Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for Thailand
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. Around ฿23 to the dollar. Thailand remains one of the best-value destinations for Australians.
Mostly - cards work in cities and tourist areas in Thailand, but you still need cash outside them.
5 travel card options for Thailand, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday ATM fees rebated
ING Orange Everyday
22k0% FX fee
ubank Spend
ubank Spend account
9k0% FX fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Macquarie Transaction Account
6k0% FX fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | 0% with monthly criteria met | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | No ubank fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | No Macquarie fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
Paying for things in Thailand
Can you pay by card in Thailand?
Hotels, malls and mid-range restaurants take cards. Street food, markets, songthaews and small guesthouses are cash.
Cash and ATMs in Thailand
Everywhere, but every Thai ATM charges a flat THB 220 (about AUD $10) foreign card fee on top of your bank's. Withdraw large amounts less often.
Cash is still king for day-to-day spending.
Do you tip in Thailand?
Not traditionally expected. Rounding up a taxi fare or leaving ฿20-฿100 is appreciated. Hotels and upmarket restaurants often add a 10% service charge plus 7% VAT.
Worth knowing about paying in Thailand
Always decline dynamic currency conversion and choose to be charged in baht.
Before you pay for anything in Thailand
Pay in Thai baht or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
How much cash to take overseas
What Thailand needs in cash, next to 35 other destinations.
How to avoid ATM fees overseas
Three fees stack on a withdrawal. Two of them are avoidable outright.
What one Australian dollar buys in Thailand
฿23.3 THB per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More Thailand essentials
Thailand visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to Thailand
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Thailand eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
Thailand travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
Thailand airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in Thailand
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Thailand travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in Thailand
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
Thailand money & payments FAQs
Do Australians need a visa for Thailand?
No. Australian passport holders get a free 60-day visa exemption on arrival, which can be extended once by 30 days at a Thai immigration office. You do need to complete the free Thailand Digital Arrival Card online before you arrive.
Is the Thailand Digital Arrival Card free?
Yes, completely free at tdac.immigration.go.th. It's been compulsory since 1 May 2025. Many lookalike websites charge AUD $20-$60 to submit the same free form - check the URL carefully.
How much are Thai ATM fees for Australians?
Every Thai ATM charges a flat THB 220 (around AUD $10) fee on foreign cards, on top of anything your Australian bank charges. Withdraw larger amounts less frequently, or use a card that reimburses ATM fees.
Planning Thailand?
We will send you the Thailand guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.