Read the pair in the right direction
A USD/KES quote of 129.25 means one US dollar buys 129.25 Kenyan shillings. Reversing the pair requires the reciprocal rate, not the same number with the labels exchanged.
Exchange quote, spread, fees, cash rounding, and round-trip analysis
Start with the observed mid-market quote, then measure what the provider keeps
Enter the timestamped rate you want to test and separate the provider spread, percentage and fixed charges, foreign-transaction fee, fee treatment, cash denomination, leftover currency, sell-back spread, alternative provider, rate sensitivity, and amount breakpoints.
Plan with context
The displayed exchange rate is only one part of the conversion price.
A defensible currency comparison fixes the quote direction and timestamp, separates the provider spread from visible fees, and measures what the recipient can actually use after every charge.
Mid-market is a benchmark, not an offer
The midpoint between wholesale bid and ask prices helps reveal markup, but consumers normally receive a worse executable rate that also reflects channel, size, timing, inventory, and provider policy.
Spread and fee are separate costs
A provider can advertise no fee while embedding revenue in the rate, or show a competitive rate and charge a transfer fee. Compare the final recipient amount for the same source-currency outlay.
Fixed fees punish small exchanges
A flat charge consumes a larger share of a small transfer. The amount worksheet shows when one provider's lower percentage cost overcomes another provider's lower fixed charge.
Cash and cards have different layers
Cash desks can impose denomination and sell-back losses; ATMs can add operator and issuer fees; cards can add foreign-transaction fees or dynamic currency conversion at the merchant.
A round trip uses two prices
Unused foreign cash is normally sold back at a second, less favorable rate. Rate movement, a new spread, minimum notes, and another fixed charge can all increase the final trip cost.
Included
Manual base and quote currencies, timestamped mid-rate input, primary and alternative provider spreads, percentage and fixed fees, card fee, added or deducted fee treatment, effective rate, denomination rounding, leftover cash and sell-back spread, amount breakpoints, rate sensitivity, provider comparison, Chart.js value and scenario visuals, and a transaction-size worksheet.
Not included
A live price feed, executable quote, settlement guarantee, bid and ask order books, correspondent-bank deductions, ATM operator charges not entered, dynamic-currency-conversion offers, card-network assessment details, weekend pricing, capital controls, taxes, hedging products, forward points, crypto assets, or provider availability.
Use it well
Record the pair, direction, quote time, settlement amount, delivery method, and every visible fee from each provider; reject merchant currency conversion when your issuer is cheaper; and compare the final recipient amount or usable cash immediately before transacting.