Travel Money Guide: Southeast Asia

We give you the skinny on how to best take and use money in Southeast Asia, so you can make the most of the region's tropical beaches, delicious food and unbeatable cultural experiences.

Compare travel cards for Southeast Asia

• Prepaid Travel Money Cards
• Travel Credit Cards
• Travel Debit Cards
• Foreign Cash

Updated December 9th, 2019

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Name	Product	Available Currencies	ATM Withdrawal Fee	Initial Load Fee	Reload fee
Cash Passport Platinum Mastercard		AUD, USD, CAD, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, NZD, SGD, THB, AED	USD $2.50, EUR €2.50, GBP £2.00, NZD $3.50, THB ฿80.00, CAD $3.50, HKD $18.00, JPY ¥260.00, SGD $3.50, AUD $3.50, AED 10.00	$0	$5		Up to 11 currencies on 1 card locked in exchange rates and no load fees.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Travelex Money Card		AUD, USD, CAD, EUR, GBP, HKD, JPY, NZD, SGD, THB	Overseas: $0 Domestic: 2.95% of the amount withdrawn	1.1% of initial load value or $15, whichever is greater	1.1% of transaction value or $15, whichever is greater		Lock in exchange rates for up to 10 currencies, pay no overseas ATM fees and get exclusive merchant offers.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Updated December 9th, 2019

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Name	Product	Foreign Currency Conversion Fee	Overseas ATM Withdrawal Fee	Overseas Cash Advance Fee	Annual fee
Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard		0% of transaction value	$0	3% of transaction amount or $4 (whichever is greater)	$0 p.a.	Save with 0% foreign transaction fees on purchases. Plus, complimentary flight delay passes and a global wifi access.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Bankwest Zero Platinum Mastercard 2019 Winner		0% of transaction value	$0	2% or $4, whichever is greater	$0 p.a.	Offers a $0 annual fee, 0% foreign transaction fees, complimentary international travel insurance and a balance transfer offer.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
ING Orange One		Visa 2.5% of transaction value	$2.50		$0 p.a.	Keep costs low with $0 annual fee and 100% foreign transaction fee rebates. Available when you hold or open an Orange Everyday account.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Rates last updated December 9th, 2019

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Name	Product	Product Description	Debit Card Access	ATM Withdrawal Fee	Monthly Account Fee	Overseas ATM Withdrawal Fee	Overseas Eftpos Fee
Westpac Choice		Take advantage of Westpac's Global Alliance and save on overseas ATM fees at over 50,000 locations worldwide with fee-free cash withdrawals.	Mastercard	$0		$5	3%	Go to site More	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
Citi Global Currency Account		Hold up to 10 currencies. $0 monthly account fee. Enjoy one linked debit card to hold up to 10 currencies and receive foreign currencies for free. Earn up to 1.50% p.a. interest on your AUD balance.	Mastercard	$0		$0	$0	Go to site More	Compare	loading Fetching your data...
CUA Everyday Snap Account		Refund of international ATM withdrawal fees and international card transaction fees (conditions apply). Refund of overdrawn fees. $0 monthly account fee. Unlimited fee-free everyday transactions. Apple Pay, Google Pay and Samsung Pay available. Savings Top Up tool automatically transfers to linked savings account.	Visa	$0		$3.50	2.75%	Go to site More	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Updated December 9th, 2019

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Name	Product	Minimum Order Amount	Maximum Order Amount	Delivery/Pickup Method	Commission Fee
Travelex Foreign Currency		$500	$5,000	In Store, At Airport	$0	Travelex makes it easy to exchange and get the best rate on over 40 currencies so you can be prepared for your next holiday.	Go to site More Info	Compare	loading Fetching your data...

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Which travel card, debit card or credit card?

Visa and Mastercard branded credit cards, debit cards and travel cards have wide acceptance in Southeast Asia. If you have an American Express, you'll need to take a Visa or Mastercard card too. In the cities, you'll find ATMs are easy to find, but in smaller towns and off the beaten track there's no guarantee you'll be able to get cash from an ATM (ATMs can be scarce and frequently run out of cash). Card acceptance in these areas is also sketchy at best, so make sure you have enough cash to cover you for the times you're venturing outside of urban centres.

Travel money options for Southeast Asia at a glance

_{This table is a general summary of the travel money products in the market. Features and benefits can vary between cards.}

Why we recommend a combination of travel money options

Make sure you've spread your travel budget across a couple of cards. For example a travel card, debit card or credit card. Carry Australian dollars and US dollars cash too. This will give you more options if you're travelling between countries, conditions can change between countries and ATM availability is not guaranteed outside Southeast Asian cities.

If you have any questions about travel money for Southeast Asia, get in touch with us using the form at the bottom of the page.

How each travel money option works in given country

Using travel money cards

A travel card allows you to hold a number of different foreign currencies at the same time. Spend in the currency of your destination and you can avoid the fee for currency conversion. Thai baht and Singapore dollars are supported currencies on a number of products, and the Commonwealth Bank Travel Money Card lets you load Vietnamese dong as well. Brunei dollars, Cambodian riels, Indonesian rupiah, East Timor dollars, Laos kip, Malaysian ringgits, Philippine pesos and Burmese kyats are not supported currencies.

If you're travelling to the aforementioned countries, a travel card with no currency conversion fee (eg, Qantas Cash) is suited. However, travel cards are fee-heavy products, so you're going to pay for international transactions one way or another. For example, cards which don't charge for currency conversion might charge for international ATM use. You'll also have to pay front end fees when you purchase, load or reload the card.

• Tip: These accounts are dual card accounts. You get a backup card to use incase your lose the first card or it's stolen.
• Tip: If you purchase a travel card at a branch, there's a chance it won't have your name embossed on the front. This may cause issues with acceptance in Southeast Asia.

Using debit cards

The Citibank Plus Transaction Account is the only travel friendly debit card on the market. The Citibank Plus comes with a Visa Debit card which can be used all over the world without paying the additional fee for currency conversion and Citibank do not charge international ATM fees for making withdrawals at overseas ATMs. And the best part? It costs nothing to open the account and there's no monthly charge either.

• Tip: Visa (Mastercard too) provide a money back guarantee if you're the victim of card fraud overseas.

List of Citibank ATM locations worldwide

Using credit cards

Both Bankwest (platinum credit cards only) and Latitude 28° Global Platinum Mastercard don't charge for currency conversion and international ATM withdrawals. It's generally not a good idea to use your credit card to withdraw cash from an ATM — cash advance interest and the cash advance fees apply when these products are used for this purpose. These fees can be avoided by preloading these products with your own money. Note that a local ATM operator fee may still apply and GE Money will charge a cash advance fee regardless. Using a credit card with a positive balance also voids the anti-fraud guarantees from Mastercard and Visa.

• Tip: Some credit cards provide complimentary international travel insurance when you charge the cost of your return overseas travel ticket to the account.
• Tip: Make sure you tell your bank about your travel plans if you don't travel frequently, they may block your card if they see a 'suspicious' overseas transaction.

Using traveller's cheques

An almost obsolete form of travel money, traveller's cheques can be cashed in more places in Thailand and Cambodia compared to other parts of the world. In Thailand, traveller's cheques may be cheaper to cash at a bank than when withdrawing baht from an ATM. A number of Thai banks will cash cheques for a fee of 33 baht (compared to 150 - 200 THB for ATM withdrawals). If you're travelling to the Philippines, anecdotal evidence suggests cheques can not be cashed at any place.

Taking cash with you

Although each country in the region uses different currencies, US dollars can be used throughout Southeast Asia. In some places (Cambodia, Vietnam and Laos especially) you'll see prices quoted in US dollars, and some businesses such as hotels may prefer payment in US dollars. If you do take US dollars to Southeast Asia, make sure you have an eye on the exchange rates so you know how much you should be paying. In the rural areas of Southeast Asia, debit, credit and travel cards will not be accepted. Make sure you have enough cash to cover your planned expenses (and then some).

Using an ATM

Cities in Southeast Asia are well serviced by ATMs. You won't have a problem using Visa and Mastercard branded products. Be prepared to pay an ATM operator fee, the vast majority of ATMs in Southeast Asia charge a fee when you make a withdrawal.

• Tip: Pick an odd number when you withdraw cash from an ATM. This will give you smaller bills which are easier to use.

Exchange cash

It's best to get the currency of the destination you're visiting. Australian dollars can be easily changed to the local currency in tourist centres and international airports throughout the region. In Cambodia and Burma, and to a lesser extent Laos, where US dollars are the currency of the street, you'll get the local currency in change when you pay with US dollars.

• Tip: If you have the opportunity to withdraw US dollars from an ATM, get some extra cash to use throughout the region as you travel to different countries.
• Tip: Thai baht is accepted in areas of Laos.

Some of the major Southeast Asian currencies include:

	Country	Currency	Code
	Brunei	Dollar	BND
	Cambodia	Riel	KHR
	East Timor	Dollar	USD
	Indonesia	Rupiah	IDR
	Laos	Kip	LAK
	Malaysia	Ringgit	MYR
	Myanmar	Burmese kyat	MMK
	Philippines	Peso	PHP
	Singapore	Dollar	SGD
	Thailand	Baht	THB
	Vietnam	Dong	VND

Buying currency in Australia

If getting the best rate is your main concern, it's better to wait to exchange your Australian dollars till you arrive at your destination — you'll get more for your dollar exchanging money at a bank or exchange office in Southeast Asia. Laos kip (LAK) and Burmese kyat (MMK) are difficult to find in Australia. The following financial institutions can sell you foreign cash.

How much money do I need to bring to Southeast Asia?

Southeast Asia is a budget holiday destination compared to Australia and other parts of the world. You'll find that developed economies such as Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, Vietnam and especially Singapore are more expensive than emerging destinations such as Cambodia, Burma and Laos. You will be able to spend as much money as you can afford in Southeast Asia, you can get an idea about budget prices in the table below.

	Bangkok (Thailand)	Singapore	Vientiane (Laos)	Hanoi (Vietnam)
	Hostel dorm bed $10 - $20 per night	Hostel dorm bed $10 - $25 per night	Hostel dorm bed $7 - $15 per night	Hostel dorm bed $5 - $15 per night
	Khao Gang (curried rice / street food) $1 - $3	Chicken and fish dumpling noodles (street stall) $8	Lao Sausage / Sai Oua (street food) $3	Budget meals at a cafeteria $1.50
	Marketing shopping on Koh Sahn Road$0.50 - $7.50	Visit the Singapore Botanic Gardens TripFree	Visit the Lao People's Army Museum $0.80 admission fee	Sightseeing at Hoan Kiem Lake and Turtle tower Free

_{*Prices are approximate and are subject to changes.}