A visitor who changes 400 USD in 50 and 100 notes at CAT Exchange in Bang Tao receives 32.5 THB per dollar as of 4 September 2026. The commission sits inside that rate, so nothing is deducted at the counter.
Key facts
- On 4 September 2026 400 USD in 50 and 100 notes converts at 32.5 THB per dollar.
- Thai ATMs charge foreign cards a fixed 220 THB per withdrawal as of 2026.
- Six ATM withdrawals over two weeks add 1,320 THB in Thai fees alone.
- A backpacker on Phuket spends 800 to 1,500 THB a day as of 2026.
- A couple mixing cafes and restaurants spends 2,000 to 3,500 THB a day each.
- A villa stay with tours runs 4,000 THB a day and up per person.
- Carry cash for 2 to 3 days on Phuket, then change more once you see the spending.
- The Bang Tao office is open 12 hours a day, 09:00 to 21:00.
- A cash exchange at the counter takes up to 15 minutes.
How much cash should you bring to Phuket?
Bring cash for two or three days and change more once you see how the spending goes. Most visitors arrive with 200 to 500 US dollars in notes, convert part of it on the first day, and top up at a district exchange office later in the week.
Cash still runs most of the island. Beach restaurants, night markets, songthaews, motorbike deposits, massage shops and small guesthouses take baht and nothing else.
Cards cover malls, supermarkets, hotels and larger restaurants. Your split follows where you plan to eat and sleep, not a fixed percentage.
Carrying the whole trip budget in one envelope makes little sense either. Hotel safes get shared, scooters get parked at beaches, and a lost wallet with 60,000 THB inside ends a holiday. Keep the balance on a card and convert in two or three rounds.
Which currency converts best in Phuket?
US dollars in 50 and 100 notes convert best, with euros and pounds close behind. Thai exchange offices resell foreign notes to Thai banks, and the notes a bank prefers earn the strongest rate on the street.
| Currency | Rate at CAT Exchange on 4 September 2026 | Notes that earn the top tier |
|---|---|---|
| US dollar | 32.5 THB per USD | 50 and 100 |
| Euro | 37.71 THB per EUR | one rate for all notes |
| Pound sterling | 43.99 THB per GBP | one rate for all notes |
| Russian ruble | 0.315 THB per RUB | clean 5,000 and 1,000 |
On 4 September 2026 the office buys one US dollar in 50 and 100 notes at 32.5 THB and one euro at 37.71 THB. A pound brings 43.99 THB, and cash rubles convert at 0.315 THB per ruble. Full tiers for every currency sit on the current rates page.
CAT Exchange pays 32.5 THB per dollar on 50 and 100 notes as of 4 September 2026, and a lower tier on 5, 10 and 20 dollar notes. On a 1,000 USD exchange the gap between the two tiers is worth several hundred baht.
Bring clean, flat, unmarked notes in any currency. As of 2026, exchange offices across Thailand either discount torn, taped, stamped or heavily worn notes or refuse them, because the receiving bank applies the same check.
Pre-2006 US dollars, the older white series, still convert at CAT Exchange at a lower rate than current blue-seal notes.
How much should stay on a card?
Keep roughly half the budget on a card if you are staying in hotels and eating in restaurants, and less if you rent a villa, hire a scooter and shop at markets. Villa deposits, long-stay rent and motorbike deposits often come in cash, and each one can swallow a week of daily spending.
Thai ATMs charge foreign cards a fixed fee of 220 THB per withdrawal as of 2026, and 250 THB at some banks, on top of your own bank's charge. The usual per-transaction limit runs 20,000 to 30,000 THB.
That fee is the reason card-only trips cost more than travellers expect. Six withdrawals over two weeks add 1,320 THB in Thai fees alone before your home bank takes its cut. Larger, rarer withdrawals soften it, and a single exchange of notes avoids it.
What does a week on Phuket cost?
Daily spending on Phuket splits into three broad bands. The figures below are planning ranges for 2026, excluding accommodation and flights, and they move with season, district and how often you eat on the beach.
| Travel style | Daily spend per person, 2026 | Cash share |
|---|---|---|
| Backpacker, street food, scooter | 800 to 1,500 THB | most of it |
| Couple, mixed cafes and restaurants | 2,000 to 3,500 THB | about half |
| Family or villa stay, tours and taxis | 4,000 THB and up | half, plus deposits |
A backpacker on Phuket spends 800 to 1,500 THB a day as of 2026, a couple mixing cafes and restaurants 2,000 to 3,500 THB each, and a villa stay with tours 4,000 THB and up per person, excluding accommodation.
A backpacker week runs 800 to 1,500 THB a day, so 10,000 THB in cash covers it with room to spare. A couple mixing cafes with restaurant dinners spends 2,000 to 3,500 THB a day each, which is where a mid-trip second exchange usually happens.
Families renting a villa should add the deposit and the scooter deposits on top, both of which are usually paid in cash.
Add one line item most guides miss: the arrival day. A taxi from the airport, dinner, water and a SIM card need baht before you have found a good rate, which the Phuket airport exchange guide covers in detail.
Where should you change the money?
Change a small amount at the airport for transport and the first evening, then use a district exchange office for the rest. Airport counters price convenience, and the gap shows up on every hundred dollars.
CAT Exchange works from one office at 246 Bandon-Cherngtalay Rd, Si Sunthon, Phuket 83110, open daily from 09:00 to 21:00. An exchange takes up to 15 minutes at the counter, and the agreed rate holds for 60 minutes after you confirm it in chat.
Bring your passport. Thai law requires a licensed money changer to identify every customer exchanging cash on the premises, so a photo on a phone will not do.
For a large amount, or if you would rather not drive across the island with notes in a backpack, cash delivery brings the baht to you, free inside Bang Tao.
If you hold dollars or euros, the USD to THB and EUR to THB pages set out every tier with worked examples, and pounds have a page of their own. The route and landmarks are on the Bang Tao office page.
Bang Tao office
246 Bandon-Cherngtalay Rd, Si Sunthon, Thalang District, Phuket 83110, Thailand- HoursDaily 09:00–21:00
- Phone+66 84 263 9185
FAQ
Is it better to bring dollars or to withdraw baht at an ATM?
Bringing notes usually wins on a trip of a week or more. As of 2026 a Thai ATM charges 220 THB per withdrawal from a foreign card, plus a possible conversion markup, while an exchange of notes carries no separate fee at CAT Exchange.
How much cash can I bring into Thailand?
Thai rules require a declaration above the equivalent of 20,000 USD in foreign currency when you enter or leave. Amounts below that need no paperwork at customs, though your departure country may have its own limit.
Do small notes really get a worse rate?
Yes. On 4 September 2026 CAT Exchange pays 32.5 THB per dollar on 50 and 100 notes and less on 5, 10 and 20 notes, because large clean notes resell better to Thai banks.
Should I change money before I fly to Thailand?
Buying baht at home usually costs more than changing dollars or euros on Phuket. Bring the strong notes and convert them here, where competition between offices is dense.
Can I change baht back before flying home?
Ask in the chat first. Reverse exchange depends on what the office holds that day, so the amount and the rate get confirmed before you travel over.