A friend and I once landed in Bangkok late at night, super hungry after the flight. We spotted a night market and ran straight to a food stall, but she had USD notes, I had a credit card, and the vendor just smiled and pointed to a “Cash Only – THB” sign. We ended up eating sad airport chips for dinner.
The best currency to use in Thailand is the Thai Baht (THB). Since it’s the official currency, THB is accepted everywhere (from street vendors and tuk-tuk drivers to restaurants and high-end stores). You can carry it as cash or, better yet, load it on a forex card for convenience and peace of mind.
Now sure, if you mostly spend time in touristy areas or malls, you might get away with USD or using a credit card. But just because they work sometimes doesn’t mean they’re the smart choice. Want to know why? Well, let me explain!
Comparing Currency Options for Thailand: USD vs INR vs THB
1st Scenario: Carrying US Dollars to Thailand
You can use US dollars in Thailand. Once your INR is converted to USD, you can either carry it in the form of currency notes or load it onto a forex card.
Interestingly, converting INR to USD in India is often cheaper than converting INR directly to Thai Baht (THB), since THB is available at higher margins than the USD.
That said, while this route may seem like a smart workaround, it’s not always ideal. Many places in Thailand (especially smaller shops, street vendors, and taxis) don’t accept USD at all. So you’ll eventually need to convert your USD to THB in Thailand.
And here’s the catch: when you convert USD to THB in Thailand, you end up paying currency conversion charges all over again (first from INR to USD in India, then from USD to THB in Thailand). So you’re not just losing once, you’re losing twice.
So, while carrying USD may appear to be budget-friendly, the hidden charges make it far less efficient in practice.
2nd Scenario: Carrying Indian Rupees to Thailand
You cannot directly use Indian Rupees (INR) in Thailand. Shops, taxis, restaurants, etc none of them will accept INR in cash. You’ll need to exchange your INR for THB before making any purchases.
The smartest move? Exchange your currency in India before you fly. Airport counters in India or Thailand often charge 10-15% higher rates, and local exchange shops in tourist hubs like Bangkok or Phuket tend to have poor rates too.
That’s because tourists in a rush have no choice, and these vendors take advantage of that. Plus, their overhead costs are higher, so they add big markups to cover profits.
You will be able to obtain live and transparent rates online on a dedicated currency exchange platform like BookMyForex than at these places.
Also, it’s always safer to arrive with some Thai Baht in hand, whether it’s for your airport taxi or a quick meal.
What about using your Indian credit/debit card instead? Well, it works in many places, but at a price. Most INR cards charge a 3% foreign transaction fee.
And if you’re prompted to pay in INR instead of THB (due to Dynamic Currency Conversion or DCC), know this: the markup ranges from 1-2% to as high as 12%.
So yes, INR-based cards might work, but they’re not cheap. You’ll end up paying a premium just for the convenience of not converting your currency upfront.
3rd Scenario: Carrying Thai Baht to Thailand
Carrying Thai Baht (THB) is clearly the smartest move. It’s the local currency and is accepted universally. Whether you’re riding a tuk-tuk or eating at a Michelin-starred Thai restaurant, THB works everywhere.
Now, while cash is great for small payments, it can be risky. It’s easy to lose or misplace, and if stolen, it’s gone for good. Also, cash transactions don’t leave any trail, which makes resolving disputes almost impossible.
That’s why the ideal way is to carry 10-20% of your total budget in THB cash for quick access, and load the remaining 80-90% THB on a forex card for safety and ease of use.
With BookMyForex, you can get Thai Baht in both cash and on a forex card at the lowest exchange rates, guaranteed. In fact, if you find a better rate anywhere else, you get 2x the difference as cashback!
You can place your order online through BookMyForex’s app or website, and get it delivered to your home the same day.
| Currency Type | Acceptance | Charges | Final Verdict |
|---|---|---|---|
| USD | Moderate (tourist spots) | Moderate (good rates but high cross-currency fees) | ❌ Not ideal |
| INR | Low (only via cards) | Very High (foreign transaction fee and DCC markups) | ❌ Avoid |
| THB | Universal | None (if you get a zero markup forex card via BookMyForex) | ✅ Best option |
About the Author
Bhawna Nijhawan is the Content Manager at BookMyForex and the go-to person for creating engaging, informative content that resonates with the platform’s diverse audience. With over 8 years of experience in content writing and more than 4 years in the forex industry, she knows exactly how to simplify complex forex topics into something everyone can relate to.
