USD → THB
Cheapest way to send money to Thailand
There are plenty of options for sending money to Thailand. The market is competitive. You can get some tight spreads on the USD to THB pair. The problem in Thailand is the receiving account. Sending money to a Thai bank account is the cheapest option.
Opening a Thai account generally requires a long-stay visa or a work permit, so people on tourist visas or even a Destination Thailand Visa (DTV) digital nomad visa can’t use these options at all. If you’re sending money to a Thai person, this isn’t a problem.
If you have no Thai account, you have to choose between ATM withdrawals, card spending, and cash exchange. Most tourists use a mix of ATM withdrawals and card spending. ATM withdrawals in Thailand can get pricey. Most charge around 250 baht or about $7 per transaction. You can get good rates at some currency exchange booths changing dollars for baht.
When I travel to Thailand, I usually just take money out of ATMs. It’s the most convenient option. I withdraw the maximum to reduce fees. There are ATMs everywhere in Thailand. I also use my card where it's accepted
Checked . Fee figures are typical estimates, not live quotes. Change them in the calculator if you know your exact fees.
01
The transfer
How much, and which two currencies.
Not in the list? Choose “Enter my own…” and type the 3-letter code (GEL, VND, COP…).
02
How the money moves
Sending to someone else and spending your own money there are different questions. Pick one from the matching group.
To someone else
Your own money there
Loading live rate…
After fees · Wise
1 USD = 32.68 THB
Mid-market is 33.00.
Adjust feesThese are typical estimates, not official numbers from the company›
Sending $1,000 to someone in Thailand
Money leaves you and arrives with them in Thai baht. Sorted cheapest first. “Cost” is the fee plus whatever the rate is worse than mid-market, which is the part most comparisons leave out.
| Method | Cost | They receive |
|---|---|---|
| WisecheapestWise works for sending money to Thai bank accounts. They charge a small flat fee and a variable percentage fee that is usually around 0.3%-0.9%. There is also a charge to fund your Wise account. The flat fee depends on your payment method. Transfers from bank accounts are cheapest at around $4.99. Debit cards and credit card transfer fees are higher. Wise uses the mid-market exchange rate so there is no markup. Wise only transfers to Thai bank accounts. You can use a Wise card to spend in Thailand. | $9.751.0% | 32,678THB |
| Taptap SendTapTapSend does not charge a percentage fee to send money to Thai bank accounts. They have a markup of 0.5%-1.5% on the mid-market exchange rate. TapTapSend only offers transfers from debit cards to Thai bank accounts. They do not offer cash pickup. | $11.971.2% | 32,605THB |
| SendwaveSendwave does not charge a percentage fee to send to Thai bank accounts. They charge a $2.99 flat fee and a markup of 0.5%-1.5% on the exchange rate. You have to fund your transfer with a debit card. They don't accept credit cards or bank transfers. The funds can only be transfered into a Thai bank account. Cash pickup is not offered. | $12.961.3% | 32,572THB |
| RevolutRevolut works for sending money to Thai bank accounts. Revolut uses the mid-market rate, like Wise. They offer a fee-free allowance on all plans then charge a percentage after you pass the allowance. The allowance depends on your plan. On the standard plan, it's $1000 per month then you pay a 1% fee. Revolut also charges an additional 1% fee on all transfers during weekends. It's best to do all of your sends during the week to avoid this fee. There is also a fee for moving funds to your account from your debit card or bank account. It's around a 1% fee. | $15.001.5% | 32,505THB |
| RemitlyRemitly charges a flat fee of $1.99 for each transfer to Thailand. They also charge a markup of 1%-2% on each transfer. There is an economy rate with a lower markup but money takes 3-5 days to arrive. There is an express rate with a higher markup but money arrives in minutes. You can send to Thai bank accounts and they offer cash pickup. Remitly is a good option if you only need to send money once. They offer a generous promotional exchange rate for your first send. | $16.961.7% | 32,440THB |
| WorldRemitWorldRemit charges a flat fee of around $2.99 for each transfer to Thailand. They also charge an exchange rate markup of 1%-2%. You can send to Thai bank accounts and they offer cash pickup. They also offer airtime topup. | $21.952.2% | 32,276THB |
| Western UnionWestern Union allows you to send money to Thai bank accounts and they offer cash pickup. The flat fee for sending moeny from a bank account is around $0.99. The flat fee to send moeny from a debit card is around $1.99. On top of that, they also charge a markup of 1.5%-3%. There is a higher fee for sending money from a credit card or cash pickup. | $26.942.7% | 32,111THB |
| PayPalPayPal is usually one of the most expensive options for sending money to Thailand. They charge a 5% transfer fee with a minimum of $0.99 and a maximum of $4.99. They also have a markup of up to 3%-4% on the exchange rate. There is also a small fixed fee for using a debit card or credit card. The money can also only be delivered to a Thai PayPal account. If they want to transfer the money to their bank account, they may face additional fees. | $39.824.0% | 31,686THB |
| XoomXoom (owned by PayPal) does not charge a percentage fee to send to Thai bank accounts. They charge a markup of around 3%-4.7% on the exchange rate. They also charge a flat fee to send from a debit card, credit card, or bank account. The fee is around $4.99 for a bank transfer. They offer cash pickup, bank deposits, and debit card topups. | $44.794.5% | 31,522THB |
| Bank wireMost banks charge a flat wire transfer fee of around $40-$50, plus a markup of roughly 2%-4% on the exchange rate. The flat fee makes bank wires especially bad for smaller amounts. A bank wire transfer to Thailand only makes sense for large transactions. | $73.757.4% | 30,566THB |
On $1,000, Wise costs about $9.75 and Bank wire about $73.75. That's a difference of $64.00 for the same money, or $768 over a year if you move this much every month.
Spending your own money in Thailand
For when you are traveling there and the money is already yours. Costs are per $1,000 converted. Remember that some cards and ATMs charge you for every transaction rather than once.
| Method | Cost | You get |
|---|---|---|
| CashcheapestThe average spread when exchanging USD to Thai baht at a large bank or forex bureau is 1%-3%. You do have to watch the rate you get. Some exchanges will have a spread of up to 8% below the mid-market rate. You can get the best rates at independent currency exchange booths. | $20.002.0% | 32,340THB |
| ATM withdrawalThai ATMs charge a flat fee of either 220 or 250 baht per transaction. That is around $6-$7. Some ATMs charge up to 350 baht. The maximum withdrawal is 20,000 or 30,000 baht or around $600-$900. To withdraw $1000, you would need to make 2 transactions, which would cost around $14. On top of the ATM fee, you'll have to pay your bank's currency conversion fee. This is usually 1%-3%. Some banks offer a 0% conversion fee. If the ATM asks you if you want to accept their exchange rate, always say no. They will give you a worse rate than your bank. | $24.002.4% | 32,208THB |
| Card spendThe average spread when paying in Thai baht with a zero-fee travel credit card is 0.1%-1%. With a regular credit card, there may be foreign transaction fees of 1%-3% on top of that spread. Some smaller stores may add a credit card surcharge of 2%-4%. Credit cards are widely accepted in Thailand. Most large hotels, restaurants, shopping malls, and supermarkets accept card payments. You still need to carry cash because cards aren't accepted everywhere. | $39.704.0% | 31,690THB |
On $1,000, Cash costs about $20.00 and Card spend about $39.70. That's a difference of $19.70 for the same money, or $236 over a year if you move this much every month.
Figures use a rate of about 33 THB to 1 USD; the calculator above uses the live rate.
How the money arrives in Thailand
Most common first. Which of these your recipient can actually use usually matters more than a fraction of a percent in fees.
- 1Bank transfer to a Thai account
- 2Cash pickup at an agent
- 3Foreign card spending or ATM withdrawal
Living in Thailand, not just sending money there
A transfer is one number. These work out a whole month, including what the transfers cost you over a year.
- Cost of living in Bangkok$1,994/mo