Thailand Exchange Guides

Where in Bangkok do exchange shops with good rates cluster? The character of Ratchadamri-Pratunam, Siam, Sukhumvit, and Silom, plus a step-by-step guide to finding today's best rate from the station nearest where you're staying.

How much you lose exchanging at Suvarnabhumi or Don Mueang airport, compared with real rates. An automatic comparison of airport exchange counters against the best in-city rate, calculated from today's live rates. The difference between arrival-hall bank booths and the private exchange shops on the basement floor, how much to exchange at the airport, and rough transport costs into the city.

The mechanics of USD $100 bills and 10,000-yen notes, and how to bring the right cash. Some currencies get different rates at Thai exchange shops depending on the bill's denomination. Why a gap opens up between USD $100 bills and smaller notes, how older-design bills are treated, and why for yen it's the condition of the bill — not the denomination — that matters, based on this site's actual data.

Comparing six ways to pay in Thailand (cash exchange, airport exchange, Wise, Revolut, credit card, ATM withdrawal) by how much you actually receive for the same amount. How each method's fees work, and which combination suits your trip length and spending style.

A checklist of the sticking points first-timers run into at Thai exchange shops — the passport requirement, how to read Buy/Sell, denomination and bill condition, opening hours, checking your cash on the spot, and staying safe from counterfeit notes.