The Best Places to Buy Thai Baht in New Zealand [2022]
At The Currency Shop, we keep things nice and simple. Because every company has different exchange rates and fees, finding the best deal can be a minefield. That’s where we step in. We bring together all your options, highlight the fees and rates per provider, and show you the best possible deals.
How to buy Thai Baht (THB) with NZD
THB travel card
A THB travel card can be used to spend money abroad. It is designed for those who are travelling to Thailand where the currency conversion system might be unfamiliar. A THB travel card could be used to withdraw cash from an ATM and to pay any point of sale in Thailand.
Wise debit card
A Wise debit card can be an easy way to exchange and spend the currency you need when travelling to Thailand. You top up card balance in New Zealand dollars, and convert in THB (Thai baht) or any other currency you may need when travelling.
You will always get the mid-market rate to convert between currencies, to which there will be added a low, transparent fee. For NZD - THB conversion, you'll pay a fee of 0.59%. This multi-currency card will give you the best exchange rates for spending in Thai baht (THB) and 50+ other currencies.
You can withdraw money from an ATM whenever you need cash and spend like a local at any point of sales or online.
It's free to open a Wise account and you can order the travel debit card for a one-off $14 charge.
Buy THB Online
This is usually the cheapest way to buy currency, but you need some time. You can choose where to pick the order up from or get it home delivered.
Click and collect using Travelex
- Use a promo code to get a much better rate. Click here to learn how it works
- Don't pay by card. There is card processing fee you can avoid by using Bpay
- There is a maximum amount of $5,000 per transaction
Money Changers
This is the best way to get currency quickly. You will find them in major shopping centres and towns.
Money Tips
- The THB 'buy' rates are better in your city. So it can be worth going there if you're exchanging more than $2,000
- Always ask for a better rate. We've found you can often get a better deal just by asking, particularly if you're buying more than $100
Bank
Most banks do exchange currency. The issue is that they often have high fees, and don't offer very good rates. It's always better to compare rates elsewhere before deciding, but as a standard rule it's best to avoid your bank. Especially for a popular currency like the Thai Baht.
Airport
Yes, you can buy currency at the airport. But that doesn't mean you should. While it's convenient, it's also very expensive.
Money Tips
- Ordering it online and picking it up at the airport is much cheaper than buying it in person
- If you've run out of time before your trip, it's definitely better to buy currency when you get overseas, or use your debit card instead
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Our most frequently asked questions
What is the cheapest way to buy Thai baht?
When you buy Thai baht the amount you pay will come down to both the commission or conversion fee, and the exchange rate being offered by any provider. Currency exchange services and banks often add an extra fee in the exchange rate being used, which pushes up prices without you realising. This means the cheapest way to buy THB is often to use a travel debit card or a specialist multi-currency account to spend and make card withdrawals with low fees and the real exchange rate.
Is it better to exchange money in New Zealand or Thailand?
Whether you choose to buy your travel money in New Zealand or Thailand comes down to personal preference. However, to make sure you get the best deal it’s important to look at the exchange rate being offered, to make sure it’s fair. Find the live mid-market exchange rate for your currency with a Google search, and look for a provider which offers this - or as close as possible to it. For many travellers the most reliable way to get a good rate is to use a travel debit card to spend or make cash withdrawals on arrival in Thailand.
Do airports charge more for currency exchange?
Airport currency exchange services tend to be a very expensive way to get your travel money. While they may not have high upfront fees, the exchange rates offered are often pretty poor, which means you pay more than you need to when buying your THB. If you really want to use an airport currency exchange service you might get a slightly better rate if you order your THB in advance online and collect it at a kiosk in the airport - but making a cash withdrawal at an ATM on arrival is often the cheaper option.
Do banks charge for currency exchange?
Banks may charge an upfront fee for converting currencies as well as adding an extra fee in the form of an exchange rate markup. Often the upfront fee may look quite low, but the exchange rate markup can push up costs significantly.
How do you know if an exchange rate is good?
To get the best available exchange rate you’ll need to find a currency exchange service which offers the mid-market exchange rate or as close as possible to it. Find the live mid-market rate for your currency using a Google search or a reputable currency conversion app, and look for providers offering this rate if you can. Usually you’ll get the best deal when you use an online specialist service rather than a bank or airport currency exchange provider.
Want to find the best time to buy?
Simply use our free email alerts to track the rate daily. Or set the rate you want and we'll email you when it's time to buy.
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