Separate the fee types
Your card issuer and the ATM operator may charge separately. The calculator has an operator fee in the local currency, an issuer fee in your home currency, and a percentage fee applied to the cash principal. Check the ATM screen and your account tariff for the actual charges and any refunds.
An example with four withdrawals
Assume you need EUR 900 in total. Use 0.90 EUR per USD, a 1% fee on the converted cash amount, a EUR 4.50 operator fee and a USD 3 issuer fee per withdrawal. The cash costs 900 ÷ 0.90 × 1.01 = USD 1,010. Each withdrawal adds 4.50 ÷ 0.90 + 3 = USD 8 in fixed fees. One withdrawal totals USD 1,018. Four withdrawals total USD 1,042. The extra fixed fees are USD 24. All figures are illustrative.
Know what stays constant
The comparison assumes the same exchange rate, percentage and fixed fees for every transaction. The total cash amount stays EUR 900; it is not multiplied by the number of withdrawals. The percentage fee applies to the cash principal, not to the operator fee. If your bank uses minimum charges, fee tiers, free-withdrawal allowances or percentage fees on other charges, calculate those separately. Credit-card cash-advance interest is outside this model.
Check practical limits first
The ATM or your card may have a per-transaction or daily limit. A single withdrawal might therefore be unavailable. Also consider the cash you actually need, where you will keep it and whether card payment is available. Do not withdraw extra money only to improve a fee comparison.
Check the currency choice at the ATM
Some ATMs also offer DCC. This calculator assumes conversion using the card rate you enter, without a separate DCC offer. If you are offered a home-currency total, review that conversion separately. Choose “Fill in an example” in the calculator to check the USD 1,018 and USD 1,042 totals, then substitute your own tariff.