Thailand runs on a mix of cash and cards, and the balance shifts depending on where you are. Bangkok malls accept contactless payments. Koh Phangan beach bars want cash. Market vendors across the country deal exclusively in banknotes. Understanding how money works here saves you hundreds of baht in unnecessary fees.
At the July 2026 review, 1 USD was roughly 33-34 THB. GBP and EUR rates move enough that you should check the Bank of Thailand daily exchange-rate page before exchanging a large amount rather than memorising a number from a guide. Thailand is still affordable by Western standards: a street food meal costs 40-80 THB ($1-2), a beer at a tourist bar is 80-150 THB ($2-5), and a Grab ride across central Bangkok runs 60-150 THB ($2-5).
Quick answer
For most short holidays, bring one fee-light debit card, one backup Visa or Mastercard, and enough baht for the first day. Wise and Revolut are good travel-card choices if you already use them. US travellers often like Charles Schwab because it refunds ATM operator fees; UK travellers often compare Wise, Revolut, Starling, Chase, and Monzo before leaving.
Arrive with 3,000-5,000 THB in cash or withdraw that amount at the airport, then handle larger exchanges in town. Bangkok has the best booths, especially SuperRich and Vasu. On islands, in night markets, and around temple entrances, cash still wins.
Watch out: If an ATM or card terminal asks whether you want to be charged in your home currency, choose Thai baht. The home-currency option is dynamic currency conversion, and the markup can wipe out the savings from using a good travel card.
How we picked these payment options
Compare the full cost of each option: your bank’s foreign-transaction charge, the Thai ATM fee, exchange-rate markup, withdrawal limits, and how widely the payment method is accepted. Fees change, so check your card issuer’s current terms before travelling.
How to choose
Use a low-fee travel card for hotels, malls, and larger restaurants, then withdraw enough cash to avoid repeated ATM fees. Keep a second card separate and decline dynamic currency conversion when a terminal or ATM offers to charge in your home currency.
2026 Review Notes
- ATM fees: Use 250-350 THB as the working range for international withdrawals. The old AEON lower-fee tip is no longer reliable after its Thai ATM network was wound down through 2024.
- Exchange rates: Check live rates before a large exchange. The baht moves enough that fixed GBP/EUR/USD examples age quickly.
- Mobile payments: Domestic PromptPay uses participating Thai bank accounts, but some overseas banking apps support cross-border Thai QR payments. Confirm your app before relying on it and carry cash as backup.
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Currency: Thai baht (THB). Coins: 1, 2, 5, 10 THB. Notes: 20 (green), 50 (blue), 100 (red), 500 (purple), 1,000 (brown)
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ATM fee: Often 250-350 THB for an international withdrawal; Krungsri currently charges 250 THB for foreign Visa cards and 350 THB for foreign Mastercard cards
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Exchange booths: Compare live rates at SuperRich, Vasu, and nearby licensed booths; spreads change daily and by note denomination
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Best card setup: A fee-light debit or multi-currency card, plus a separate backup Visa or Mastercard stored away from your wallet
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Credit cards: Visa and Mastercard widely accepted in tourist areas. Amex accepted at major hotels only. Cash still needed for markets, street food, transport
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Contactless: Increasingly common in Bangkok and major tourist areas. Less common on islands and rural areas
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How much to budget: 1,000-3,000 THB/day for mid-range travel before hotels (see our Thailand cost guide for detailed breakdowns)
ATMs in Thailand
ATMs are everywhere — every 7-Eleven has one nearby, and there are machines at airports, malls, and on every main street in tourist areas. The major banks are Bangkok Bank (blue), Kasikorn Bank (green), SCB (purple), and Krungsri (yellow).
The withdrawal fee: Use 250-350 THB as a working range rather than a rule for every bank. Krungsri’s schedule effective 11 March 2026 charges 250 THB for a foreign Visa withdrawal and 350 THB for a foreign Mastercard withdrawal. The selected ATM shows its own fee before confirmation, and your card issuer may add another charge.
How to minimise ATM costs:
- Withdraw larger amounts less often — check the machine’s limit and your card’s allowance first. Fewer withdrawals usually reduce the effect of fixed ATM charges
- Use a fee-light travel card — Wise and Revolut show their own charges in the app, but ATM allowances and conversion fees depend on issuing country and plan
- Decline the ATM’s exchange rate — Thai ATMs will offer to convert your withdrawal to your home currency (“Dynamic Currency Conversion”). Always select “withdraw without conversion” or “Thai baht”. The ATM’s conversion rate adds a 3-5% markup
Safety Tip: Use ATMs attached to bank branches rather than standalone machines at convenience stores — they are better maintained and have CCTV. Cover your PIN. If an ATM swallows your card, the branch can retrieve it during business hours.
Travel Cards: Wise vs Revolut
A multi-currency travel card is the cheapest way to spend and withdraw money in Thailand. Both Wise and Revolut offer near-interbank exchange rates — dramatically cheaper than your regular bank card.
| Feature | Wise | Revolut |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | Mid-market rate plus a route-specific fee | Revolut rate plus any regional plan or timing fee |
| ATM withdrawals | Allowance and excess fee depend on issuing country | Allowance depends on issuing country and plan |
| Card type | Visa or Mastercard debit | Visa or Mastercard debit |
| Multi-currency | 40+ currencies, hold THB | 30+ currencies, hold THB |
| Setup time | 1-3 business days (physical card) | 1-3 business days (physical card) |
| Fee transparency | Fees shown before conversion | App shows applicable plan, fair-usage, and timing fees |
| Best for | Transparency, larger transfers | Day-to-day spending, casual travel |
Pro Tip: Order your Wise or Revolut card 2-3 weeks before your trip. Load it with Thai baht before you leave (when you spot a good exchange rate) — both apps let you hold THB in your account and spend directly without conversion fees.
Wise
Wise uses the mid-market rate and shows its conversion fee before you confirm. The fee varies by currency route, amount, and customer region and currently starts from 0.33%. ATM allowances also depend on where the card was issued; since May 2026, the excess fee and free monthly amount are regional rather than one global formula.
Why it is good for Thailand: You can hold THB and spend from that balance without converting each purchase. At an ATM, check both Wise’s current allowance and the Thai bank’s displayed operator fee before accepting.
Revolut
Revolut’s exchange allowance, fair-usage fee, weekend fee, and ATM limit depend on the country where the account is held and the selected plan. For example, a UK Standard account currently has a GBP 1,000 monthly weekday exchange allowance and a 1% fair-usage fee above it, but that is not a worldwide rule. Check the app for your own limits.
Why it is good for Thailand: If your spending falls within the free exchange limit, Revolut is effectively free to use. The app also includes budgeting tools, instant spending notifications, and the ability to freeze your card if it is lost — useful when travelling.
Which to Choose?
For a 2-week holiday, the difference between Wise and Revolut is a few dollars at most. Pick whichever you already have. If you are choosing fresh, Wise edges it on transparency (every fee is shown upfront) and Revolut edges it on features (budgeting, free exchange limits, virtual cards).
Currency Exchange
If you prefer cash, exchange in Thailand rather than at your home airport. The difference is significant — airport exchange counters in London, Sydney, and New York typically charge a 5-10% markup. Bangkok exchange booths charge 0.3-1%.
Best exchange in Bangkok:
- SuperRich (green logo) — compare the current branch rate before travelling across town. Its Suvarnabhumi Airport Rail Link branch is in the basement transport area, not the arrivals hall
- SuperRich (orange logo) — confusingly, a separate company. Rates are nearly identical to green SuperRich. Branches at Khao San Road, Asoke, and Ratchada
- Vasu Exchange — Nana area (Sukhumvit Soi 7/1), Bangkok. Check its live denomination-specific rate before visiting
Exchange tips:
- Bring clean, undamaged notes in large denominations ($50 and $100 bills get better rates than $20s)
- Compare rates on the SuperRich website before visiting — rates change daily
- Avoid exchange at hotel front desks and tourist-area booths — they add 3-8% markup
- Airport exchange is acceptable for small amounts (3,000-5,000 THB to get you into the city)
Outside Bangkok: Exchange booths in Chiang Mai, Phuket, Koh Samui, and Pattaya offer competitive rates but slightly worse than Bangkok. On smaller islands (Koh Lanta, Koh Phangan, Koh Tao), options are limited and rates are poor — bring enough cash or use ATMs.
Airport Arrival Money Plan
Do not spend your first hour in Thailand hunting for the perfect exchange rate. You need enough baht for the first taxi, airport food, a small shop purchase, and a backup if your card is blocked. For most arrivals, 3,000-5,000 THB is enough breathing room.
If you land at Suvarnabhumi and you are heading into Bangkok, exchange or withdraw a small amount first, then compare city rates later around Pratunam, Asoke, or Nana. If you are connecting straight to an island, withdraw more before you leave the airport. Island ATMs can run out of cash on festival weekends and after Full Moon Party nights.
Pro Tip: Break 1,000 THB notes at 7-Eleven before using taxis, songthaews, temple ticket counters, or street food stalls. Small vendors often cannot change a large note early in the day.
Cash vs Card: Where You Need What
| Situation | Cash or Card? |
|---|---|
| Hotels (tourist areas) | Card accepted |
| Restaurants (tourist areas) | Card usually accepted |
| Street food stalls | Cash only |
| Night markets | Cash only |
| Local markets (Chatuchak, Warorot) | Cash only |
| 7-Eleven | Card accepted (contactless too) |
| Thai QR / PromptPay | Domestic access uses participating Thai bank accounts; some overseas apps support cross-border QR |
| Grab taxi | Card in app, or cash |
| Tuk-tuks and songthaews | Cash only |
| Temple entrance fees | Cash only |
| National park entrance | Cash only |
| Massage shops | Cash only (most) |
| Pharmacies | Card sometimes, cash safer |
| Hospital (private) | Card accepted |
Bottom line: Carry 1,000-2,000 THB in cash at all times, even if you plan to use a card for most spending. The cash is for transport, street food, market shopping, and the many small businesses that do not accept cards.
How Much Things Cost
| Item | Price (THB) | Price (USD) |
|---|---|---|
| Street food meal | 40-80 | $1-2 |
| Restaurant meal (tourist area) | 150-400 | $4-11 |
| Beer (convenience store) | 40-60 | $1-2 |
| Beer (tourist bar) | 80-180 | $2-5 |
| Thai iced coffee | 35-60 | $1-2 |
| Grab ride (central Bangkok) | 60-150 | $2-4 |
| Tuk-tuk (short ride) | 100-200 | $3-6 |
| Songthaew (shared) | 20-40 | $0.50-1 |
| BTS/MRT (Bangkok) | 17-65 | $0.50-2 |
| Temple entrance | 0-500 | $0-14 |
| Thai massage (1 hour) | 200-400 | $6-11 |
| Scooter rental (per day) | 150-300 | $4-8 |
| Budget hotel | 400-800 | $11-22 |
| Mid-range hotel | 1,000-3,000 | $28-85 |
| Luxury resort | 5,000-30,000+ | $140-840+ |
For a detailed daily budget breakdown by travel style, see our Thailand cost guide.
Common Money Mistakes
- Exchanging at home airports — you lose 5-10% immediately. Exchange the minimum before you fly and do the rest in Thailand
- Accepting ATM currency conversion — always decline “convert to your home currency” and withdraw in Thai baht. The ATM markup is 3-5%
- Withdrawing small ATM amounts — the fee is fixed regardless of amount. Withdraw the maximum (20,000-30,000 THB) each time
- Not carrying cash on islands — ATMs on small islands can run out of cash, break down, or charge even higher fees. Bring enough baht before you leave the mainland
- Paying with 1,000 THB notes at small vendors — street food sellers and songthaew drivers often cannot break large notes. Keep a supply of 20s, 50s, and 100s
Tipping Guide
Tipping is not culturally expected in Thailand the way it is in the US, but it is appreciated for good service.
| Service | Suggested Tip |
|---|---|
| Restaurant (tourist area) | Round up to nearest 20-50 THB, or 10% at upscale places |
| Street food | Not expected |
| Thai massage | 50-100 THB |
| Hotel porter | 20-50 THB per bag |
| Hotel housekeeping | 20-50 THB/day |
| Taxi/Grab | Round up to nearest 10 THB |
| Tour guide (full day) | 200-500 THB |
| Dive instructor | 300-500 THB per day |
Before You Travel
Sort your money setup before you fly: order a Wise or Revolut card (allow 1-3 weeks for delivery), exchange a small amount of baht, and notify your home bank you are travelling to Thailand so they do not block your card. Make sure you also have an eSIM for mobile data, travel insurance (especially for motorbike coverage), and have checked the latest Thailand entry requirements.
Before a large cash exchange, compare the booth rate against the Bank of Thailand daily exchange rate. You do not need to match the official rate exactly, but a booth that is several percent worse is not worth using unless you only need a small emergency amount.
