Currency & Payment
Exchange rates fluctuate daily. Check current rates locally.
Local Currency Overview
Currency type, banknotes, and coin denominations
The currency is the Thai baht (THB, ฿). Notes: ฿20/50/100/500/1,000; coins: ฿1/2/5/10 (and satang).
- Currency
- Thai baht (THB, ฿)
- Notes
- ฿20 / 50 / 100 / 500 / 1,000
- Coins
- ฿1 / 2 / 5 / 10
- Carry small notes for markets, taxis and street food
Currency Exchange Tips
Best places and methods to exchange money
Licensed currency exchanges (e.g. SuperRich) often beat bank/airport rates. ATMs are widely available if you prefer to withdraw.
- Best rates
- Downtown licensed exchangers (e.g. SuperRich)
- Airport
- Convenient but usually worse rates
- ATMs
- Common; note per-withdrawal fee (~220 THB)
- USD/EUR are easy to exchange; bring clean, newer notes
Credit Card Acceptance
Card brand availability and usage tips
Hotels, malls and chain restaurants take cards, but markets, street food and many taxis are cash only. Carry enough baht in cash.
- Accepted
- Hotels, malls, chains, larger shops
- Cash only
- Markets, street food, many taxis
- Networks
- Visa/Mastercard widely; Amex less so
- Some places add a card surcharge; ask first
ATM Usage
How to withdraw cash and associated fees
ATMs are everywhere but charge a foreign-card fee (around 220 THB) per withdrawal on top of your bank's fees. Withdraw larger amounts to save.
- Fee
- About 220 THB per foreign-card withdrawal
- Tip
- Fewer, larger withdrawals reduce fees
- Language
- English menus available
- Decline "conversion" (DCC); choose to be charged in THB
Mobile & Digital Payments
Digital payment services available locally
PromptPay QR payments are everywhere but usually need a Thai bank account, so tourists rely on cash and cards. Some places accept Alipay/WeChat Pay.
- PromptPay
- QR standard; typically residents only
- Visitors
- Cash and cards; Grab in-app payment
- Alipay/WeChat
- Accepted at some tourist spots
- Keep cash for markets; cards for malls and hotels
Tipping Culture
Expected tipping amounts and etiquette
Tipping is not mandatory but appreciated. Upscale restaurants may add a 10% service charge; rounding up taxis and leaving small change is common.
- Restaurants
- Round up; 10% service charge at upscale places
- Taxis
- Round up the fare
- Hotels
- Small tip for porters/housekeeping is kind
- Tipping is optional and modest, not expected everywhere
Price Guide
Average costs for meals, transport, and accommodation
Thailand is affordable. A street-food meal runs ฿50–100; a BTS/MRT ride ฿17–62; a cafe coffee ฿60–100.
- Street-food meal
- ≈ ฿50–100
- BTS/MRT
- ≈ ฿17–62
- Coffee
- ≈ ฿60–100
- Prices are indicative and vary by area
Tourists can reclaim 7% VAT on goods bought at "VAT Refund for Tourists" stores: at least ฿2,000 per store/day and ฿5,000 total. Claim at the airport on departure.
- Minimum
- ฿2,000 per store/day; ฿5,000 total
- Where
- Get a PP10 form in-store; claim at airport
- VAT rate
- 7%
- Have goods and receipts ready for customs inspection on departure