Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for the United States
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. Budget for advertised prices to grow by 20-30% once sales tax and tipping are added - neither is included on the menu or shelf price.
Yes - cards work almost everywhere in United States, and you can get by on tap alone.
5 travel card options for United States, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday ATM fees rebated
ING Orange Everyday
22k0% FX fee
ubank Spend
ubank Spend account
9k0% FX fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Macquarie Transaction Account
6k0% FX fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | 0% with monthly criteria met | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | No ubank fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | No Macquarie fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
Paying for things in United States
Can you pay by card in United States?
Universal. Contactless is now standard, and many places are card-only.
Cash and ATMs in United States
Everywhere. Local ATM fees of USD $3-$6 are on top of your Australian bank's charges.
Very little - mostly for tips at hotels and small vendors.
Do you tip in United States?
Expected and effectively compulsory. 18-22% in restaurants and bars, USD $2-$5 per bag for porters, 15-20% for taxis and rideshares. Tipping screens now default to high percentages - you can adjust them.
Worth knowing about paying in United States
Sales tax (up to 10%) is added at the register, not shown on the shelf price. Always decline dynamic currency conversion and pay in USD.
Before you pay for anything in United States
Pay in US dollar or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
Travel card, debit card or credit card?
Why the card sold hardest at the airport is usually the one that loses.
What is a foreign transaction fee?
Around 3%, charged by your own Australian bank. Removable before you fly.
What one Australian dollar buys in United States
$0.7 USD per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More United States essentials
United States visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to United States
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
United States eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
United States travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
United States airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in United States
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
United States travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in United States
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
Planning United States?
We will send you the United States guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.