International Remittance Total Cost Calculator
Combine fixed fees and FX markup to see the true percentage cost of sending USD abroad.
Not financial, tax, or lending advice. Confirm terms with your provider.
Total friction
$17.49
Effective cost %
3.50%
Value after markup (USD lens)
$487.50
FX markup = gap vs mid-market rate, expressed in %. Does not quote live rates. Compare providers using CFPB Remittance Transfer Rule disclosures when available.
How remittance friction splits into fee and FX
A $0 transfer fee with a fat foreign-exchange spread can cost more than a $5 fee with a tighter rate. Providers often lead with the fixed fee because it is easy to advertise.
All-in cost converts every fee and every FX gap into dollars, then into a percent of amount sent — the only ranking that compares corridors fairly.
How to use this calculator
Take disclosed fixed fees and estimate FX markup versus a mid-market reference for education. Enter amount sent and compare providers on all-in percent, not slogans.
If speed matters, run an “instant” vs “economy” pair. Instant payouts often embed higher spreads; waiting can be the cheaper corridor.
Worked example
Send $500. Provider A: $0 fee + 3.0% FX markup ≈ $15 all-in (3.0%). Provider B: $4.99 fee + 1.0% FX markup ≈ $4.99 + $5.00 = $9.99 all-in (~2.0%).
Provider A’s “free” transfer is more expensive on this illustration. Scale to $1,000 and the ranking can shift depending on whether fees are flat or percentage-based — always recompute.
Texas and other high-remittance corridors should treat these comparisons as routine household math, not an occasional traveler problem. Pair with bank fee leak if ATM cash is the alternative.
Compliance context
Remittance providers give disclosures under federal rules. Use those figures in the inputs. This tool does not fetch live rates and is not a money transmitter.
Read the remittance fee-math guide for a longer walkthrough of fixed fees versus FX markup.
Assumptions
- FX markup is a percentage gap you supply versus a mid-market reference — educational, not a live quote.
- Fixed fees entered in USD and added to FX dollars for all-in cost.
- No pickup network fees abroad unless you include them in the fee field.
- No sanctions screening, limits, or provider availability checks.
- FeeFriction does not transmit funds.
Related guides
Deeper explainers that sit behind this calculator’s math:
- ATM and Abroad Withdrawal Fees: The Travel Friction Stack — Operator fees, issuer fees, and dynamic currency conversion — how cash abroad gets expensive.
- Remittance Fee Math: Fixed Fees vs FX Markup — Why “no fee” transfers can still be expensive — and how to compare providers on all-in cost.
FAQ
Frequently asked questions
Where do I find FX markup? +
Compare the provider rate to a mid-market reference and express the gap as a %. Educational approximation — disclosures still govern.
Can I send money through FeeFriction? +
No.
Is faster always more expensive? +
Often, but not always. Recompute all-in % for the exact speed and payout method your recipient needs.