Article - what providers give the best exchange rates (2024)

Money Exchange In Thailand

Whether you are living or travelling to Thailand, you will have to deal with money exchange. While you can exchange your money in many places around the country, using numerous different methods, not every provider offers the same exchange rates.

So, if you want to know which provider offers the most favourable exchange rates, you’ve come to the right place. Below, we have compiled the best methods of exchanging money in Thailand, as well as how much each one of them will cost you.

Thai Banks

One of the main options to exchange your money is bank-owned exchange counters, which can be found in tourist areas, including airports and night markets.

In general, exchanging money at Thai banks is a good option if you only need to exchange a small amount of money.

You will pay the rates below if you exchange cash at one of the Thai bank branches located around Thailand:

• Kasikorn Bank – 0.97% exchange fee
• Bangkok Bank – 0.87% exchange fee
• Siam Commercial Bak (SCB) – 1.05% exchange fee.

To give you a clearer picture of how much you’d get. Let’s say the exchange rate of US Dollars to Thai Baht is 1 USD to 33 THB. This means that:

• Kasikorn Bank will give you 32,680 THB if you exchange 1,000 USD.
• Bangkok Bank will give you 32,710 THB if you exchange 1,000 USD.
• SCB will give you 32,650 THB if you exchange 1,000 USD.

In the end, you end up spending at least 8.8 USD for the exchange fees.

Alternatively, you can use your debit card to exchange your money in Thai Banks if you don’t want to bring cash. To do this, go to an official bank branch and give them your debit card. Ask for a cash withdrawal or cash in advance. Most banks will require you to show your passport, but they won’t charge any additional fees. The only fee you will pay is the fee your bank charges.

ATMs

You can get decent exchange rates by withdrawing large amounts of money from an ATM in Thailand.

On top of any fees your own bank charges, most banks in Thailand charge a 220 THB fee, including fees hidden in inflated exchange rates, between 0.5% and 1% per transaction.

For example, let’s say that the current exchange rate from US Dollars to Thai Baht is 1 USD to 33 THB. So without any fees, you would get 33,000 THB for a 1,000 USD currency exchange. However, if you want to take out 1,000 USD from an ATM in Thailand, using a 1% exchange rate fees, you would only get 32,670 THB. Then, you have to add the 220 THB withdrawal fee, so you will be left with 32,450 THB. In the end, you spend almost 17 USD on ATM fees to withdraw 1,000 USD.