Where to Exchange Money in Bangkok: The 2026 Expat Guide
Where to exchange money in Bangkok for the best rates. SuperRich, Vasu, bank counters, airport tips, plus ATM and card advice for new arrivals.
You step into a small shop on Sukhumvit, the air conditioner roaring above the door. A green LED board runs the morning rates in four columns: USD, EUR, GBP, JPY. The number next to USD is 36.18. Three doors down, a bank window quotes 35.42. That gap, less than a baht, is the entire story of where to exchange money in Bangkok. Across a month of living costs, it adds up to a flight home.
This guide walks through the rate hierarchy every new arrival learns in their first week. SuperRich and Vasu at the top, banks in the middle, airports at the bottom, with ATMs and cards as the supporting cast.
The rate hierarchy, top to bottom
Bangkok has a clean tier system for changing foreign cash into Thai baht.
Tier one: dedicated exchange shops. SuperRich Thailand (green logo) and Super Rich (orange logo) are two separate companies with branches across central Bangkok. Vasu Exchange is the third name expats trade. All three publish their daily mid-market rates publicly and beat bank counters by 0.3 to 1 baht per US dollar.
Tier two: bank exchange counters. Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn Bank, and Siam Commercial Bank (SCB) run currency windows inside most branches. Rates are slightly worse than dedicated shops. The trade off is convenience: there is a branch every few hundred metres in central districts.
Tier three: airport and mall food-court counters. Acceptable in a pinch, weaker by a noticeable margin over a few hundred dollars.
SuperRich: green logo and orange logo
SuperRich booths beat bank counters and hotel desks on rate almost every time. Two logos, both good.
Both SuperRich brands run a similar model: low margin on volume, walk-in service, passport required. Locations to know:
- Asoke / Sukhumvit: branches near BTS Asok and the Times Square building, an easy stop on your way from the Skytrain.
- Pratunam: the flagship-style branch inside Indra Square is one of the most visited single counters in the city, often with a queue at lunch.
- Silom: Convent Road has a small but quick branch a short walk from BTS Sala Daeng.
- Siam: branches inside Siam Square work for anyone already shopping in the area.
- Bang Na: the southeast Sukhumvit corridor has its own branch, useful for residents in the Bearing and Udom Suk stretch.
Bring your passport. A photo on your phone is not accepted at any branch. Notes should be clean and unmarked, since older or torn USD bills are sometimes refused or discounted.
Vasu Exchange: the Sukhumvit alternative
Vasu Exchange runs a tight network across central Bangkok with rates that move in step with SuperRich. The most useful branches sit on Sukhumvit Soi 7/1 (a short walk from BTS Nana and Asok), inside the Silom corridor, and near Khao San for travellers staying in the old city. The Sukhumvit branch in particular keeps long hours, which matters if you arrive on an evening flight and want to handle exchange the same day.
Browse more finance and currency exchange listings on BGM for the latest verified Bangkok branches.
Bank counters: the convenience pick
Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn, and SCB all run foreign exchange windows. The rate sits a touch below SuperRich and Vasu, usually by 0.3 to 0.8 baht per dollar. For a 200 USD swap that is about 100 to 150 baht of difference, the price of a casual lunch.
Choose a bank counter when you are already at a branch (opening an account, sending a transfer) or when you happen to walk past one on a Sunday evening with the dedicated shops closed.
Airport exchange: only what you need
Suvarnabhumi has SuperRich Thailand counters in the arrivals hall and on the public concourse. Rates are slightly weaker than the city branches, by perhaps 0.2 baht per dollar, which is acceptable for a single small exchange. The right move is to swap a small amount on arrival (enough for transport, water, and one meal) and save the larger conversion for a city branch the next day.
The mall food-court windows scattered around tourist zones run wider spreads. Use them only when nothing else is open.
ATM withdrawals: the 220 baht question
Every Thai ATM adds a 220-baht foreign-card fee on top of your home bank. Plan withdrawals around it.
Every Thai bank ATM charges a flat 220 baht foreign-card fee per withdrawal, on top of whatever your home bank charges. That fee applies whether you take out 1,000 baht or 30,000. Withdraw in larger amounts to spread the cost.
Three cards minimize the home-side fee:
- Wise (multi-currency debit) gives close to mid-market rates with very low conversion fees.
- Revolut runs similar pricing on its standard tier.
- Charles Schwab (US residents) refunds international ATM fees, which effectively cancels the 220 baht charge.
Pair one of these cards with the SuperRich or Vasu route for the strongest overall cost profile.
Cash versus card: where each one works
Cards work across malls and cafes. Markets, boats and small kitchens still run on cash.
Bangkok is a mixed economy. Cards work cleanly at:
- Malls (Siam Paragon, EmSphere, ICONSIAM, Central, Terminal 21)
- Hotels of every tier
- Mid-to-upscale restaurants and bars
- Most supermarkets (Big C, Tops, Villa Market, Lotus)
Cash is the only option at:
- Street food carts and the night markets
- Most temples and ticket counters
- Motorbike taxis and metered tuk-tuks
- Small massage and barber shops
- Local wet markets
A working rule for daily life: carry at least 1,000 baht in a mix of 100 and 500 notes, plus a 1,000 for emergencies.
Approximate rates to anchor your sense (always check live)
These are rough anchors only. Check live rates the morning you exchange.
- 1 USD ≈ 36 THB
- 1 EUR ≈ 39 THB
- 1 GBP ≈ 46 THB
- 1 SGD ≈ 27 THB
See more verified Bangkok business services on BGM.
Your first 1,000 baht: a starter spend
For a brand new arrival, the first 1,000 baht typically covers:
- A Rabbit Card top-up for the BTS Skytrain (around 200 baht for the card plus 200 of stored value gets you through several days of city travel).
- A local SIM from AIS, True, or Dtac in the airport or at a city branch (a 30-day tourist SIM is roughly 300 to 500 baht with generous data).
- One first meal at a Thai-style food court (a plate of pad krapow with rice and a fresh-pressed orange juice sits at around 100 baht).
That sequence: card, SIM, meal, settles you into the city by sundown.
Frequently asked questions
Where is the best place to exchange money in Bangkok? SuperRich Thailand (green logo) and Super Rich (orange logo) lead on rates, with branches in Asoke, Pratunam, Silom, Siam, and Bang Na. Vasu Exchange in Sukhumvit and Silom is a strong second option.
Should I exchange money at Suvarnabhumi airport? Exchange only enough for transport and one meal at the airport. Save larger sums for a city branch the next day.
How much do Thai ATMs charge foreign cards? Thai bank ATMs charge a flat 220 baht foreign-card fee per withdrawal, on top of any home-bank fee. Wise, Revolut, and Charles Schwab cards lower the home-side cost.
Do I need cash in Bangkok or can I use cards? Cards work at malls, hotels, and most restaurants. Cash is required for street food, markets, motorbike taxis, and most temples.
Do I need my passport to exchange money in Bangkok? Yes. Every dedicated exchange shop and bank counter requires your physical passport. A phone photo or copy is not accepted.
Settle in well
Get your first exchange done at a SuperRich or Vasu branch within 24 hours of arrival, keep a Wise or Revolut card in your wallet for ATM top-ups, and carry small notes for the parts of Bangkok that still run on cash. Start with the 1,000 baht plan above, then explore the city.
Pair this with our first 48 hours in Bangkok guide and the Thai SIM card guide to handle the rest of arrival day cleanly.