What is the cash ruble rate in Phuket?
Rubles are bought at one rate for all note sizes. CAT Exchange takes the 5,000, 2,000, 1,000, 500 and 100 ruble notes at the counter in Bang Tao, with no denomination tiers.
On 4 September 2026 CAT Exchange buys cash Russian rubles for 0.315 THB per ruble at 246 Bandon-Cherngtalay Rd, Si Sunthon, Bang Tao, Phuket. The office is open daily from 09:00 to 21:00 and a cash exchange takes up to 15 minutes.
Key facts
- On 4 September 2026 cash Russian rubles are bought at 0.315 THB per ruble.
- An SBP transfer starts at 10,000 THB in baht received.
- The SBP rate is quoted individually from 50,000 THB.
- Russian bank cards have not worked in Thai ATMs or terminals since the year 2022.
- A ruble cash exchange takes up to 15 minutes at the Bang Tao counter.
- Cash delivery of exchanged baht inside Bang Tao costs 0 THB extra.
- The Bang Tao office is open 12 hours a day, 09:00 to 21:00.
- A passport is checked in under 15 minutes for a ruble cash exchange at the counter.
| Currency | Notes | We buy (THB) | We sell (THB) |
|---|---|---|---|
| RUB | — | 0.315 | 0.386 |
How much baht do 50,000 and 100,000 rubles give?
Multiply the amount by the rate. The quote is a net rate, with counting and handling already inside it, so nothing is subtracted at the counter.
A 50,000 ruble exchange at CAT Exchange on 4 September 2026 is calculated as 50,000 x 0.315 THB. 100,000 rubles comes to 100,000 x 0.315 THB, and the whole 100,000 fits into twenty 5,000 notes.
Ruble notes are physically bulky compared with dollars or euros. A month of expenses in Bang Tao converts into a thick envelope of paper, which is the main argument for the transfer route below rather than the cash one.
Who actually exchanges rubles here?
Two groups: holidaymakers on a two or three week trip and long-stay winter residents who rent in Bang Tao, Layan, Cherng Talay or Surin from November to March.
Their situations differ. A holidaymaker brings a set amount of cash for the trip and exchanges it in one or two visits. A winter resident needs baht every month for rent, a scooter and the shops, so carrying six months of cash through an airport makes little sense.
As of 2026, cards issued by Russian banks are not accepted by Thai terminals and ATMs, which is why the second group settles through transfers rather than plastic.
Cash rubles or an SBP transfer?
Cash suits a small amount you already have with you. An SBP transfer suits everything else, especially recurring monthly needs.
An SBP transfer to CAT Exchange starts at 10,000 THB in baht received, needs no passport when settled remotely, and pays out as cash in Phuket or a transfer to a Thai bank card. From 50,000 THB the rate is quoted individually in the chat, as of 4 September 2026.
The transfer route is described step by step on the SBP transfer page, including how the rate is confirmed before you send anything. The SBP rate is not published on the site, since it is set per request and confirmed in the chat.
What do you need to bring for cash?
Your passport and the notes. Thai law requires a licensed money changer to identify each customer exchanging cash on the premises, so a photo on the phone does not do the job.
Notes should be clean, flat and unmarked. Torn, taped, stamped or heavily worn paper takes a lower rate or gets returned.
Check the cash export and declaration rules of the country you fly from before packing a large sum, since those thresholds belong to customs authorities rather than to the exchange office.
How long does the quoted rate hold?
Sixty minutes from your confirmation in the chat, for cash and transfers alike. Send the amount to WhatsApp or Telegram, take the rate, and it stays fixed while you travel to the office.
The figure on this page comes from the 4 September 2026 snapshot and moves during the day. The current rates page carries the latest one, and the full currency list covers the twelve other cash currencies bought at the same counter.
Where do you receive the baht?
At the Bang Tao office, by delivery, or on a Thai card. Walk-in customers use the office on Bandon-Cherngtalay Road in Si Sunthon, open daily 09:00 to 21:00, with the route on the office page.
For larger sums, cash delivery brings baht to your address across Phuket. Delivery inside Bang Tao is free, and other districts are priced individually from the amount and the distance.
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
Do you take old ruble notes?
Send a photo in the chat first. Worn and older notes are decided individually rather than accepted as a rule.
Is the cash rate the same as the SBP rate?
No. The SBP rate is set per request and confirmed in the chat before you transfer anything.
Can I exchange rubles without a passport?
Not in cash at the counter. A remote SBP operation needs no passport.
What is the minimum for a ruble exchange?
Cash at the counter has no minimum. Through SBP the minimum is 10,000 THB in baht received.
Do you accept ruble coins?
No. Banknotes only.
Can baht be delivered to Patong or Rawai instead?
Yes, with the cost calculated individually from the amount and the distance. Delivery inside Bang Tao is free.