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Wise, the global technology company building the best way to move and manage the world’s money, has revealed crucial insights into ATM withdrawal fees for Indian travellers visiting popular APAC destinations.
The latest research by Wise taps on its database to shed light on the potential costs associated with cash withdrawals abroad, helping travellers to get the most out of their vacation budgets. As the new year commences and with an increasing number of Indians looking ahead to international travel, these insights provide valuable guidance for smarter financial planning throughout 2024.
The data, focusing on destinations in APAC, reveals that Turkey topped the list as the most expensive place in the region to withdraw cash at ATMs, with travellers charged 4.44% per transaction on average.
Among popular travel destinations for Indians, Thailand ranked 5th at 2.62%, followed by South Korea (2.55%), and Vietnam (1.85%). In contrast, mainland China and Malaysia have some of the lowest fees at 0.01% and 0.03% respectively.
ATM fees in major APAC travel destinations:
| Ranking | Destination | Average ATM Withdrawal Fee |
| 1 | Turkey | 4.44% |
| 2 | Bhutan | 3.16% |
| 3 | Nepal | 2.79% |
| 4 | Thailand | 2.62% |
| 5 | South Korea | 2.55% |
| 6 | Vietnam | 1.85% |
| 7 | Singapore | 1.41% |
| 8 | Australia | 1.15% |
| 9 | Japan | 0.64% |
| 10 | Sri Lanka | 0.57% |
| 11 | Bangladesh | 0.46% |
| 12 | Indonesia | 0.30% |
| 13 | Hong Kong | 0.05% |
| 14 | Malaysia | 0.03% |
| 15 | Mainland China | 0.01% |
To put this into perspective, if someone withdrew ₹10,000 per day for a week in Turkey, they’d pay an equivalent of ₹3,108 in fees. In contrast, if they visited Malaysia and took out the same amount of cash, they would only pay ₹21 in transaction fees.
When transacting in a different currency, it’s important to be aware of potential hidden expenses, which can often include foreign transaction fees and undisclosed exchange rate markups. These seemingly small charges can add up to a substantial amount.
Surendra Chaplot, Head of Global Product, Wise, said: “When it comes to international payments, it’s crucial to be aware of potential hidden expenses, which can often include foreign transaction fees and undisclosed exchange rate markups. This affects anyone
who has ever needed to move or manage money in a different currency, including withdrawing cash abroad. Wise is dedicated to raising consumers’ awareness about hidden fees in all forms of cross-border payments, so that they can make the most out of their money.”
To help Indian travellers make informed financial decisions and stretch their holiday budget during international trips, Wise has put together these tips for holidaymakers to keep in mind:
- Research where to withdraw money. It may be cheapest to do this before leaving, but avoid money exchangers at the airport. If you really need to withdraw cash abroad, consider comparing ATM rates at multiple locations, as fees can vary from bank to bank.
- Check the fees your card provider charges for overseas withdrawals, which can be expensive.
- Some providers offer free ATM withdrawals abroad up to a certain threshold.
- When swiping your card in stores, choose to pay in the local currency instead of in Rupees to avoid dynamic currency conversion charges
- If you’re travelling to visit friends and family, consider using an app like Wise to send money to them who can help to withdraw at a local ATM. This way, you avoid expensive ATM fees, foreign transaction fees and poor exchange rates all at once as Wise uses the same exchange rate you see on Google and charges 0.6% on average for transactions. Plus, it’s super quick.
