC compared buying US dollar cash from airport and non-airport suppliers and found a substantial difference in the Australian dollar cost. That research is from 2019 and isn't a current quote.

The ACCC says buying online often gives access to better retail exchange rates and lower fees. Its comparison approach is to look at supplier websites at the same time on the same day.

If you're buying US dollar cash, for example, the number that matters is how many US dollars you get for the total Australian dollars you pay. A "no fee" offer can still carry a margin in the rate.

Travel money cards

A travel money card has its own fee schedule. The ACCC identifies possible charges for buying a card in store, ATM use, inactivity, closing the card and spending in a currency that isn't loaded.

The ACCC's May 2019 research included an overseas ATM withdrawal in pounds from a bank travel card with no pounds loaded. Both an ATM charge and a currency conversion charge applied. It shows why the currency you've loaded matters, though it isn't a current quote.

As an example of how one card's fees are set out, here is the CommBank Travel Money Card. Its fee page was last updated on 23 October 2026.

Fees in Australian dollars, as published by CommBank on 30 October 2026:

As published by CommBank on 30 October 2026, overseas ATM operators may also charge their own fee. Loading foreign currency uses CommBank's Retail Foreign Exchange Rate at the time. So a $0 load fee doesn't mean the conversion is free. We show this card as an example of a fee structure, not as a recommendation.

Debit and credit cards

An international transaction fee is also called a foreign transaction fee. Moneysmart explains that it can apply to purchases, cash advances and transactions involving overseas merchants or institutions. Australian merchants that process payments overseas can also trigger it, including when the payment is in AUD.

The ACCC's official guidance, checked on 30 October 2026, describes international transaction fees as usually around 3% of the sale price. Individual cards vary.

Fees in Australian dollars where a dollar amount is shown, as published by NAB on 30 October 2026:

The NAB fee page shows that the same card can treat purchases and cash withdrawals differently.

The ACCC notes that cards without international transaction fees exist. It also identifies annual fees and credit card interest as other costs, and says card exchange rates can be harder to see.

Paying in AUD overseas

An overseas merchant may offer to charge your card in Australian dollars instead of the local currency. This is called dynamic currency conversion.

The ACCC says choosing AUD can be more expensive and doesn't necessarily avoid an international transaction fee.

NAB's published guidance, checked on 30 October 2026, also says paying in AUD overseas still attracts an international transaction fee.

Online shopping from overseas

You don't need to leave Australia for an international transaction fee to apply. The ACCC says a .com.au address or Australian dollar prices don't mean the payment is processed in Australia.

As described by NAB on its official page on 30 October 2026, online purchases processed overseas or in foreign currency attract an international transaction fee, even on an Australian website.

Checking the rate before you buy currency

The exchange rate margin is the mark-up within the conversion rate. It's still there when there's no separate conversion fee. Our explanation of international transfer pricing describes the same distinction between a fee and a margin.

The mid-market rate is the midpoint between wholesale buying and selling prices. It's a reference point, not a rate you can buy at.

The RBA publishes rates as foreign currency units per Australian dollar. Its rates indicate market value and can differ from dealer quotes. The RBA says its data shouldn't be relied on for commercial or regulatory purposes.

What this means for you

Every travel money option has two parts to its cost: the published fees and the exchange rate margin. The fees are on the provider's fee page; the rate only shows on the quote at the time. Paying in AUD overseas, or buying from a .com.au site that processes payments overseas, doesn't by itself avoid an international transaction fee.

Frequently asked questions

Does a card with no load fee have no conversion cost?

No. A retail exchange rate can include a margin. The fee for loading the card and the rate used to convert the money are separate parts of the price.

Is cash still needed when travelling?

The ACCC says cash can be essential because cards aren't accepted everywhere. Acceptance is one of its four considerations for travel payments.

Does paying in AUD overseas avoid international transaction fees?

It doesn't necessarily avoid them. The ACCC says the card issuer may still charge an international transaction fee when an overseas merchant offers AUD billing.

Can an Australian website trigger an international transaction fee?

Yes. Moneysmart includes Australian merchants that process payments overseas in its definition. A .com.au address doesn't tell you where processing happens.

Is the RBA rate the rate I get when buying cash?

Not necessarily. The RBA describes its rates as indications of market value. A supplier's retail rate can differ and include a margin.