Travel Budget Converter

The interactive calculator loads here. It uses the mid-market rate (29 Sept 2026, European Central Bank reference data) or the live rate when available.

How the travel budget converter works

Enter what things cost at your destination, in the local currency, the way you see them on hotel sites, menus and transit fare pages. The converter multiplies lodging by the number of nights and daily costs by the number of days (nights plus one, because you eat and travel on arrival and departure days), adds one-off costs such as tours or rail passes, then adds your card or exchange fee and a safety buffer. The total is converted to your home currency at the mid-market rate.

Why the fee field matters

The mid-market rate is the midpoint between buying and selling prices on the currency market. Consumers rarely get it: many bank cards add a foreign transaction fee (often around 3% in the US), exchange bureaus build a margin into their rate, and dynamic currency conversion at a card terminal can cost more still. Put the percentage your card or provider charges into the fee field; enter 0 for a card with no foreign transaction fee that uses the network rate.

Tips for a realistic budget

• Price lodging with taxes and resort or city fees included; many listings show them only at checkout.
• Use a daily food figure that mixes cheap and nice meals rather than your best-case day.
• Add airport transfers and intercity trains as one-off costs rather than daily transport.
• Keep a 10–15% buffer for price changes, tips where customary and the odd taxi.
• When paying by card abroad, choose to pay in the local currency, not your home currency.

Country guides in the travel money section cover how cards, ATMs and tipping work in popular destinations, and the markup calculator shows what an exchange margin costs on a real amount.

Frequently asked questions

Which exchange rate does the budget use?

The mid-market rate: live when the page can load it, otherwise the latest European Central Bank reference rate with its date shown. Your bank or card will use its own rate, which is why there is a fee field.

Should I enter prices in my currency or the local currency?

In the local currency of your destination. The converter turns the total into your home currency for you.

How much cash should I bring?

It depends on the country. Some destinations are almost cashless, others still rely on cash at small shops and markets; the country travel money guides describe each one.