Cash in Thai baht is still the easiest way to pay for street food, markets and many taxis in Thailand. This FAQ covers the notes and coins, where to change money, what ATMs charge a foreign card, and how to claim the VAT back. All rates, fees and prices from other companies were checked in September 2026 and can change, so confirm them before you rely on them.
Thai currency basics
Banknotes and coins
The currency is the Thai baht (THB). One baht is divided into 100 satang.
| Type | Values |
|---|---|
| Banknotes | 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 THB |
| Coins | 25 and 50 satang; 1, 2, 5 and 10 THB |
Keep some 20 and 100 baht notes for street food, markets and short rides. Pay with 1,000 baht notes in convenience stores or shopping malls, where staff can give change.
Exchange rates in September 2026
Mid-market rates on 24 September 2026. The rates you get at an exchange counter are a little worse.
| Currency | Thai baht |
|---|---|
| 1 US dollar | 33.35 THB |
| 1 euro | 38.0 THB |
| 1 British pound | 44.25 THB |
| 1 Australian dollar | 23.5 THB |
| 100 Japanese yen | 21.1 THB |
| 1 Chinese yuan | 4.95 THB |
| 1,000 Korean won | 24.4 THB |
| 1 Singapore dollar | 26.1 THB |
Where to exchange money
Money changers in Bangkok
For cash, money changers in Bangkok usually give better rates than hotels and airport counters. The best known is SuperRich (superrich1965.com, often called "SuperRich orange"), a different company from Superrich Thailand ("SuperRich green"). SuperRich orange has dozens of branches in Bangkok, including Silom, Ratchadamri, Khao San Road and Chatuchak. It charges no fee, and its rate for major currencies is typically only 0.1–0.2% below the mid-market rate. The best rates are for large, clean notes, for example USD 100, GBP 50 or JPY 10,000.
Vasu Exchange, another Bangkok money changer, opens Monday to Friday 09:00–18:00 and on Saturdays and public holidays 09:00–17:00 (closed on Sundays). To buy baht there, bring a copy of your passport.
Airports, hotels and other cities
Airport counters and hotel desks are convenient, but their rates are usually worse than those of the money changers in Bangkok, and rates outside Bangkok are usually worse too. If you land without baht, change only what you need for the first day at the airport, then change the rest at a money changer in the city.
Using ATMs in Thailand
ATM fees
Thai bank ATMs charge a flat fee for each withdrawal with a foreign card. The screen shows the fee before you confirm. In 2026 the fee is usually 220–250 THB, and some foreign Mastercard cards are charged up to 350 THB. Your own bank's fees are added to this. Because the fee is the same for any amount, take out larger amounts less often. AEON ATMs used to be the cheapest, at 150 THB, but many reportedly no longer accept foreign cards.
How much you can withdraw
Most ATMs pay out at most 20 notes per withdrawal, which is 20,000 THB in 1,000 baht notes. Bangkok Bank ATMs usually pay out 25 notes. A few banks, such as Krungsri, TMB and CIMB, pay out up to 30 notes (30,000 THB).
Always choose to be charged in Thai baht
Some ATMs (Krungsri and SCB, for example) offer to charge your card in your home currency. This conversion costs about 5% or more compared with the mid-market rate. Always choose to be charged in Thai baht, and let your own bank do the conversion.
Cash advance at a bank counter
A cash advance at a bank counter (Bangkok Bank accepts it most widely) can avoid the ATM fee, but many home banks charge more for cash advances, so check your bank's terms first.
Paying by card
Contactless Visa and Mastercard cards work at the gates of the Airport Rail Link (since 8 November 2025), the MRT lines and the SRT Red Line. They do not work on the BTS Skytrain, where you need a Rabbit card or a single ticket.
In shops and restaurants, the same rule applies as at ATMs: when a card machine offers your home currency, choose Thai baht. Street food stalls and markets usually want cash.
Arriving without baht: paying for your airport transfer
Many travellers land before they have had a chance to change money. If you book a private transfer with Smile Taxi Service, you pay the driver in cash, in Thai baht, at the end of the trip. There is no online payment and no deposit on the website.
If you can only pay by card, message the team on WhatsApp or LINE. The team sends you a PayPal payment link, and a 5% fee is added.
Fares are fixed, per vehicle (not per person) and one way, with expressway tolls included. There is no meter. Examples:
| Route | Sedan | SUV | Van |
|---|---|---|---|
| Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Bangkok | 600 THB | 800 THB | 1,100 THB |
| Don Mueang Airport (DMK) to Bangkok | 600 THB | 800 THB | 1,000 THB |
| Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK) to Pattaya | 1,200 THB | 1,500 THB | 1,800 THB |
Airport pickups include 60 minutes of free waiting, counted from the actual landing time, and cancellation is free up to 24 hours before pickup. With an airport pickup you can also ask for a free 500 MB Thailand eSIM when you book.
- Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok
- Book a sedan from Don Mueang Airport to Bangkok
- Book a sedan from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Pattaya
- See all routes and fares
For all the ways to travel from Bangkok to Pattaya, read How to Get from Bangkok to Pattaya.
Bringing money into and out of Thailand
You can bring in any amount, but foreign currency above USD 20,000 (all currencies counted together) must be declared to Customs when you enter or leave.
For Thai baht, you may take up to 50,000 THB out of the country, or up to 500,000 THB when you travel to a neighbouring country. A larger amount must be declared or exchanged before departure. Failing to declare is a criminal offence.
Tipping and service charges
Tipping is not a Thai custom. Thais often round up a taxi fare or leave small change. Tips are now common in high-end hotels and in restaurants that serve many tourists. If the bill already includes a service charge, do not add a tip.
VAT refunds for tourists
Thailand's VAT is 7% (extended to 30 September 2027), and visitors can claim it back on goods they take home. The Revenue Department's conditions:
- Buy from shops that show the "VAT Refund for Tourists" sign.
- Spend at least 2,000 THB (VAT included) in one shop on one day.
- Show your passport and ask the shop for form P.P.10 with the original tax invoices.
- Take the goods out of Thailand within 60 days of purchase.
At the airport, a customs inspection before check-in is needed only if your total is 20,000 THB or more. Luxury items worth 40,000 THB or more each, such as jewellery, watches, phones, laptops and bags, must go in your hand luggage and be shown again at the VAT Refund office after immigration.
Refunds are given only when you leave by air from one of 10 international airports: Suvarnabhumi, Don Mueang, Chiang Mai, Phuket, Hat Yai, U-Tapao, Krabi, Samui, Surat Thani and Chiang Rai (Mae Fah Luang). There is no refund when you leave by land or sea, and none for residents or for people who stayed more than 180 days. Refunds up to 30,000 THB are paid in cash (THB) or to Alipay or WeChat Pay; larger refunds go only to a Visa, Mastercard, Diners or JCB card. Hotels and restaurant meals are not refundable. You can also mail a claim to the Revenue Department after your trip. The full rules are on the Revenue Department's VAT refund page.
What things cost in Bangkok
The food and drink prices below come from crowd-sourced data updated on 22 September 2026. The rail fares are the distance fares that foreign visitors paid in 2026.
| Item | Typical price |
|---|---|
| Meal at an inexpensive restaurant | about 100 THB |
| Three-course meal for two, mid-range restaurant | about 1,200 THB |
| Local beer, 0.5 litre, in a restaurant | about 90 THB |
| BTS Skytrain ride (foreign visitors) | about 17–65 THB |
| MRT Blue Line ride (foreign visitors) | about 17–45 THB |
The 20 THB flat rail fare is only for Thai nationals registered in the Tang Rat app.
Lost or stolen card
Call your bank immediately on the number printed on your card; save it somewhere other than your wallet before you travel. Visa's global assistance line accepts collect calls on +1-303-967-1096. For help from the police in English, call the Tourist Police on 1155, 24 hours a day.
FAQ
How much does a Thai ATM charge a foreign card? Usually a flat 220–250 THB per withdrawal in 2026, sometimes up to 350 THB, plus your own bank's fees.
Where do I get the best exchange rate in Bangkok? At money changers such as SuperRich, which charge no fee and trade major currencies close to the mid-market rate. Airports and hotels give worse rates.
Can tourists get the VAT back? Yes: 7% on goods bought in "VAT Refund for Tourists" shops (at least 2,000 THB per shop per day), claimed at one of 10 international airports when you leave by air within 60 days of purchase.
How much cash can I bring into Thailand? Any amount, but you must declare foreign currency above USD 20,000 in total. Taking more than 50,000 THB in baht out of Thailand needs a declaration.
I have no baht when I land. How do I pay for my transfer? With Smile Taxi Service you pay the driver in cash (THB) at the end of the trip, so you can withdraw baht at an airport ATM after you land. If you can only pay by card, message the team before the trip for a PayPal payment link (5% fee).
To book an airport transfer, or to ask a question before you travel, message Smile Taxi Service on WhatsApp or LINE.