Paying overseas: card, cash or app? How to avoid the 3% fee
Every time your card is charged in a foreign currency, your bank adds a fee. For most Singapore bank cards it’s about 3.25%: $32.50 on every $1,000 you spend.
See what your trip costs in fees →
Always say no to “pay in SGD?”
Shops, hotels and ATMs abroad often offer to charge you in SGD. This is called dynamic currency conversion (DCC), and their rate usually includes a markup bigger than your card’s fee. Choose the local currency every time.
Your options
| Option | Good for | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Your usual bank card | Convenience, card rewards | About 3.25% fee on every foreign transaction |
| Multi-currency card or app | Lowest cost for most spending | Top-up limits; some charge fees on weekends or for certain currencies |
| Card with overseas bonus rewards | Earning more miles or cashback abroad | The bonus must beat the fee to be worth it |
| Cash exchanged in Singapore | Places that don’t take cards | Carrying cash; leftover notes |
A simple plan
- Use a low-fee card or app for most payments.
- Carry a little cash, changed at a money changer in Singapore, for places that only take cash.
- Keep your usual card as a backup.
- Say no to DCC.
Shopping on overseas websites
The same fee applies when you pay a foreign website in its currency, even from home. GST also applies to most goods bought online from overseas sellers.