Phuket money exchange: Patong, Phuket Town and the airport compared
Article updated: 2026-09-16
Best rate USD · Phuket: 33.13 — Mamy Exchange (Koh Kaew) · Sep 20, 08:58 → Details
Phuket is an island with tourist zones spread far apart, and exchange rates vary more here than in a compact city like Bangkok.
The main operators
Lion Currency Exchange has branches at Central Phuket (4th floor) and two inside Jungceylon in Patong. Mamy Exchange in Koh Kaew is a long-standing local favourite. Both publish their rates online, which is why they appear on THX.
Superrich also operates on the island, and there are numerous independent booths in Patong along Rat-U-Thit and Bangla Road.
Zone by zone
Patong — The highest density of booths. Competition along the main tourist streets keeps rates reasonable, and Jungceylon has several options under one roof with air conditioning.
Phuket Town — Generally the best rates on the island. Fewer tourists, more local business, lower rent. Worth it if you are already going, not worth a special taxi ride.
Central Phuket (Floresta / Festival) — Convenient, competitive, and easy to compare because several operators sit in the same complex.
Kata, Karon, Rawai, Nai Harn — Booths exist but are fewer, and rates are typically a little behind Patong and Phuket Town.
Phuket International Airport — As everywhere, the worst rates. Change enough for the taxi and a meal, nothing more.
Why the spread is wider here
Phuket’s zones are 30–60 minutes apart by road. A booth in Kata is not competing with a booth in Phuket Town in any practical sense, because nobody will make that trip to save 100 baht. Less competition means wider margins.
This is exactly the situation where checking before you walk pays off: the difference between the best and worst rate on the island on a given day is frequently 2–3%.
Transport costs change the maths
Taxis on Phuket are expensive relative to the rest of Thailand. If you are staying in Kata and the best rate is in Phuket Town, the fare will eat the saving unless you are changing a large sum. Compare within your zone first, then decide whether a trip is worth it.
Practical notes
- Bring large, clean notes; the denomination penalty applies here as everywhere.
- Carry your passport — licensed shops must record identification.
- Booths generally open around 09:00 and close between 20:00 and 22:00 in tourist areas, earlier elsewhere.