Need Thai Baht?

Where could your Thai baht take you?

Thai baht can be used in mainland Thailand and its surrounding islands. There are hundreds of islands to choose from in separate clusters, so your baht could take you from a tropical paradise in Phi Phi to buzzing cities like Bangkok and ancient temples in Phuket.

Thai baht cheat sheet

Exchange rate

At the current rate, £1 will roughly equate to 37 Thai baht (฿), though this is always changing. You can review the current rates here.

Denominations 

Baht notes: ฿20, ฿50, ฿100, ฿500, ฿1,000

Baht/satang coins: ฿1, ฿2, ฿5 and ฿10 coins, and 25 and 50 satang coins

Did you know? It is considered offensive to ‘mistreat’ Thai bank notes as they contain images of the king. Stepping on a note or carrying one in your back pocket is frowned upon!

How much do I need? 

The cost of living and travelling in Thailand is generally very low, though you’ll find Bangkok and the southern islands a little more expensive. You can generally expect to pay:

• ฿180 to ฿300 for a basic meal for two (around £5-8) 
• ฿60 to ฿180 for a bottle of beer (around £2-5)
• ฿170 for a bottle of wine (around £4.50) 
• ฿220 to ฿270 for spirit measures e.g. whisky (around £6-7)
• ฿25 to ฿45 for a coffee (between £0.50 and £1.20)
• ฿5.50 (£0.15) per km in a taxi (plus minimum ฿35 fee) 

Local customs

Tipping is more of a courtesy than an expectation in Thailand, for example, taxi drivers may appreciate you rounding up your fares to the closest ฿10. In restaurants, 10% is a safe option, or a straight ฿100 for more upmarket eateries. Expect to negotiate with tuk tuk drivers!

 

Make your Thai baht go further

• Buy Thai baht in advance – Thai ATMs charge ฿200 to withdraw cash so it's better to exchange your currency before you go.
• Pay in local currency – if you are paying by card, always choose to pay in baht to avoid unnecessary fees.