What is the cheapest way to get local currency abroad?
Withdraw from a bank-owned ATM (not Euronet or airport machines) with a fee-free debit card (Revolut, Wise, Chase Sapphire, Charles Schwab). Always choose to be charged in the local currency, never in your home currency — dynamic currency conversion adds 3–7%.
Airport bureau de change and Euronet ATMs charge 8–12% above interbank rates; bank-owned ATMs (BNP Paribas, Santander, Deutsche Bank) sit 0.5–2% above. Cards from Wise, Revolut, or US brokerage-linked debit cards (Schwab, Fidelity) refund international ATM fees and use interbank rates. The single largest saving is refusing 'dynamic currency conversion' at ATMs and card readers: always pick the local currency. Carry a small cash buffer only for taxis and tips.
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Last verified 2026-07-29.