Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) is Bangkok’s second airport and the main travel hub for domestic air travel as well as regional flights served by low-cost airlines. If Don Mueang Airport is your entry point to Thailand, you will need to get some local currency here, as normally only Thai baht is accepted for all purchases within the country, and payment in cash is still preferred in many places. Withdrawing cash from an ATM or exchanging money at currency exchange booths are the best ways to get Thai baht at the airport. However, none of these options are cost-effective at Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).
ATMs at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport (DMK)
You will find a number of ATMs all around Don Mueang Airport, with an exception of the area before immigration.
Even if bringing a credit card and withdrawing cash from an ATM sounds like a safer option than bringing lots of your local cash, in Thailand it has a significant downside – all ATMs in the country charge international cards with an additional fee of 220 THB for every withdrawal. Add the fees of your home bank and currency exchange rate losses to this amount, and you will see that this option of getting local cash in Thailand is by far not as attractive as in other countries.
If using an ATM is your only option of getting cash, just withdraw the biggest amount possible; it will help you to lower your losses, as a withdrawal of 1,000 baht and 20,000 baht costs the same.
If you're not comfortable with carrying a large amount of cash to exchange in Thailand but still want to get a much better exchange rate on your payments and withdrawals than your regular bank card is offering, consider getting a Wise Card that lets you spend abroad with the real exchange rate and works well in Thailand.
Currency Exchange at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport (DMK)
Exchanging currency at the airport in Bangkok might be the best way to get Thai baht when it comes to Suvarnabhumi Airport (BKK), as it’s possible to find really good currency exchange rates at the main airport of Bangkok.
However, the rates offered by foreign exchange booths at Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) are far from good. The worst part is that all currency exchange booths at Don Mueang Airport offer exchange rates that are exactly the same. Don’t waste your time trying to find a better deal, as we already did it for you with no luck!
As currency exchange rates at Don Mueang Airport are really bad, you shouldn’t exchange here more money than you need for your first day in the city. In Bangkok you can easily get much better currency exchange rates; just check for the branch of Super Rich that is nearest to your location.
If you need Thai baht for paying your visa on arrival fee (at the moment it’s 2,000 THB), you will find currency exchange booths of 3 banks on your way to the visa on arrival department, just before immigration posts.
All 3 currency exchange booths offer exactly the same rates, so choose any bank to your liking.
Currency exchange rates at the arrival hall of Don Mueang International Airport (DMK) are no different, so get enough money from any of the booths for all your first-day expenses, such as transportation to the city, your first meal, and so on.
Currency Exchange Rates at Bangkok Don Mueang Airport (DMK)
How bad are currency exchange rates at Bangkok Don Mueang International Airport (DMK)?
As you know, the rates are changing during the time, and the table of currency exchange rates at Don Mueang Airport below isn’t current. However, you can know what rates to expect at Don Mueang Airport by comparing them with official exchange rates at the time the photo was taken.
USD to THB exchange rate at Don Mueang Airport
The official USD exchange rate at the time was 31.34 THB for 1 dollar, so the rate offered at the airport (29.92 THB/USD) was 1.42 THB lower than the official rate. For every dollar exchanged here, you’re losing about 0.05 USD, which can be a significant amount (50 USD) if you’re exchanging 1000 USD.
EUR to THB exchange rate at Don Mueang Airport
The official EUR exchange rate at the time was 38.50 THB for 1 euro, so the rate offered at the airport (36.70 THB/EUR) was 1.80 THB lower than the official rate. For every euro exchanged here, you’re losing about 0.05 EUR or almost 50 EUR if exchanging 1000 EUR.
Exchange rates of other currencies at Don Mueang Airport
The official GBP exchange rate at the time was 43.98 THB for 1 pound, so the rate offered at the airport (41.77 THB/GBP) was 2.21 THB lower than the official rate. The AUD to THB exchange rate was lower by 1.33 THB/AUD, and the SGD to THB exchange rate was lower by 0.73 THB/SGD. Even worse rates are offered for other currencies, as the less popular currency is the worse currency exchange rate you can expect to get here.
A much better THB exchange rate is applied when you are using Wise Card for your payments and withdrawals.
Where to Exchange Currency in Bangkok?
You will find banks and other currency exchange companies at the public transport stations, shopping malls, streets, and all main touristy spots of Bangkok; you can get really good deals for currency exchange in Bangkok. For getting the best possible deals, check here: Super Rich Thailand – Best Currency Exchange in Bangkok.
How good are the rates of Super Rich if compared to currency exchange booths at Don Mueang Airport?
USD to THB exchange rate at Super Rich
The USD exchange rate offered by Super Rich at the time was 31.25 THB for 1 dollar. If compared with the rate offered at Don Mueang Airport (29.92 THB/USD), the difference is huge, as at Super Rich you’re getting 1.33 THB more for every dollar exchanged. Saving 1330 THB (~43 USD) while exchanging 1000 dollars for Thai baht is a pretty good deal, isn’t it?
EUR to THB exchange rate at Super Rich
The EUR exchange rate offered by Super Rich at the time was 38.45 THB for 1 euro. If compared with the rate offered at Don Mueang Airport (36.70 THB/EUR), the difference is huge as you’re getting 1.75 THB more for every euro exchanged. Choose to exchange 100 EUR at Super Rich instead of Don Mueang, and you will get 175 THB or ~4.6 EUR more.
Exchange rates of other currencies at Super Rich
The less popular the currency is, the lower the rate is at Super Rich too, but they are still much better than you can get at Don Mueang Airport.
More detailed information about the best currency exchange in Bangkok and current exchange rates there you can find here: Super Rich Thailand – Best Currency Exchange in Bangkok.
Tips
If you have connecting flights at different airports in Bangkok, use a free shuttle between BKK and DMK airports and exchange your currency at Suvarnabhumi Airport, not Don Mueang Airport.
Use airport buses A1, A2, A3, and A4 for a cheap and easy connection from Don Mueang Airport to various destinations in Bangkok.
For a hassle-free trip to the city, book a private transfer here: Private Don Mueang Airport Transfers (DMK).
Read more about Bangkok and the Thai capital’s top attractions.
What is the best area to stay in Bangkok? The answer can be found here: Guide to Bangkok Best Areas.
Detailed information about other facilities and services at the airport can be found here: Don Mueang International Airport (DMK).
