As soon as you get off the plane,
you see it right away.
Exchange counter.
Cash available immediately.
Most people exchange here.
With this 10-minute choice,
for the same money,
there is a 30 to 40 dollar difference.
This is not an exchange rate issue.
It is about what choice you make when you are in a hurry.
Q. Is airport exchange really that much of a loss? It’s just for convenience.
A.
At first, I did it for convenience. Without cash right after arrival, it felt uncomfortable, so I exchanged immediately.
Once, I exchanged 500 dollars upon arriving in Europe. At that time, I didn’t think much about it. I just thought it would make the start easier.
But after a few days, while paying with a card, I noticed the exchange rate difference.
For the same amount, I had already spent about 30 dollars more.
That’s when my thinking changed for the first time.
This is not a convenience cost. It is a structure where you are using a more expensive exchange rate.
So this is what I do.
At the airport, I don’t exchange first.
Q. Why is airport exchange more expensive?
A.
This is a location issue.
At the airport, there are almost no alternatives.
Right after arrival, there is no time to compare, and most people are in a hurry.
So the exchange rate is set unfavorably.
I once compared it with a city exchange office on the same day, and the difference was over 5 percent.
For 500 dollars, that is 25 dollars.
What I realized was simple.
It is a structure where you pay more because of the location.
So this is what I do.
I don’t exchange immediately just because I’m in a hurry.
Q. Then what do you do if you don’t have cash right after arrival?
A.
There are more options than you think.
These days, I use a card first when I arrive.
Airport cafés, transportation—most accept cards.
And I only use an ATM when I really need cash.
I used to exchange cash first, but now I changed the order.
Card first, cash later.
So this is what I do.
After arrival, I don’t look for cash first. I use a card first.
Q. Is ATM a good option?
A.
If conditions are right, it is much better.
If you withdraw a larger amount at once, the cost is lower.
But if you withdraw small amounts multiple times, it becomes more expensive.
I once withdrew 100 dollars three times, and each time there was a fee, so I ended up paying almost 30 dollars more.
When I calculated it,
withdrawing once would have cost much less.
So this is what I do.
I don’t use ATMs multiple times. I finish it in one withdrawal.
Q. Is airport exchange completely unnecessary?
A.
Not completely.
If cards don’t work, you can’t find an ATM, and you need cash immediately, then you have no choice.
I once arrived late at night and had no options, so I exchanged money.
At that time, I exchanged only a minimum amount.
So I didn’t lose much.
So this is what I do.
At the airport, I exchange only a minimum amount.
Q. Then how do you summarize the rule in one line?
A.
It’s simple.
Airport exchange is convenient but expensive.
Card and ATM are inconvenient but cheaper.
This is not a preference issue.
It is a cost issue.
So this is what I do.
After arrival, I don’t exchange money. I handle it minimally only when needed.
Published date
2026-04-28
