So, you’re headed to the land of smiles. You’ve got the plane tickets, the sunscreen, and a loose plan to eat your weight in pad kra pao. But then you realize you’re not quite sure how you’re actually going to pay for that street food.
What is money called in Thailand? Basically, it’s the Thai Baht.
You’ll see it written as THB in exchange booths or marked with the ฿ symbol on restaurant menus. Honestly, it’s one of the most stable currencies in Southeast Asia right now, and handling it is pretty straightforward once you get the hang of the colors.
Don't let the "satang" talk confuse you. You probably won't even see those tiny coins unless you’re shopping at a big supermarket like Big C or Lotus’s.
The Basics: Getting to Know the Thai Baht
The Baht has been around in some form for centuries. It actually started as a unit of weight for silver. Back in the day, they used "bullet coins"—weird, rounded chunks of silver—but thankfully, we’ve moved on to much more wallet-friendly paper and round coins.
The Banknotes You’ll Carry
Thai notes are great because they are color-coded. If you’re digging through your bag at a dimly lit night market, the colors are your best friend.
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- 1,000 Baht (Brown): This is the big kahuna. Be careful with these. A lot of small street vendors or taxi drivers will give you a "look" if you try to pay for a 40-baht mango sticky rice with a thousand-baht bill. They just don't have the change.
- 500 Baht (Purple): Very common. Useful for dinner or shopping at the mall.
- 100 Baht (Red): This is the workhorse of Thai currency. You’ll use these constantly.
- 50 Baht (Blue): These are surprisingly pretty and super handy for short Tuk-Tuk rides.
- 20 Baht (Green): In 2022, the Bank of Thailand started switching these to polymer (plastic). They’re much tougher and don’t get soggy in the humidity.
Every single note features a portrait of the King. Because of this, money is treated with a massive amount of respect in Thailand. Dropping a coin and stepping on it to stop it from rolling away is a huge no-no—it’s actually considered an insult to the monarchy.
What’s a Satang?
Think of Satang as the Thai version of cents or pence. 100 Satang = 1 Baht. You’ll mostly see 25 and 50 Satang coins. They’re copper or brass-colored and tiny. Most people just let them accumulate in a jar at home because they’re kinda useless for everyday street transactions. If a street vendor says something costs 20 Baht, they mean 20 Baht, not 20 Satang.
Cash is Still King (Mostly)
Even though it's 2026 and everyone talks about digital nomads and crypto, Thailand still runs on cash. Especially the good stuff.
If you want the best bowl of noodles of your life on a random street corner in Sukhumvit, you need paper money. Many small shops won't even look at a credit card.
The Rise of QR Codes
That said, there is a massive shift happening. You’ll see "PromptPay" QR codes everywhere. Locals and expats love them. You just scan the code with your banking app, and boom—payment sent.
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The catch? Most foreign banking apps don't work with the Thai QR system yet. If you’re just visiting for two weeks, you’re likely stuck with cash or your trusty Visa/Mastercard.
Using ATMs
ATMs are everywhere in Thailand—literally on every street corner and inside every 7-Eleven.
Expert Tip: Thai ATMs charge a flat fee for foreign cards, usually around 220 Baht (about $6-$7 USD) per withdrawal. It’s a bit of a sting. To minimize this, withdraw the maximum amount allowed (usually 20,000 or 30,000 Baht) in one go rather than making several small trips.
When the ATM asks if you want them to do the currency conversion for you, always say NO. Choose "Decline Conversion." Your bank at home will almost always give you a better rate than the Thai ATM company.
Why the Thai Baht Still Matters for Travelers
Some people think they can just bring US Dollars or Euros and spend those. You can't.
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Unlike some places in Cambodia or Laos where the Greenback is widely accepted, Thailand is strictly a Baht economy. You might find a high-end hotel that will take your Dollars, but they’ll give you a terrible exchange rate for the privilege.
Exchange Rates in 2026
Rates fluctuate, obviously. But generally, the Baht has remained resilient. If you're looking to exchange physical cash, look for the SuperRich booths (the orange or green ones). They consistently offer better rates than the big banks like SCB or Kasikorn.
You'll need your passport to exchange money. It’s a legal requirement now, part of the tighter "Know Your Customer" (KYC) rules the Bank of Thailand has ramped up recently.
Tipping Culture
Tipping isn't mandatory, but it's appreciated. In a standard "hole-in-the-wall" restaurant, you might just leave the loose change. In a nice place, 10% is becoming more common, though many upscale spots already add a 10% service charge to the bill.
Practical Next Steps for Your Trip
To make sure you're not stranded without a way to pay for your ferry to Koh Samui, here’s what you should do:
- Notify your bank: Tell them you're in Thailand so they don't freeze your card the second you try to buy a Chang beer.
- Get a small "buffer" at the airport: Exchange maybe $50 at the airport just to get you to your hotel. The rates at Suvarnabhumi are okay, but the ones in the city are better.
- Download a converter app: Currency rates change daily. Having an app like XE Currency helps you realize that 500 Baht isn't "play money"—it's a real dinner.
- Carry a coin purse: You will end up with a lot of 1, 2, 5, and 10 Baht coins. They’re heavy. Get a little pouch so they don't tear a hole in your pockets.
Managing what money is called in Thailand is the easy part. The hard part is not spending all of it at the night markets in the first three days. Use your 100-Baht notes for taxis, keep your 20s for tips, and always keep a few 1,000-Baht notes tucked away in your hotel safe for emergencies.