Learn

What is forex markup on credit cards?

Best for international spend (low forex)

5 cards

Typical mid-tier forex markup (contrast band)

5 cards

Higher forex markup (contrast band)

5 cards

Context

Orientation
You are here

Forex markup

You’re looking at the cost of using a card abroad — the extra % on top of the exchange rate.

Part of Travel & international spend

Closely related

Useful when comparing the same kind of card decision.

  • What is forex markup? Plain-language explainer for the same field — then return to these bands.
  • Lounge access Travel cost and airport access usually sit in the same decision.
  • Reward rate Low forex saves on spend abroad; rewards decide what you earn back.
How cards are selected
  • Cards are grouped by their published forex markup — low (0–1%), mid-range (~2%), and higher (3%+). Only cards with verified markup data are included. Cards without confirmed forex data are excluded, not penalised.

Forex markup is the percentage your card issuer charges on international transactions, on top of the exchange rate. A 0% card means no extra charge. A 3.5% card adds ₹3.50 per ₹100 spent abroad. This page shows real cards grouped by their published rate so you can see the difference in practice.

Always confirm the current markup on your issuer's website before applying — rates and fee structures can change.

Three markup bands

What you'll see

Low (0–1%), mid (~2%), and higher (3%+) — scroll the groups below. How cards enter those bands is in Context.

grouped by published forex percent, same data as card pages, three bands