Travellers are being ripped off by international ATMs, with some charging 27 per cent of the total transactionJessie StoelwinderThe West AustralianWed, 1 October 2025 8:00AMEmail Jessie Stoelwinder
Travellers are being warned to watch out for hidden fees from international ATMs, with some charging more than 27 per cent of the total transaction just for the convenience.
Financial technology company Wise has released data on the most expensive places in the world for people to withdraw cash based on third-party charges and the results may come as a surprise.
Despite being regarded as a cost-effective destination, Vietnam topped the list with an average 27.1 per cent ATM withdrawal fee, while Indonesia’s figure came in at 10.91 per cent of the total withdrawal amount.
To put this in perspective, a $200 withdrawal in Vietnam would cost an average of $54.
Argentina and Colombia were also ranked among the worst offenders on this front, with 20.5 and 16.66 per cent fees respectively.
As peak travel season for some of these countries approaches, Wise ANZ country manager Tristan Dakin says people should be mindful of hidden costs when using cash machines overseas.
“Given the relatively weak spending power of the Australian dollar in Europe and the US currently, more Aussies are looking to locations such as Vietnam and Indonesia for cost-effective getaways,” Tristan says.
“While this can be a smart move, it’s important to consider the intricacies of spending in each region, and avoid getting caught out by overly expensive ATM fees.
“That said, if travellers need to use ATMs, there are ways to ensure it’s done as cost-effectively as possible. Tips include looking for bank-operated ATMs, that offer clearer fee disclosures, making fewer, larger withdrawals rather than many small ones, and being sure to select local currency rather than AUD when withdrawing cash, to avoid higher mark-up rates.”
+ Data is based on 9.7 million ATM withdrawals made with a Wise card between February to July 2025
+ The ATMs recorded at least 500 transactions per country during the six-month period
+ The percentage represents the average ATM fees in a given country and does not account for hidden fees in exchange rates
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