Does the saving
cover the trip?

Compare the home price with the full overseas cost, then subtract the trip itself.

The formula

Saving on goods = home price − overseas cost. Difference after the trip = saving − travel − other trip costs. The saving is also the most the trip can cost before the purchase stops paying for it.

With the defaults: 800 − 500 = 300 saved, minus 150 travel and 80 other costs leaves 70. Count only costs the purchase causes: a trip you were taking anyway adds nothing extra. Read when a shopping trip pays for itself and whether buying electronics abroad is worth it.

Getting the overseas cost right

Use the landed-cost calculator to build the overseas figure: tax inside the price, a realistic refund, card fees and import tax at home. For several items, the travel basket combines them and keeps customs as one assessment.

Common questions

Should I include the flight if I was travelling anyway?

No. Only include costs you would not have had without the purchase.

What is the maximum trip budget?

The saving on goods. If the trip costs more than that, buying at home is cheaper.

Does this include warranty or return risk?

No. Leave a margin for returns, missed refunds and exchange-rate movement.

Other tools.

VAT calculatorSplit a VAT-inclusive price into net price and tax, or add VAT to a net price.Sales tax calculatorAdd a combined sales tax rate to a pre-tax shelf price and see the checkout total.Tourist refund calculatorEstimate a tourist VAT or GST refund after the operator’s percentage, fixed fee and minimum spend.Currency & card-fee checkConvert with dated reference rates, then add a card fee or compare a dynamic currency conversion offer.Import duty calculatorWork out duty and import VAT on goods value plus freight and insurance, in the order customs applies them.Traveler allowance checkerCheck a whole category of goods against a duty-free allowance without subtracting the allowance from the bill.Landed-cost calculatorEvery step of one purchase: tax basis, refund, card fee, freight, duty and import tax.Travel basketUp to five saved purchases against the same basket at home, with the trip included.

Does the saving
cover the trip?

The formula

Getting the overseas cost right

Common questions

Read more.

When a shopping trip pays for itself: break-even math with trip costs

Is buying electronics abroad worth it? A decision checklist

Warranty and returns when buying abroad: what travels with the product

Other tools.

Help improve the tools?

Does the savingcover the trip?

The formula

Getting the overseas cost right

Common questions

Read more.

When a shopping trip pays for itself: break-even math with trip costs

Is buying electronics abroad worth it? A decision checklist

Warranty and returns when buying abroad: what travels with the product

Other tools.

Does the saving
cover the trip?