Money in Bangkok: baht notes, ATM fees on foreign cards, where cash is the only option and tipping

In this guide

💡 The Short Version: Carry baht notes. Cards work in hotels, malls and supermarkets, but street stalls, markets, most Bib Gourmand shops and river boats take cash only. ATMs charge a fee on foreign cards: Krungsri’s schedule from 11 March 2026 lists 250 to 350 THB per withdrawal, so take out larger amounts less often, and use a machine inside a bank. The MRT takes contactless bank cards at the gate; the BTS sells tickets from machines that take coins, banknotes and QR payment. Tipping is not expected; a restaurant may add a service charge, shown as ++ on the menu. Prices are in baht (THB).

Cash

• Notes: 20, 50, 100, 500 and 1,000 baht (Bank of Thailand). The 20, 50 and 100 baht notes are the ones you spend at stalls, so break a 1,000 at a 7-Eleven or a mall.

A 7-Eleven on Charoen Krung Road. Photo: Mj-bird, Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 3.0.

• Coins: 1, 2, 5 and 10 baht. The coin-only ticket machines at BTS stations take 1, 2, 5 and 10 baht coins (BTS).
• Where cash is the only way: the Bib Gourmand and street-food places in where to eat in Bangkok, the stalls at Chatuchak and the night markets, and the orange-flag river boat (public transport).
• At the border: immigration can ask you to show at least 10,000 THB per person or 20,000 THB per family, and a ticket out of Thailand (UK Foreign Office).
• Carrying cash out: you must declare foreign currency worth more than 20,000 US dollars when you enter or leave, and 50,000 baht or more on departure, except for trips to Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam (Royal Thai Embassy).

ATMs

Cash machines at Siam Paragon. Photo: Chainwit., Wikimedia Commons, CC BY-SA 4.0.

• The fee: Krungsri’s fee schedule, effective 11 March 2026, lists 250 to 350 THB for each withdrawal at its ATMs with a card issued abroad (Krungsri). Other banks set their own, so read the fee on the screen before you confirm, and expect your own bank to add a charge.
• Choose baht. If a machine or a card terminal offers to charge you in your home currency, pick baht.
• Use a machine inside a bank or a mall. The UK Foreign Office reports ATM skimming and advises using an ATM in a bank and protecting your PIN (UK Foreign Office); the Government of Canada advises well-lit public places or the inside of a bank or business (Government of Canada).
• Daily plan: withdraw once or twice for the trip, and keep the notes in more than one place.

Cards and contactless

• Cards: hotels, malls, supermarkets and most sit-down restaurants take cards, and fine dining does too. The Tourism Authority of Thailand says cash is needed for street food, markets and transport (TAT).
• MRT: the Blue and Purple lines take EMV contactless bank cards and phone wallets at the gates, with the operator’s contactless system fully in place from 1 June 2026 (MRTA). Blue Line fares run from 17 to 44 THB since 3 July 2026 (Thai PBS Verify).
• BTS: single tickets come from the machines at each station, which take coins, banknotes and QR payment (BTS). The public transport guide has the fares.

Tipping and service charges

• Street stalls and shophouses: nothing is expected.
• Sit-down restaurants: a service charge and VAT are often added, shown as ++ on the menu, so a dish listed at 200++ costs more than 200 once both are added. Where there is no charge, rounding up or a small note is welcome.
• Taxis and tuk-tuks: rounding up the meter fare is enough, and 5 to 10 percent in a restaurant with no service charge is appreciated (TAT). Agree a tuk-tuk fare before you get in.

Claiming VAT back on purchases

Tourists can claim back VAT on goods bought in shops that display the VAT Refund for Tourists sign, if they spend at least 2,000 THB at the shop. The Revenue Department’s steps (vrtweb.rd.go.th):

1. Ask the shop for a P.P.10 form, or an e-P.P.10, with the original tax invoices.
2. On the day you leave, take the goods, forms and invoices to the Customs office to be stamped before you check your luggage in.
3. After immigration, hand the stamped forms and invoices in at the VAT Refund office.

The goods must leave Thailand through an international airport within 60 days of purchase. Luxury goods, meaning jewellery, gold, watches, glasses, pens, phones, laptops, tablets, handbags and belts worth 40,000 THB or more per item, must be carried in your hand luggage and shown again at the VAT Refund office after immigration.

Next

The Bangkok guide has the entry rules and the temple tickets. Is Bangkok safe covers card fraud and scams, Bangkok etiquette the dress codes, and an eSIM for Thailand the data plan to buy before you fly.

Common questions

Can you pay by card in Bangkok?

In hotels, malls, supermarkets and most sit-down restaurants, yes. Street stalls, markets, most Bib Gourmand shops and river boats take cash only, so carry baht notes as well.

How much do Thai ATMs charge on a foreign card?

Krungsri's fee schedule, effective 11 March 2026, lists 250 to 350 THB for each withdrawal with a card issued abroad. Other banks set their own fee and your own bank may add one. Choose the baht amount on the screen, and withdraw the most the machine allows to pay the fee once.

Do you tip in Bangkok?

It is not expected at street stalls or in taxis. In a sit-down restaurant a service charge is often already on the bill, shown as ++ on the menu. Where there is none, rounding up or leaving a small note is welcome.

Can you use a contactless card on the MRT?

Yes. The MRT Blue and Purple lines take contactless bank cards at the gates; the operator's contactless system took over fully on 1 June 2026. The BTS Skytrain still sells single tickets from machines that take coins, notes and QR payment.

How much money can you take out of Thailand?

Foreign currency above 20,000 US dollars must be declared to customs when you enter or leave. Thai baht of 50,000 or more must be declared on departure, except for travel to Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia, Malaysia and Vietnam.