Our Methodology

How we source data, build formulas, validate results, and acknowledge limitations. Every assumption is visible. Every number is traceable.

Core Principles

Primary sources only. Government databases, international organizations, and official provider APIs. Never blogs or Wikipedia for calculation inputs.
Formula transparency. Every calculator exposes its core formula in standard mathematical notation. No proprietary algorithms.
Confidence labeling. Every output is labeled High (95%+), Medium (85–95%), Low (<85%), or Estimated. No output presented as fact without a label.
Quarterly validation. Each calculator is validated against primary sources. Discrepancies >5% trigger immediate updates; >10% triggers a full methodology review.
Bias disclosure. We disclose currency-conversion timing, sample-size limits, geographic gaps, and temporal staleness. No hiding behind "trust us" language.
Version control. Every methodology change is logged with date, reason, and impact.

Data Sources by Calculator

Calculator	Primary Sources	Updated	Confidence
Remittance Cost Comparator	World Bank RPW, Wise/Remitly APIs, ECB, CoinGecko	Daily (FX), Quarterly (fees)	High
PPP Salary Converter	OECD PPP, World Bank ICP, IMF WEO, Numbeo	Annual / Monthly	High
Digital Nomad Tax	OECD Tax DB, IRS Pub 54, HMRC, tax treaties	Quarterly	Medium
Time Zone Meeting Planner	IANA Time Zone Database	Continuous	High (99%+)
Carbon Footprint by Grid	IEA, EMBER, NREL, national grid operators	Hourly / Annual	High
Cross-Border Contractor Rate	OECD Tax DB, platform fees, ECB	Quarterly	Medium

The Calculation Engine

Precision

Decimal arithmetic (not floating-point) for all monetary values. FX rates stored to 6 decimal places. Intermediate values unrounded; only final display is rounded to 2 places.

Currency Conversion

Daily mid-market rates from ECB (EUR), Federal Reserve (USD), XE.com (cross-rates). Updated 00:00 UTC. No provider-specific rates used for comparisons.

Inflation Adjustment

National CPI or IMF WEO. Base year 2020.

Tax Simplifications

Tax tools use simplified brackets and skip edge-case deductions. Labeled Medium confidence with links to official calculators.

Temporal Staleness

Every result shows a last-updated timestamp. Data older than 90 days triggers a warning banner.

How We Validate

Stage 1 — Unit Testing. Automated tests verify every formula against known inputs. Coverage 95%+ including edge cases.

Stage 2 — Source Cross-Check. Results compared against independent primary sources. Tolerance ±5% (monetary), ±1% (percentages). Exceeding tolerance triggers investigation.

Stage 3 — User Feedback. A "Flag This Result" button on every calculator. Reports reviewed within 48 hours. In 2025: 347 reports, 312 confirmed and fixed, 0 ignored.

Known Limitations

Informal Channels

We don't model hawala or private P2P crypto markets. Mitigation: clearly labeled gap; crypto option provided where data exists.

Self-Employed Variability

Statutory minimums used for self-employed benefits. Flagged with warnings and links to national agency calculators.

Tax Treaty Complexity

Simplified treaty models. Results are directional, not filing-ready. Always consult a professional.

Currency Volatility

Daily FX may miss intraday swings. We show rate timestamps and a volatility warning when >1% daily movement.

Provider Fee Changes

Providers change fees without notice. Live APIs (Wise, Remitly) update daily; others quarterly.

How to Cite Calqly

Calqly. (2026). Remittance Cost Comparator [Software]. Retrieved from https://calqly.com/remittance-cost-comparator

MLA, Chicago, and APA formats all welcome. Attribute data to its primary source and credit the Calqly calculation engine.