Money changers in Singapore and money changers overseas both offer different exchange rates, so who really has the best currency exchange rates?
Before we embark on our VTL adventures, there’s always a nagging concern about how much money we should exchange in Singapore and how much we should exchange while we’re there.
Most of us split our travel cash equally – exchange half of it in Singapore first, then the other half to exchange overseas whenever necessary.
For frequent travellers, we know that the money changers at The Arcade offer the best currency exchange rates in Singapore. But for some of us who don’t live or work nearby, we settle for the money changers nearest to us.
No matter how good the exchange rates are at a certain money changer in Singapore or overseas, you’ll realise that the conversion rates won’t match up to what you see on Google (also known as interbank rates).
That’s because money changers in Singapore and overseas always maintain a margin in their offered rates, and hence the exchange rates listed on Google are mostly better.
So Where Do I Exchange Money?
In short, it doesn’t really matter, because money changers worldwide have to maintain a margin in their rates to make a profit.
No matter which money changer has your preferred exchange rates, you’ll still lose a cut. Also, not to mention the risk of dealing with fake money while exchanging money (yes, even in Singapore!).
In contrast, YouTrip works to “unpinch” your wallet – you don’t need to worry about losing money from exchange rate margins or receiving fake money when changing money.
With YouTrip, you’ll have Wholesale Exchange Rates at your fingertips, and also the freedom to pay in over 150 currencies globally. Just top up sufficient SGD in your mobile wallet and YouTrip will do all the work with Smart Exchange™. No fuss, right? It’s really that easy.
Change Money Wherever, Whenever
Even when you’re not spending, you can also enjoy the YouTrip advantage by utilising the in-app currency exchange to secure good exchange rates. Simply tap on the exchange icon in your YouTrip app and you’ll see 10 major currencies available for real-time currency exchange and conversion.
When you exchange currency in-app, the same Wholesale Exchange Rates will be utilised. What’s more, exchanging currencies on YouTrip also comes with zero fees and markup!
When the exchange rates are favourable to you, slide the bar immediately to exchange the currencies in real-time to secure them. No queues, no fees, no hidden charges, and all done within seconds. Here’s an idea of the magic with in-app exchange!
| To Exchange SGD $1,000 | ||
| Date | USD Wholesale Exchange Rates | Converted Amount |
| 12 April 2021 | 1.3263 | USD $754 |
| 9 October 2021 | 1.3444 | USD $744 |
USD Wholesale Exchange Rate was 1.3263 on 12 April, and it rose to 1.3444 on 9 October. If you had exchanged SGD $1,000 in April, you’d have gotten USD $754. If you had waited till October, you’d have gotten USD $744 instead. That difference of USD $10 may not be much to you but it could sure add up especially if you were changing a larger sum of money.
So if you see yourself using any of these 10 currencies in the future, start keeping an eye on the in-app exchange rates and get yourself a good deal anytime, anywhere!
And when you go on your next holiday, just don’t forget to take your YouTrip card with you on your travels to make full use of our wholesale exchange rates (i.e. no pesky bank fees!).
If you don’t have a YouTrip card yet, use <BLOG5> during your sign-up to enjoy a free S$5 in your account!
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Stay safe, and happy travels!
Related Articles:
How I Lost S$9,000 in Tokyo, Japan
Fluctuating Exchange Rates and How to Take Advantage
Fake Foreign Currencies & How to Avoid Them
