Diagram placing the same 100,000 yen against three outcomes: 21,000 baht at an exchange counter in the city, 20,900 baht at the counter in the airport station, and 20,571 baht at a bank counter. Below are the four ways of doing it — changing at a counter, withdrawing at an ATM, paying by card and sending money.

Illustrated: Currency exchange and ATMs in Thailand. 4 ways to turn yen into baht and the fees charged

Arriving at the currency exchange counter, I look up at the posted rates. Is it a good deal to exchange money here? Or is it better to withdraw cash from an ATM? I compare 4 methods in Thailand: currency exchange, ATMs, card payments, and money transfers, looking at what is charged and how much 100,000 yen becomes if exchanged in cash.

Ami Otsuka　／　September 22, 2026　／　Thailand, Moving

4 Ways to Exchange Yen to Baht

There are 4 ways to turn yen in Japan into a usable form in Thailand. The amount received changes depending on whether exchanging at a booth, withdrawing from an ATM, paying by card, or sending a remittance.

The difference arises because what is charged varies by method. There is a portion included in the posted rate, a fee incurred for every withdrawal, and a markup added when making purchases, all with different names and charged in different places.

When I exchanged currency in another country, I exchanged 20,000 yen and got 25 small bills, making me wonder if there was a need to exchange for cash in the first place. In Thailand as well, that is the first thing to consider.

Living and Getting Around — Money in Thailand

How much is lost from the mid-market rate by exchange location

The greater the decrease from the amount calculated at the mid-market rate, the longer the bar becomes.

01Calculated at the mid-market rate, 100,000 yen is 21,105 baht. The actual amount received is less than that, and how much it decreases from the mid-market rate varies depending on where it is exchanged.

The difference between money changers at the airport station and those in the city is small; the big gap is between money changers and banks.

Fees for Money Changers, ATMs, Cards, and Transfers

The names of the charges differ depending on the method. Listing what is charged by which method makes it clear which one is suitable for me.

Living and Getting Around - Money in Thailand

What is charged by which method

The top shows the names of the charges, and the bottom shows the methods charging them.

02Exchange booths only charge the margin included in the posted rates, but ATMs and cards charge two fees each. In addition, for ATMs and cards, the difference between the rate used by international brands and the mid-market rate is also added.

Exchanging at Money Changers

At currency exchange booths, the amount calculated at the posted rate is received exactly as is. No other fees are charged. The original passport or ID is shown at the counter.

Currency exchange fees

Major currency exchanges do not charge fees. The amount calculated at the posted rate is received as is

What is needed for currency exchange

Original passport or ID card. It cannot be used if expired

Amount that can be exchanged in one day

Up to 800,000 baht per day per passport or ID card

Handling of coins

Currency exchanges do not accept coins

Withdrawing from ATMs

Inserting a card into an ATM to withdraw local currency is called overseas withdrawal, and doing this with a credit card becomes a cash advance (borrowing). There are 2 things charged at an ATM. These are the fee incurred every time cash is withdrawn, and the markup added when yen (my home currency) is selected on the screen.

Fee for 1 transaction when using a Japanese card at an ATM in Thailand

250 baht per transaction for VISA, 350 baht per transaction for Mastercard, and 250 baht for UnionPay. This is the fee taken by the Thai bank that owns the ATM, and the fee taken by the card-issuing company is separate.

Amount added when yen is selected on the screen

5% of the withdrawn amount

Credit card brand	Amount charged per withdrawal
VISA	250 baht
Mastercard	350 baht
UnionPay	250 baht

The limit for 1 withdrawal is decided by the bank of the ATM. The limit for 1 day is decided by the card company that issued the card.

Amount that can be withdrawn at one time

Krungthai Bank states up to 20,000 baht per transaction in the section for foreign cards. Bangkok Bank states up to 25,000 baht per transaction as the machine limit. Kasikornbank and SCB do not publish the per-transaction limit for foreign cards

Who decides the limits

The limit for 1 withdrawal is decided by the bank of the ATM, and the limit for 1 day is decided by the card company that issued the card

Can a debit card made in Japan be used?

It can be used. If the PIN is entered incorrectly three times in a row, the transaction ends on the spot, and the card is not returned

I have also withdrawn money from an ATM in Thailand. After being charged the fee, I now plan ahead so I don't have to use an ATM after arriving in Thailand.

Paying with Credit and Debit Cards

When presenting a card at a store, the card company converts the amount to yen at a rate that includes administrative processing fees. Even with the same card, this fee is not added when withdrawing from an ATM. However, the difference between the rate used by the international brand and the mid-market rate applies separately to both shopping and ATMs.

What is added is different for shopping and ATMs

When shopping, the card company converts to yen at a rate that includes administrative processing fees. When withdrawing from an ATM, this fee is not added

When paying by card, stores sometimes add a markup. When I presented my card at a massage shop, 3% was added to the price.

I always pay with my Wise card. People living in Japan can also get one, and when paying in a currency with no balance, a currency with a balance is automatically converted to cover the payment.

Can a Wise card be made in Japan?

Individuals living in Japan can get one. When used in a currency with no balance, it automatically converts from the currency with a balance that offers the cheapest conversion rate.

Transferring Money via Wise and Others

Money sent via Wise only arrives in bank accounts within Thailand. Only those with a bank account in Thailand can receive it.

How to receive money sent to Thailand with Wise

It arrives in the bank account of an individual or corporation within Thailand. The recipient's name, address, bank name, and account number are required

The banks that can be sent to are fixed

10 banks including Bangkok Bank, Kasikornbank, SCB, Krungthai, and Krungsri. 18 banks were removed from the target on May 6, 2025

If giving to someone who does not have an account, there are money transfers that can be received as cash at an agent location. Overseas remittances from banks cannot be applied for without account information.

When the recipient does not have a bank account in Thailand

There are money transfers that can be received as cash at an agent location

Thai bank accounts cannot be opened depending on the type of stay. Kasikornbank officially states that people entering on a tourist visa or without a visa cannot open an account.

People who can make a Thai bank account

Kasikornbank states that it does not open accounts for people staying on a tourist visa, visa on arrival, visa-free entry, or DTV. SCB lists a passport and a work permit. Bangkok Bank does not publicly disclose the required documents for foreigners.

Differences Between Mid-Market Rates and Money Changer or Bank Rates

Calculated at the mid-market exchange rate, 100,000 yen is 21,105 baht. From here, the amounts lost depending on the exchange location are listed.

Exchanging location	How many baht 100,000 yen becomes	Difference from the mid-market rate
Amount calculated at the mid-market rate	21,105 baht	—
Money changer in the city	21,000 baht	105 baht less
Money changer at the station in Suvarnabhumi Airport	20,900 baht	205 baht less
Bangkok Bank counter	20,590 baht	515 baht less
Kasikornbank counter	20,571 baht	534 baht less

What the mid-market rate is

The exact midpoint between the buying and selling rates. The rates displayed at currency exchanges and banks will differ from this value.

Time the rates were collected

Morning of September 22, 2026. Calculated from the published rates of money changers and the cash buying rates of banks

The difference between the currency exchange at the airport station and the one in the city is 100 baht, and the difference between the city exchange and a bank is over 400 baht. The amount received changes significantly depending on whether the money is exchanged at a currency exchange or a bank. The bank booths in the terminal do not publish their rates.

For ATMs as well, the fees for the same 100,000 yen amount are calculated. Withdrawing 100,000 yen worth of baht requires splitting it into 2 transactions at banks with a 20,000 baht limit per transaction, and the fee with a VISA card is 500 baht.

How much is the fee for withdrawing 100,000 yen worth from an ATM

At a bank with a limit of 20,000 baht per transaction, the withdrawal is split into two, costing 500 baht for VISA and 700 baht for Mastercard. These are just the fees, and it is not published how far the rates used by the international credit card brands deviate from the mid-market rate

Which direction varies by branch

At the same money changer, the rate for exchanging baht to yen and other currencies is the same across all branches. The rate for exchanging yen and other currencies to baht can vary slightly depending on the branch

Choosing by Situation

Even for the same person, the suitable method changes right after arriving compared to during the stay. The choice is made based on how much is on hand and what will be paid for next.

Situation	Suitable method	What to check first
Right after arriving, with no baht on hand	Exchange at a money changer	The posted rate and whether a passport is on hand
Running out of cash in the city	Withdraw from an ATM	The fee per transaction and not selecting yen
Expensive purchases or paying for accommodation	Pay with a credit card	Asking at the register if the store adds a surcharge
Giving money to someone with a bank account in Thailand	Send money	Whether the receiving bank is included in the destination list

For those who prefer not to wander around the city looking for an exchange counter right after arriving, there is an option to exchange just enough for immediate needs at the exchange counter at the airport station, and exchange the rest in the city.

Cash You Can Bring Into Thailand and Baht You Can Take Out

When leaving and entering Japan, a declaration is required depending on the amount of cash brought in or taken out. When leaving Thailand, there is a limit on the amount of baht that can be taken out.

Amount requiring declaration in Japan

A declaration form is submitted to customs when entering or leaving the country with cash and other items exceeding the equivalent of 1,000,000 yen

When not declared

Failure to declare can result in imprisonment for up to 5 years or a fine of up to 10,000,000 yen under the Customs Act

When carrying money for several people together

The person carrying the money together bears the obligation to declare it

Baht that can be taken out of Thailand

For countries not sharing a border with Thailand, the limit without a permit is 50,000 baht. Japan is included in this category. Exceeding this amount requires permission from the competent officer

The amount from which a declaration is required when entering Thailand was not listed on the Thai Customs page. The guide for travelers, the FAQ, and the list of forms were checked, but no line with the amount written could be found.

Shops That Do Not Accept Cards

Arriving with the intention of paying by credit card causes trouble when unable to pay at stores that do not accept cards. Food stalls and local eateries are often cash-only, unlike stores in malls where cards are easily accepted.

There are also stores that do not accept cash. At such stores, payment can only be made using methods accepted by the store, such as credit cards or QR code payments.

Therefore, both cash and a credit card are carried when going out. Having only one or the other leads to encountering a store where payment cannot be made.

If the baht on hand is all 1000 baht bills, they cannot be used at street stalls. Where they can be broken down is in the article below.

[Illustrated] How to break a 1,000-baht note in Thailand: turning the notes street stalls refuse into 100-baht notesWhen leaving a currency exchange, the wallet usually has 1000 baht notes in it. But at food stalls and local eateries, handing over that 1 note is often rejected, leaving me stuck. There are 3 ways to break a 1000 baht note in Thailand: at a station ticket window, at 7-Eleven, and at a large store's register. Tourists without a bank account can also set up QR code payments with a passport.amiresort.com

Diagram showing one 1,000 baht note from the exchange counter above, and the eight 100 baht notes a street stall will take below. Underneath: the 3 places that will break it — a station ticket office, a 7-Eleven and the till of a large shop — and the places that will not, street stalls and ticket machines.

Common Misconceptions

❌ The recipient can receive cash with any money transfer. In reality, the receiving method changes depending on the type of transfer. For a recipient without a bank account, a transfer that can be picked up at an agent location is selected.
❌ Exchanging money at the airport station means losing a large percentage. In reality, at the same time, the difference was 100 baht for 100,000 yen compared to a currency exchange in the city. The difference between a currency exchange and a bank is larger. Since the bank booths in the terminal do not publish their rates, they cannot be compared.
❌ Money can be sent from the post office counter. International remittances at the counter and through Yucho Direct ended at the end of August 2025.
❌ The ATM fee is 220 baht. I checked all the official fee schedules of four Thai banks, but the amount of 220 baht was nowhere to be found. The published fees are 250 baht for VISA and 350 baht for Mastercard.
❌ Old 10,000-yen notes can definitely be exchanged at money changers in the city. No money changers or banks were found that publish whether they can be exchanged, and the only option is to ask at the counter.

Japan Post Bank international remittance

International remittances at the counter and through Yucho Direct ended at the end of August 2025. It is now handled exclusively on the web, costing 3,000 yen per transaction. Remittances to Thailand are denominated in U.S. dollars, and for 100 U.S. dollars or more, 10 U.S. dollars are deducted from the sent amount

Whether old Japanese banknotes are valid

They are valid in Japan. The Bank of Japan states that 25 types of banknotes are still valid. No money changers or banks in Thailand were found that publish their acceptance policies

Summary | What to decide before exchanging

Currency exchanges usually give out 1000 baht bills. Breaking them down for use at food stalls completes the preparation for paying in Thailand.

Method	What is charged	What to decide in advance
Exchange at a money changer	Margin built into the posted rate	Whether to exchange money in the city or at the airport station
Withdraw from an ATM	Fee per withdrawal and the markup added depending on the screen selection	How much to withdraw at one time
Pay with a credit card	Administrative processing fees and the markup added by the store	Asking at the register if there is a surcharge before paying
Send money	Sending fee and the margin built into the exchange rate	Whether the recipient has a bank account

The rates in this article were checked on the morning of September 22, 2026 (Thailand time). Rates change many times a day. The fees were verified using the official fee schedules of the respective companies and banks.