Currency exchange in Thailand: where to get the best rate

Thailand uses the Thai Baht (THB). Most places are cash-only, especially markets, street food stalls, and smaller guesthouses, so it is worth arriving with some baht in your pocket.

Airport exchange booths

Every major Thai airport has currency exchange counters in arrivals. They are convenient but offer noticeably worse rates than in the city. If you only need a small amount to cover transport and the first night, exchanging a little at the airport is fine. For larger amounts, wait until you reach your destination.

SuperRich — Bangkok's best-known exchange

SuperRich is a chain of exchange booths that consistently offers some of the best baht rates in Bangkok. There are two separate companies that share the name:

• SuperRich (orange) — more locations, competitive rates.
• SuperRich (green) — slightly different branches, similarly good rates.

Both have counters in major shopping malls and tourist areas. Look for queues — a busy booth is usually a sign the rate is good.

ATMs

ATMs are everywhere in Thailand. The downside is a fixed foreign transaction fee of 220 THB (around 6–7 USD) per withdrawal, charged by the Thai bank regardless of your home bank's fees.

To minimise this cost:

• Withdraw larger amounts less frequently rather than small amounts often.
• Use a travel card (see below) that reimburses ATM fees.
• Always choose to be charged in Thai Baht when the ATM asks — declining the dynamic currency conversion (DCC) option saves you money.

Revolut and Wise

Both apps let you spend in Thai Baht at the real exchange rate with no foreign transaction fees, which makes them excellent travel companions.

Revolut works well for day-to-day spending on card. Free plans include a limited amount of fee-free ATM withdrawals per month. Paid plans include more.

Wise is slightly better for transferring money internationally or paying someone in Thailand directly. It also has a debit card that works at Thai ATMs, though the same 220 THB fee from the Thai bank still applies.

The practical setup most travellers use: pay by Revolut or Wise card wherever cards are accepted, and keep a moderate amount of cash for markets and street food.

What to avoid

• Dynamic currency conversion (DCC) — when an ATM or card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency instead of baht, always decline. The rate used is significantly worse.
• Hotel reception exchange — convenient but rates are typically poor.
• Exchanging at home — rates outside Thailand are usually much worse than rates in-country.