💰 Quick Context: The Thai Baht
Thailand uses the Thai Baht (THB / ฿). At roughly ฿35 per 1 USD, a street food meal costs ฿40–80 (~$1–2 USD) and a hotel night ฿1,000–4,000 (~$28–115 USD). Quick math: divide by 35 for an approximate USD amount. Thailand is a mix of cash and card-friendly. Cards work at hotels, malls, and upscale restaurants. Street food, markets, taxis, tuk-tuks, and smaller shops are almost always cash-only.
🎧 Order Thai Baht Before You Fly
Have cash in hand when you land. Insured delivery, 2–5 day shipping.
Order THB → CEI Currency ExchangeCash vs. Card: What to Expect in Thailand
Thailand has a clear split between card-friendly and cash-only businesses. Cards work at hotels, shopping malls, department stores, large restaurants, chain businesses, and some upscale bars in Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and Koh Samui. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at these locations. Amex is more limited.
Cash is essential for street food stalls, night markets, tuk-tuks, taxis (unless using Grab), local restaurants, smaller shops, temples, and most island businesses. Even in Bangkok, most everyday spending requires cash. How much to carry: ฿1,000–3,000 for a typical day of meals and transport, more if visiting markets or islands.
How to Get Baht for Your Thailand Trip
Thailand has the most expensive ATM ecosystem in this list: every Thai bank ATM charges a regulated ฿220 surcharge on foreign-card withdrawals (about $6.30), set by the Bank of Thailand and applied uniformly across the country. This makes Thailand one of the few destinations where a licensed currency-exchange booth can routinely beat an ATM withdrawal after fees, especially in Bangkok where the rate competition is tight. Cards work in malls, hotels, full-service restaurants, and Grab; cash runs the street food, the tuk-tuks, the local taxis, the temples, the songthaew rides, and most island businesses. Plan accordingly: bring a starter stack and choose your in-country baht source carefully.
Order baht (or USD to exchange) before you fly
For pre-arrival baht, two paths. A currency-exchange service like CEI Currency Exchange ships physical Thai baht to a US address with insured 2–5 day delivery, at a small spread over the bank rate. Or order USD and exchange in-country at a licensed Bangkok booth (more on that below). Your home bank can also order THB directly: Bank of America, Chase, Wells Fargo, and Citi all stock baht. Allow 3–7 business days. Thailand does not have a Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner, and the ฿220 ATM fee applies regardless of card type, so the math here is unusually pre-order-friendly. The cleanest setup for most Thailand trips: pre-order ฿5,000–10,000 in baht for the first day's airport-to-hotel taxi, the first round of Grab fares, and your first night-market dinner; then maximize each in-country ATM withdrawal at ฿15,000–25,000 to spread the ฿220 fee over more cash; and use a Wise or Charles Schwab card for hotels, malls, and full-service restaurants.
Withdraw from a Thai bank ATM
On the ground, Thai bank ATMs all give the actual interbank rate with no markup, but every one of them adds the ฿220 fee on foreign-card withdrawals. Bangkok Bank, Kasikornbank (KBank), Siam Commercial Bank (SCB), Krungthai Bank, and Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya) are all equivalent on the rate front. Withdrawal caps run roughly ฿20,000–30,000 per transaction. The fee strategy: pull the maximum each time so the ฿220 covers more cash, and minimize the number of withdrawals per trip. Two procedural rules: stick to ATMs inside bank branches, in shopping malls (Siam Paragon, CentralWorld, Terminal 21, EmQuartier, Central Festival), or in 7-Eleven and Family Mart vestibules rather than street-facing standalones, especially in Sukhumvit, Patpong, Khao San Road, and tourist beach strips where card-skim risk is documented. And decline DCC every time the screen offers "charge in USD". The standalone Aeon and ICBC ATMs sometimes have lower-fee variants, but coverage is spotty. See the Best ATMs section below for the bank-by-bank lineup, or our Bangkok money guide for neighborhood-level locations. Want to see what a Bangkok Bank withdrawal will actually cost on your specific card after the ฿220 fee plus your home bank's fees? Plug it into our ATM fee calculator.
Airport counters, casas, & standalone ATMs
Three traps and one important exception. The currency-exchange counters in arrivals at BKK (Suvarnabhumi), DMK (Don Mueang), HKT (Phuket), and CNX (Chiang Mai) advertise rates that look reasonable but routinely run 5–10% off the interbank rate, plus per-transaction fees. Important exception worth knowing: Bangkok has some of the world's tightest USD-to-baht spreads at licensed downtown exchange booths. SuperRich (the green and orange branches), Vasu Exchange, and Twelve Victory on Sukhumvit, around Silom and Asok, and inside MBK and CentralWorld routinely beat both the airport counter and the THB 220 ATM fee math by a meaningful margin. Many seasoned travelers carry USD specifically to swap at SuperRich. The Patpong and Khao San Road exchange booths use the "no commission" framing while baking the markup straight into the rate. And the standalone unbranded ATMs at small island convenience stores (Phuket, Koh Samui, Koh Phangan, Krabi) layer DCC pitches on top of the ฿220 fee. Stick to bank-branded ATMs in branches or major malls, decline DCC, and SuperRich-style licensed booths are the one acceptable cash-to-cash route in Bangkok. Heading to Bangkok, Phuket, or Chiang Mai? Our Bangkok, Phuket, and Chiang Mai money guides walk the cleanest cash strategy.
For a side-by-side comparison of every method (bank wire, travel card, pre-order, ATM, exchange counter) including USD-to-THB timing tips, see our complete Getting Currency guide →.
Thailand's ATM Fee Problem
Every ATM in Thailand charges a ฿220 (~$6.30 USD) surcharge on foreign card withdrawals. This fee is charged by the Thai bank operating the ATM, not your home bank, and it's unavoidable. It applies on top of whatever your home bank charges. The best strategy is to withdraw larger amounts less frequently (฿10,000–20,000 at a time) to minimize the per-transaction hit. Exchange booths in Bangkok often beat ATM rates when you factor in the ฿220 fee.
Best ATMs to Use in Thailand
All Thai ATMs charge the ฿220 foreign card fee, so the "best" ATMs are the ones with the highest withdrawal limits, best reliability, and least aggressive DCC prompts. Withdrawal limits are typically ฿30,000 per transaction (~$860 USD).
Bangkok Bank
Thailand's largest bank by assets with 8,000+ ATMs and branches everywhere. Most reliable for international card acceptance. Found at airports, shopping malls, hospitals, and on practically every major street. English interface standard. Withdrawal limit: ฿30,000 per transaction.
Top Pick
Kasikorn Bank (KBank)
10,000+ ATMs with the green logo everywhere. Excellent foreign card acceptance. Known for having ATMs in convenient locations: 7-Elevens, shopping centers, transit stations. English interface. ฿30,000 withdrawal limit. One of the most consistent options outside Bangkok.
Recommended
SCB (Siam Commercial Bank)
Thailand's oldest bank with a strong 9,000+ ATM network. Reliable for international cards. Good coverage across Bangkok, Chiang Mai, Phuket, and other major destinations. English interface available.
Recommended
Krungsri (Bank of Ayudhya)
Part of the MUFG group (Japan's largest bank). 6,000+ ATMs. Smooth international card processing due to global banking connections. Good presence in Bangkok, resort areas, and airports.
RecommendedKrungthai Bank
Thailand's largest state-owned bank. 7,000+ ATMs. Particularly strong coverage at government buildings, universities, and areas outside the main tourist trail. Useful when traveling beyond Bangkok and the resort islands.
Recommended⚠ Watch Out for Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC)
Many Thai ATMs aggressively push Dynamic Currency Conversion. The screen will offer to show your withdrawal "in your home currency" or offer a "guaranteed rate." Always decline and choose Thai Baht (THB). The DCC markup is typically 4–8% on top of the already painful ฿220 fee. Look for buttons labeled "without conversion" or "decline conversion." Some machines make the decline option deliberately small.
ATMs to Avoid in Thailand
Some ATMs carry extra costs or risks beyond the standard ฿220 surcharge.
Euronet
Expanding rapidly in Bangkok, Phuket, Pattaya, and Chiang Mai near popular tourist spots. Bright blue machines positioned right where tourists walk. Aggressive DCC with a 7–12% markup. The ฿220 ATM fee still applies on top. Avoid entirely.
AvoidStandalone ATMs at Tourist Sites
Unbranded or unfamiliar machines at beaches, near temples, and on tourist walking streets. Higher risk of skimming devices, less reliable, and may charge additional fees beyond the standard ฿220. Use ATMs inside bank branches or major shopping centers instead.
AvoidAirport Exchange Counters (Arrivals Hall)
Exchange counters in the arrivals hall at Suvarnabhumi (BKK) and Don Mueang (DMK) offer poor rates (5–10% worse). Exception: The basement-level exchange booths at Suvarnabhumi (near the Airport Rail Link) offer much better rates, nearly matching city rates.
Avoid
Travelex
Exchange counters at airports and near popular destinations. 5–10% markup over mid-market rates. Not worth using when excellent exchange booths are nearby in most parts of Bangkok and Chiang Mai.
AvoidPaying by Card in Thailand
Card Networks
Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at hotels, department stores, large restaurants, and chain businesses in Bangkok and major resort areas. American Express has more limited acceptance, mainly at international hotels and upscale establishments. Discover is not widely accepted and is not recommended as a travel card here.
Contactless & Mobile Payments
Contactless tap-to-pay is growing at chain restaurants, convenience stores (7-Eleven, FamilyMart), and shopping malls in Bangkok and Chiang Mai. Apple Pay and Google Pay work at some modern terminals. Outside major cities, contactless support drops off significantly. GrabPay works well in Bangkok for ride-hailing and can charge to your card.
Where Cards May Not Work
Street food stalls and markets are cash-only throughout the country, including Chatuchak Weekend Market, night markets, and floating markets. Tuk-tuks and most taxis require cash (use Grab for card payment). Smaller restaurants and local shops are mostly cash-only, even in Bangkok. Island businesses outside major resorts are almost entirely cash-based.
Tipping in Thailand
Tipping Guide
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory in Thailand. At restaurants, 10% or rounding up is generous. No tip is expected at street food stalls. At hotels, ฿20–50 per bag for bellhops and ฿20–50 per night for housekeeping. For taxis, round up to the nearest ฿10 or ฿20. For massages and spas, ฿50–100 for a standard session, ฿100–200 for longer treatments. Tour guides receive ฿200–500 per day for group tours, ฿500–1,000 for private guides. Always tip in baht, not USD.
Bangkok, Islands & Beyond: Practical Money Tips
Things to Know
For city-specific tips, see our Bangkok, Phuket, Chiang Mai, and Pattaya money guides. Each covers neighborhood-level card acceptance, ATM locations, transport payments, and local spending tips.
SuperRich exchange booths (both orange and green locations) offer some of the best exchange rates in Thailand, often within 0.5% of mid-market. Branches are at BTS Chit Lom, MBK Center, Central World area, and Suvarnabhumi basement. Bring crisp USD $100 bills for the best rates, as smaller denominations and worn bills get worse rates. Compare rates on the SuperRich website or app before going.
Island cash planning is critical. Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lipe, and Koh Tao have ATMs that charge ฿220 per withdrawal and may run out of cash during peak season. Exchange rates at island booths are 3–5% worse than Bangkok. Withdraw cash on the mainland before heading to islands. Phuket and Koh Samui have better ATM and exchange booth availability. For Full Moon Party on Koh Phangan, budget ฿2,000–5,000 in cash and withdraw in advance, as ATMs near the party get long lines.
Chiang Mai and Chiang Rai have good ATM availability and several quality exchange booths near the Tha Phae Road area. Best overall strategy: exchange a portion of USD at SuperRich in Bangkok, then supplement with ATM withdrawals as needed throughout your trip.
Money Safety in Thailand
Staying Safe
Use ATMs inside bank branches or shopping malls rather than standalone machines on tourist streets. Inspect the card slot for skimming devices before inserting your card. Contactless payments are safer where available.
Carry a second card from a different bank. Thai ATMs charge THB 220 per foreign withdrawal, so if your primary card gets swallowed by a machine in Chiang Mai, a backup saves you the hassle of contacting your bank from abroad. Tell your bank you are visiting Thailand before departure. Southeast Asian transactions are common but can still trigger alerts at smaller banks. Beware of gem scams and tuk-tuk "tour" scams in Bangkok that involve pressure to visit specific shops. Call the tourist police at 1155 for assistance with scam complaints; they speak English.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why do Thai ATMs charge a 220 baht fee?
Every ATM in Thailand charges a ฿220 (~$6.30 USD) surcharge on foreign card withdrawals. This fee is set by the Thai bank operating the ATM and is unavoidable regardless of which bank you use. It applies on top of whatever your home bank charges. The best strategy is to withdraw larger amounts less frequently (฿10,000–20,000 at a time) to minimize the per-transaction hit.
What is the best way to get Thai baht?
Exchange booths like SuperRich in Bangkok offer the best rates, often within 0.5% of mid-market. Bring crisp $100 USD bills for the best rate. For convenience outside Bangkok, use bank ATMs from Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn, or SCB. A no-foreign-transaction-fee credit card is ideal for hotels and larger purchases where cards are accepted.
Should I exchange money at Bangkok airport?
The arrivals hall exchange counters offer poor rates (5–10% worse than city rates). However, the basement-level exchange booths at Suvarnabhumi airport near the Airport Rail Link offer much better rates that nearly match city rates. If you need baht immediately on arrival, head downstairs.
Do I need cash for Thai islands?
Yes. Smaller islands like Koh Phi Phi, Koh Lipe, and Koh Tao have ATMs, but they charge the same ฿220 fee and may run out of cash during peak season. Exchange rates at island booths are 3–5% worse than Bangkok. Withdraw or exchange cash on the mainland before heading to islands.
Can I use credit cards in Thailand?
Cards work at hotels, shopping malls, large restaurants, and chain businesses in Bangkok and resort areas. Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at these locations. Street food stalls, markets, tuk-tuks, taxis, and smaller restaurants are cash-only throughout the country.
How much should I tip in Thailand?
Tipping is appreciated but not mandatory. At restaurants, 10% or rounding up is generous. No tip is expected at street food stalls. For hotels, ฿20–50 per bag for bellhops and similar per night for housekeeping. For massages, ฿50–100 for standard sessions. Always tip in baht, not USD.
Skip the Foreign Transaction Fees
The Wise card converts your money at the real mid-market exchange rate. No markups, no surprises. Spend baht like a local.
Get the Wise Card →Quick Comparison
| Method | Cost | Convenience | Best For |
|---|---|---|---|
| SuperRich exchange booth (USD cash) | Best (within 0.5% of mid-market) | ★★★☆☆ | Best rates in Bangkok |
| No-FX-fee card at bank ATM | Good (฿220 fee per withdrawal) | ★★★★☆ | Convenient cash access |
| No-FX-fee credit card | Good (no surcharge) | ★★★★☆ | Hotels, malls, upscale restaurants |
| Airport exchange counter | Poor (5–10% worse) | ★★☆☆☆ | Absolute emergency only |
Thailand Quick Facts
| Currency | Thai Baht (THB / ฿). Divide by 35 for quick USD estimate |
| Exchange Rate | ~฿35 per 1 USD |
| ATM Fee | ฿220 (~$6.30 USD) surcharge on every foreign withdrawal. Unavoidable |
| ATM Limits | ฿30,000 per transaction at most banks (~$860 USD) |
| Card Acceptance | Good at hotels and malls. Street food, markets, taxis, and small shops are cash-only |
| Best Strategy | Exchange USD at SuperRich in Bangkok + ATM withdrawals for convenience + no-FX-fee credit card for larger purchases |
| Tipping | Appreciated but not mandatory. 10% at restaurants is generous |
| Cash Needs | Always carry ฿1,000–3,000 for daily expenses. More for islands and markets |
Thailand City Guides
Neighborhood-level money guides for Thailand's biggest cities. Where to find ATMs, which areas need cash, how to pay for transport, and more.
Thailand money toolkit
Deep-dive guides for specific banks, airports, and traveler nationalities in Thailand. Each one builds on this overview with card-by-card fee math, exact ATM locations, or terminal-by-terminal directions.