If you're a Brisbane local planning an overseas holiday or an international traveller visiting sunny Bris-vegas, you'll need to find somewhere to convert to or from Australian dollars. The good news is that there are plenty of places where you can exchange currency in Brisbane.
S Money is an online currency exchange service that has partnered with Value Currency Exchange to offer a money-change kiosk in the heart of the city. You can order currency online from S Money, pay by bank transfer and have the money delivered to your door. Alternatively, you can collect it from a nominated store, including S Money's location in Queen Street Mall.
You'll pay a percentage-based service fee that varies depending on the currency you order — for example, if you convert $1,000 AUD to USD, a $23.41 service fee applies — plus a $17 fee if you choose home delivery.
S Money also has an average rating of 4.8 out of 5 from over 2,300 Trustpilot reviews, so it's well worth a look when you need to convert to or from Australian dollars.
2. Travel Money Oz
Travel Money Oz lets you buy over 60 currencies online and in-store. It has eight store locations around Brisbane, including one in the CBD, and you can choose cash pickup or same-day delivery. It's free if you collect your cash in person, but delivery fees start at $20.
Travel Money Oz has a "Best Price Guarantee" as well as a "Rate Move Guarantee", the latter meaning that you'll get the difference if the exchange rate moves within 14 days of your transaction. You can order funds in cash, on a travel money card or a combination of the two.
When converting $1,000 AUD to USD in cash, we found a markup of approximately 2.1%. Travel Money Oz also has an average score of 4 out of 5 from over 6,000 Trustpilot reviews, so it's worth a look if you need to exchange currency in Brisbane.
3. Travelex
Travelex lets you buy more than 50 currencies online and then collect your cash at a Travelex location, Australia Post store or at the airport. It has 12 Brisbane locations, including stores in the CBD and at Brisbane Airport, but you'll get a better rate if you order online rather than in-store.
You can pay by PayID or BPAY for no extra charge, but a surcharge ranging from 0.72% to 1% applies to debit and credit card payments. The exchange rate markup varies depending on the currency you choose — for example, when purchasing USD, we found a markup of approximately 3.9%.
Travelex has an average rating of 4.3 out of 5 from over 14,000 Trustpilot reviews, so there are plenty of Australians happy with the service it offers.
4. Value Currency Exchange
Value Currency Exchange is a Brisbane-based currency exchange service located in Queen Street in the CBD. It allows you to buy more than 15 foreign currencies online, and you can arrange home delivery or cash pickup. The provider also has a 5-star rating from over 650 Google reviews.
You won't pay a fee if you pay by bank transfer or with cash, but card payments attract a 1.43% surcharge. There's free delivery for orders of AUD$3,000 or more, and you can lock in an exchange rate now for a pickup at a later date by paying a 5% deposit. We found an exchange rate markup of approximately 3% when converting $1,000 AUD to USD.
5. Johnson Money Exchange
This Brisbane currency exchange service is based in the CBD and allows you to buy 13 currencies. There are no fees on your purchase with Johnson Money Exchange, but you'll need to head in-store to see the latest exchange rates.
Johnson Money Exchange also has a 5-star rating on Google based on over 400 customer reviews. It's open from 9:30am to 5pm Monday to Friday, and 12:30pm to 3pm on weekends.
6. Remox Brisbane
Remox is a foreign exchange and money transfer service that lets you buy dozens of foreign currencies. You can order currency online and pay by POLi, bank transfer, credit card or debit card, then head in-store to collect your cash. Remox has a total of 17 Australian locations, including 5 in the greater Brisbane area.
There are no fees for exchanging money, but the exchange rate markup varies depending on the currency you buy. For example, when converting $1,000 AUD to USD, we were quoted an exchange rate markup of approximately 3.2%.
7. Crown Currency Exchange
Crown Currency Exchange operates 60 stores around Australia, including 5 locations around Brisbane. You can access over 80 currencies through Crown, including popular currencies and a range of more exotic options.
There are no fees or commissions when you buy currency, and no minimum or maximum transaction limits. But while you can request a quote online, you'll need to head in-store to complete the transaction. Crown Currency Exchange doesn't list its latest exchange rates online either, so you'll need to visit your nearest location to compare rates.
8. Lotus Foreign Exchange
Lotus Foreign Exchange offers currency exchange and money transfer services from branches across Australia, New Zealand and Fiji. Its Brisbane branch is located in the CBD and is open from Monday to Saturday, while you can also buy currency online.
You can buy funds in over 20 currencies, and Lotus doesn't charge a commission on the transaction. We found an exchange rate markup of approximately 2.3% when converting AUD to USD.
Tips for getting the best deal when exchanging money
Check the mid-market rate. Before you start comparing, check the current mid-market exchange rate. This is the "true" exchange rate, and knowing it will help you determine whether you're getting good value for money. Rates also fluctuate constantly, so it's worth monitoring the market to take advantage of an attractive rate when it becomes available.
Avoid airport kiosks. No matter where you are in the world, don't wait until you get to the airport to exchange currency. Airport kiosks tend to offer poor exchange rates, so it's worth planning ahead and exchanging currency in advance.
Read the fine print. There are two costs to consider when exchanging currency — the exchange rate markup and any transaction fee that applies. Make sure you know whether you'll be charged any fees before completing an exchange.
Avoid foreign ATMs. Withdrawing cash from a foreign ATM may be convenient, but it's also expensive. High fees and poor exchange rates apply.
Compare rates online. It's easy to compare exchange rates across a range of providers online. It's also a lot more convenient than visiting a host of exchange bureaus in person, and will help ensure that you get the best rates and fees.
Order online and pickup in store. Some currency exchange services allow you to order foreign currency online and have it delivered to your door. But delivery often comes with a fee, so you'll get better value if you pick the cash up in person.
Tim Falk is a writer for Finder, writing across a diverse range of topics. Over the course of his 15-year writing career, Tim has reported on everything from travel and personal finance to pets and TV soap operas. When he’s not staring at his computer, you can usually find him exploring the great outdoors.
What are the best options for sending or receiving a large amount of money overseas? Read this $50,000 case study with exchange rates and fees comparison.
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