Thailand Currency Guide
Thailand is a land of stunning natural beauty, rich cultural traditions, and friendly people. From the white-sand beaches of the Andaman Sea to the verdant hills of the north, Thailand offers something for everyone. Visitors can enjoy world-class diving, hiking, and rock climbing or simply relax in one of the many spas and resorts. With its diverse landscape and vibrant culture, Thailand is an ideal destination for travellers looking for an unforgettable experience.
Taking Travel Money to Thailand
If you’re travelling to Thailand, you’ll need to exchange your Australian dollars (AUD) for Thai bahts (THB) before you leave. Read our guide on exchanging AUD to THB here.
Is it better to convert currency in Australia or Thailand?
If you’re travelling to Thailand, it’s typically best to exchange your currency in Australia. The Australian Dollar (AUD) can sometimes fetch less favourable rates overseas, and converting to Thai Baht (THB) before you leave helps you secure a better deal. By arranging your travel funds at home, you’ll avoid the hassle of finding an exchange and any unexpected fees upon arrival. This way, you’ll step into your Thai adventure with confidence, knowing your budget is maximised and ready for every experience.
How much cash can I take to Thailand?
Any traveller entering or departing Thailand with more than USD $20,000 in foreign money or its equivalent must disclose the whole amount to customs. It is a criminal offence to make a false declaration to a Customs Officer or to omit to declare upon transporting currency that exceeds the amount restricted by law or its equivalent out of or into Thailand.
Where to convert currency?
Crown Currency Exchange is Australia’s largest and leading foreign exchange provider. With over 20 years of experience in ensuring our customers have the exact currencies needed to get the most from their travel adventures, we offer great rates on foreign currency and exceptional customer service. You can collect your foreign currencies from over 60 stores across Australia and get your travel money on the spot, locking in a fantastic exchange rate. Our stores are located nationwide in Sydney, Melbourne, Brisbane, Gold Coast, Canberra, Adelaide, Tasmania & Perth.
What should you budget per day?
Budget
If your travel style is to backpack around and choose the cheapest options, Thailand is the perfect place to visit on a budget. With an average daily budget of ฿2,300 THB, you can rent a hostel dorm bed, get 2 cheap street food meals, and travel by taxi. But be careful not to be so frugal that you miss out on unique experiences!
You can arrange activities with the cheapest businesses and schedule several enjoyable day trips. Book a half-day island snorkelling excursion, a local culinary class, or a Thai boxing fight. Take inexpensive buses throughout the country, abstain from excessive drinking, and mingle with the locals. Travellers on a budget should have no trouble experiencing Thailand.
Moderate
You can increase your Thailand travel budget if you’re ready to spend a bit more than the ordinary backpacker. Spending around ฿4,900 THB can get you to a comfortable level where you’re paying a bit more for accommodation and activities, but nothing too exorbitant. Visit all the greatest attractions, even if they are a little more expensive. Treat yourself to some nice cocktails on the beach here and there. A one-hour Thai massage is an excellent way to unwind after a long day or perhaps a full-day scuba-diving excursion. Stay in inexpensive hotel rooms and enjoy a diverse diet that includes both affordable street food and some fine restaurant cuisine.
On a moderate budget, you can spend more on the things that are most important to you. If you wish to explore more, you can pay for additional day trips, and if you enjoy dining out, you can treat yourself to more food and beverages. Regardless of your selection, you can still have the trip of a lifetime without exceeding your budget.
Luxury
If you’re really determined to go on a luxury holiday to Thailand, you can do it with an average daily budget of ฿10,000+ THB. Stay in the best hotels, resorts, and spas that Thailand has to offer. Relax on the beach all day and order room service whenever you get hungry. If you want to explore, participate in some more high-end activities like private cooking classes, yacht rentals, and golf lessons.
You can also enjoy luxurious travel by spending your money on unique experiences. For example, you can splurge on a hot air balloon ride or a private elephant trek. You may also go on guided temple tours, thrilling speedboat island-hopping excursions, luxurious spa and massage packages, personalized cooking classes, and various other activities. If you’re looking to spend a lot of money, Thailand is the perfect place to do it. Just be mindful of your spending, and don’t go too overboard!
What is ATM access like in Thailand?
You may withdraw cash from ATMs in Thailand using both your debit and credit cards. ATMs may be found nearly everywhere, including at airports, banks, department stores, and supermarkets. You can usually withdraw money from larger resorts on small, remote islands with no ATMs. You will most likely be charged a transaction fee of 300 baht every time you withdraw money. In addition, many banks also charge high fees for each withdrawal; however, this information is available upon request from your bank.
Is tipping customary in Thailand? How much is expected?
In the same way that natives do not leave tips, visitors are not expected to do so either. However, this is becoming the norm at many upscale dining establishments. Thailand has a reputation as a country where people are always kind and never expect to get a tip. But if you are inclined to do so, leave more than 50 baht in tips.
Restaurants: If you have any spare change, it is traditional to leave it as a tip. For more high-end restaurants, it is normal practice to leave a gratuity of between 5% and 10%, especially those that deliver particularly stellar service.\
Taxis: Customarily, taxi drivers are tipped by rounding up the fare and leaving the change. It is also customary to provide a gratuity of 30–40 Baht when taking a taxi to the airport due to its great distance.
Hotels: Tip is not required for hotels with two stars or above. The service charge is included in the bill for such lodgings. It is customary to tip porters and housekeeping staff 20 Baht.
Can you bargain in Thailand?
Must-Do's in Thailand
1
Have a Thai Massage
Experience Thai’s world-renowned massage culture firsthand. A traditional Thai massage is an invigorating and energising treatment that often leaves people feeling lighter than when they started. Every small town and big city in Thailand has at least a few massage parlours, so you’ll never be far from a relaxing rub-down. And compared to the pricing of massages back in Australia, Thai massages are a downright bargain!
2
Visit the Damnoen Saduak Floating Market
This is the largest and most well-known of Thailand’s numerous floating markets. The canals are teeming with boats offering fresh produce and other goods. The experience of shopping at this market will transport you back in time. The narrow canals and the modest wooden stilt houses provide an abundance of photo opportunities for people who enjoy taking pictures. Travelling the extra 100 miles to get to the market from Bangkok is time well spent.
3
Eat Street Food
Every street in every city in Thailand is lined with vendors providing a wide variety of inexpensive and delicious street cuisine. Pad Thai, Som Tam (papaya salad), and grilled meats are just some of the dishes that may be found at any time of the day. Since eating out is far cheaper than cooking at home, most Thais opt to join the masses when they dine. If you’re in search of a nice food stall, it’s best to go where the people go.
4
Visit the Grand Palace
Located right in the middle of Bangkok, this is the city’s most visited landmark. The palace served as the seat of the Thai government for 150 years, housing the king, his court, and the country’s Royal Mint. With a total size of 218,400 square meters, there is plenty to keep you entertained. Massive walls were constructed around the palace and offices in 1782, making it the tourist attraction that it is today. However, visitors should be aware that the palace has a stringent dress code and that inappropriate attire will result in being denied access.
5
Visit the island of Koh Phi Phi
Having risen to prominence with its appearances in James Bond films and Leonardo DiCaprio’s classic The Beach. Located in the district of Krabi, the beautiful island of Koh Phi Phi is a must-see for any tourist in Thailand. No other beach will ever compare to the stunning beauty of this island after you’ve seen it. Without roads, getting across the island will require some effort, but with everything concentrated between the island’s two primary beaches, you’ll never be too far from the action.
Thailand FAQ's
What do Thailand notes & coins look like?
There are many distinct banknote denominations for the Thai baht, including ฿20, ฿50, ฿100, ฿500, and ฿1,000. They are printed exclusively on cotton-fibre paper, not plastic, and come in a range of earthy tones, from green to blue to red, purple to brown.
The current King King Maha Vajiralongkorn is shown on the obverse of today’s notes, while various historical images decorate the reverse.
As for Thai coins, they are minted in denominations of 1, 5, 10, 25, 50 satang, and ฿1, ฿2, ฿5, ฿10. Similar to the banknotes, the King’s portrait is displayed on the obverse of every coin, while the reverses feature the king’s monogram.
What is Thailand's currency history?
The Thai baht is one of the world’s oldest circulating currencies, dating back almost 800 years to the 13th century. The baht was formerly based on a 15-gram of mass, just like the British pound sterling. All Thai banknotes were made of solid silver with a certain weight and purity, which means all baht coins were also composed of solid silver.
Up to the final decades of the nineteenth century, the baht was pegged to silver. Later, Thailand adopted a decimal system, and the baht became 100 satangs. Throughout its history, the Thai baht has been pegged to a number of different currencies and even gold. It was pegged to the British pound sterling in the early part of the 20th century and subjected to periodic adjustments.
The exchange rate fluctuated between 11 baht and 22 baht for each British pound throughout a period of approximately 20 years. The baht was linked to the Japanese yen for a short time after World War II, and following the gold standard, it was pegged to the price of gold at a fixed rate of one baht per 0.25974 gram.
The Thai central bank tied the baht to the dollar from the mid-1950s until 1997. The initial dollar peg was 20 baht per dollar. During the presidency of Ronald Reagan, when the American economy was booming fast, and its currency was accordingly strong, the peg was raised to 25 baht per dollar.
Because of the effects of the Asian Financial Crisis that began in 1997, the Bank of Thailand decided to let the baht float freely in the foreign exchange market rather than control its exchange rate. Since then, the exchange rate between the US dollar and the Thai baht has risen to a record high of 56 baht to 1 USD. However, as of 2022, it has been devalued to about 37 baht per dollar.
What is Thailand's economic situation like?
Expected to reach USD $549 billion by the end of 2022, the Thailand economy ranks 26th in the world in terms of nominal GDP. The country is a tiger economy and is one of the newly industrialised countries, with an emphasis on exports. Thailand has made phenomenal social and economic amelioration over the last four decades, drifting from a low-income to an upper-middle-income country. Thai economic growth has been particularly spectacular, and the country’s progress in reducing poverty has made it a popular example of development success.