Currency Converter — 31 Currencies, Instant Results
Enter an amount and choose from and to currencies. Instantly see the converted amount, exchange rate, and reverse rate. Covers USD, EUR, GBP, JPY, CNY, KRW, INR, and 24 more currencies.
- Converted amount
- 14,450 JPY
- Exchange rate
- 1 USD = 144.5 JPY
- 1 JPY = 0.00692 USD
Rates updated 2025-06. For live rates, use a bank or currency exchange service. These are mid-market reference rates — actual rates include a spread.
How it works
Mid-market rate vs. the rate you actually get
The exchange rate shown by this calculator — and by financial data providers like Reuters and Bloomberg — is the mid-market rate, the midpoint between buy and sell prices in the interbank market. This is the fairest reference rate, but it is not the rate most people can transact at. Banks, credit card networks, and currency exchanges add a margin called a spread. A typical bank may offer you a rate 2–3% worse than mid-market; airport kiosks can be 10–15% worse; and credit cards with a foreign transaction fee add 1–3% on top of the mid-market rate. Wise (formerly TransferWise) built an entire business by advertising that they charge only the mid-market rate plus a transparent fee.
Knowing the mid-market rate before you travel or send money internationally gives you a benchmark to evaluate any offer. If a currency exchange booth quotes you 10% below mid-market, you can quantify the cost and decide whether convenience justifies the premium. For large amounts — $10,000 or more — even a 1% difference is $100, and using a specialized FX service instead of a bank can save significant money.
How to get the best exchange rate
For international travel, the best strategy is typically: (1) Use a credit card with no foreign transaction fee for most purchases — most card issuers use a rate close to mid-market. (2) When you need local cash, withdraw from an ATM at your destination using a bank account with no international withdrawal fees (e.g., Charles Schwab in the US, Wise, Revolut), and decline the ATM's offer to convert in your home currency (Dynamic Currency Conversion). (3) Avoid exchanging cash at airports or hotels — these have the worst rates. (4) If exchanging large sums, compare quotes from 2–3 FX services before committing.
For international money transfers, the market has changed dramatically with services like Wise, Remitly, and OFX offering rates close to mid-market with transparent fees. For amounts above $10,000, a dedicated FX broker may offer better rates than consumer apps. Note that exchange rates fluctuate constantly — if you need to exchange a large amount, some services let you lock in a rate today for a future transaction (a forward contract), protecting against adverse currency moves.
Purchasing Power Parity and why exchange rates mislead
Purchasing Power Parity (PPP) is an economic concept that adjusts exchange rates to reflect what a currency can actually buy domestically. A coffee that costs $3 in New York might cost ¥300 in Tokyo — at a rate of 144 ¥/$ that is $2.08 at market rates, but the purchasing power in Tokyo is closer to 'the same cup of coffee.' The Big Mac Index, published by The Economist since 1986, is a famous informal PPP measure comparing the price of a McDonald's Big Mac in different countries.
PPP matters when comparing wages, GDP, and cost of living across countries. A salary of ¥5,000,000 in Japan converts to roughly $34,600 at mid-market rates, but in terms of local purchasing power it may feel equivalent to $50,000+ in many US cities. When evaluating whether to take a job abroad or comparing international salaries, always look at PPP-adjusted figures alongside nominal exchange rates. Cost-of-living databases like Numbeo provide current city-level PPP data.
Frequently asked questions
›How often are the exchange rates updated?
This calculator uses static reference rates from 2025-06. They are approximate mid-market rates useful for general reference and financial planning but not for live trading or time-sensitive transactions. For real-time rates, use Google Finance, XE.com, or your bank.
›What is the mid-market rate?
The mid-market rate is the midpoint between the buy (bid) and sell (ask) prices in the wholesale interbank market where banks trade currency with each other. It is the fairest comparison point but not necessarily the rate available to retail customers.
›Why does my bank charge a different rate?
Banks and exchange services add a margin (spread) above the mid-market rate — this is how they profit from currency exchange. Retail bank spreads are typically 1–5%; specialist FX services (Wise, OFX) often charge less than 1% plus a small fee.
›What is Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)?
When paying by card abroad, the merchant or ATM may offer to charge you in your home currency instead of the local currency. This almost always uses a worse rate than your card network would apply. Always decline DCC and pay in the local currency.
›Which currencies have no exchange rate risk for USD?
Several currencies are pegged to the USD: AED (UAE), SAR (Saudi Arabia), QAR (Qatar), HKD (Hong Kong, trading band) and others. These maintain a stable exchange rate by policy. However, if the peg breaks, the rate can change dramatically — as happened with the Swiss franc in 2015.
›What is a forward contract?
An agreement to exchange a specified amount of currency at a fixed rate on a future date. Businesses use forward contracts to hedge against exchange rate risk — locking in a rate today for a transaction that will happen in 3 months, for example. Retail FX services like Wise and OFX offer limited forward contracts for consumer use.
›What is the safest way to carry money abroad?
A combination works best: a no-foreign-fee credit card for purchases, a debit card for ATM withdrawals (use only bank ATMs, not street kiosks), and a small amount of local cash for emergencies. Avoid carrying large amounts of cash; use a travel card or digital wallet instead.
›Does this calculator work offline?
Yes — exchange rates are built into the calculator. No internet connection is needed for calculation. Data is not sent to any server.
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