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PHP FX True Cost
Every channel that converts foreign currency to peso takes a spread — banks, money changers, Visa, Mastercard, ATMs, DCC. See how much you actually lose against the mid-market rate.
Your conversion
Reuters/interbank reference. We seed with the May 2026 mid; check xe.com or Wise for today's exact figure.
Best channel: Wise (online transfer)
₱60,804
If you got the mid-market rate: ₱61,140 · Loss vs mid: ₱336 (0.55%)
| Channel | Effective rate | Spread | Fee | You get (PHP) | Loss vs mid |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wise (online transfer)BEST | 60.8041 | % | ₱60,804 | −₱336 (0.55%) | |
| Visa rate (PH card spent abroad) | 60.8037 | % | ₱60,804 | −₱336 (0.55%) | |
| Mastercard rate (PH card spent abroad) | 60.6815 | % | ₱60,681 | −₱459 (0.75%) | |
| Money changer (Mabini/Greenhills/Robinsons) | 60.4063 | % | ₱60,406 | −₱734 (1.20%) | |
| PH bank counter exchange | 59.6115 | % | ₱59,612 | −₱1,529 (2.50%) | |
| ATM withdrawal abroad | 59.4959 | % | ₱59,496 | −₱1,644 (2.69%) | |
| PH bank inward wire (BPI/BDO/Metrobank) | 59.4391 | % | ₱59,439 | −₱1,701 (2.78%) | |
| Mall / airport money changer | 59.0001 | % | ₱59,000 | −₱2,140 (3.50%) | |
| DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion at POS) | 57.4716 | % | ₱57,472 | −₱3,668 (6.00%) |
Every value is editable. Override the spread if your bank quotes you differently — defaults are typical PH-market 2026 figures.
Channel notes
- Wise (online transfer): Closest to mid; quotes 0.1–0.4% above. Fee is roughly fixed in source ccy.
- Visa rate (PH card spent abroad): Visa wholesale FX is close to mid. Your bank then adds a 2–3% foreign-transaction fee — toggle that on if your card charges it.
- Mastercard rate (PH card spent abroad): Mastercard's posted FX is slightly wider than Visa's. Same 2–3% foreign-transaction layer on top.
- Money changer (Mabini/Greenhills/Robinsons): Usually the best cash rate in PH — Mabini, Greenhills, Robinsons are competitive.
- PH bank counter exchange: Walking in to convert cash at the branch. Spread is worse than wires.
- ATM withdrawal abroad: Network FX is decent but the issuer adds an FX markup and a $3–5 ATM fee per withdrawal. Take fewer, larger withdrawals.
- PH bank inward wire (BPI/BDO/Metrobank): Telegraphic transfer credited as PHP. ~1.5–2% spread plus a flat USD/SGD wire fee.
- Mall / airport money changer: Captive customers + rent — easily 3–5% worse than mid. Avoid for big sums.
- DCC (Dynamic Currency Conversion at POS): When a foreign terminal offers to charge you in PHP. Almost always 5–8% worse than mid. ALWAYS decline and let your card do the FX.
Reference rates as of 2026-05-22
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How it works
Each row models a real conversion channel with a typical 2026 spread (in percent below mid) and a flat fee in source currency. We deduct the fee, apply the channel's quoted rate, and rank the channels by the PHP you actually receive.
Every value is editable. If your bank's wire rate is tighter than the default 1.8% spread, type it in. If a Greenhills changer is quoting you 0.8%, type it in. The ranking re-sorts immediately.
§ 03
Frequently asked questions
What is the mid-market rate?
It's the wholesale interbank rate — the figure you see on Google, Reuters, XE.com, or Wise's published mid. No retail customer actually gets this rate; every channel adds a spread on top. The point of this calculator is to surface how big that spread is for each channel you might use.
Why is DCC the worst channel?
Dynamic Currency Conversion is when a foreign POS terminal or ATM offers to charge you in PHP instead of the local currency. The merchant's processor picks the FX rate, and it's almost always 5–8% worse than what your card network (Visa/Mastercard) would have given you. Always decline DCC and let your card do the conversion.
What's a realistic 'good' rate for cash conversion in Manila?
Within roughly 1.0–1.5% of mid is a fair money-changer rate (Mabini, Greenhills, Robinsons, Czarina). Mall and airport changers commonly hit 3.5–5%. If you're holding any meaningful amount of foreign cash, the Manila changer routes are by far the cheapest in-person option.
Does my Visa/Mastercard charge a foreign-transaction fee on top?
Most PH-issued cards add a 2–3% foreign-transaction fee on top of the network FX rate. A few premium cards (some BPI World, some Citi PH cards historically, HSBC Premier) waive it. Check your card's terms — that 2–3% layer is invisible to the calculator unless you bake it into the spread column.
Why aren't bank wires always the best option?
Banks charge both ways: a spread of 1.5–2% baked into the rate, plus a flat USD wire fee. For amounts under ~$1,000, the fixed fee dominates and Wise (or a similar specialist) usually wins. For very large amounts (>$50K), bank wires can be competitive again. Run your actual amount through the calculator to see which channel works for you.
Does this save or transmit my data?
No. The calculator runs entirely in your browser. We don't collect, store, or transmit any of your inputs.
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Sources & references
From official issuer, regulator, and data-provider sites. Verify any figure against the primary source before acting on it.