Quick answer. Withdraw once, and generously, at a Thai bank ATM in the arrivals area at Koh Samui, choose baht and decline conversion into your home currency. Every Thai ATM charges foreign cards a flat 220-baht fee, so the size of the withdrawal is the only lever you control. Samui's taxis do not use meters: the airport taxi desk sells fixed fares, from a few hundred baht to Chaweng and Bophut to around a thousand to the west coast, and many drivers want cash. If you are heading on to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao, the ferries and the pier transfers are cash-heavy too. Thailand has no Bank of America Global ATM Alliance partner.
Where to get baht at USM
At Samui, as at every Thai airport, the flat 220-baht fee dominates a small withdrawal and fades on a large one. The figures below assume the baht equivalent of $100.
| Option | Where | Markup | Total Cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Thai bank ATM + Schwab (220 THB refunded) | Arrivals | Network rate, ATM fee refunded | ~$100 |
| Thai bank ATM, one large withdrawal | Arrivals or Chaweng | Network rate + 220 THB spread thin | ~$101 |
| Thai bank ATM, small withdrawal | Anywhere on the island | Network rate + full 220 THB on a small amount | ~$106 |
| Exchange booth at USM | Arrivals | Several % off town exchange shops | ~$105-108 |
| Any ATM accepting conversion | Chaweng beach road | 220 THB + DCC margin | ~$110-113 |
Bank machines at Koh Samui (USM), and the fixed-fare taxi desk next to them
Samui International is unlike any other Thai airport: it is privately owned by Bangkok Airways, and its terminals are open-sided, thatched pavilions set in gardens, with a small tram carrying passengers between the aircraft and the buildings. Because one airline controls most of the slots, flights here cost more than to Krabi or Surat Thani, and the terminal is small. The arrivals pavilion has exchange booths and Thai bank ATMs from Bangkok Bank, Kasikornbank, Krungsri and SCB. All of them charge a foreign card the same flat 220-baht fee, explained in our Thailand money guide. The airport sits on the island's north-east corner, close to Chaweng and Bophut, so the machines in town are only fifteen minutes away. The reason to withdraw here anyway is the taxi desk a few steps away, which often prefers baht.
Arrivals pavilion
Bangkok Airways from Bangkok, Phuket and Chiang Mai, Thai Airways, and international flights from Singapore, Hong Kong and other Asian hubs
Thai bank ATMs and exchange booths stand near the baggage area and the transport desks. Withdraw a large amount once, choose baht, and decline the offer to convert. The taxi and minibus desks are directly outside.
Departures pavilions
Separate open-air buildings for domestic and international departures
Bangkok Airways passengers can use a lounge with free snacks and drinks, whatever their fare class, so there is little reason to spend at the gate. Spend or exchange leftover baht before security if you are leaving Thailand.
Transport desks
Taxi desk, shared minibuses and hotel pick-ups
Fixed fares by destination are posted at the desk. Shared minibuses cost less than a private taxi and leave when full. Ask whether the desk takes cards before relying on it.
Do you actually need cash at Koh Samui (USM)?
Yes. Samui has no metered taxis and the onward boats want cash. Here is what works:
Taxi from the airport desk (roughly 400-600 THB to Chaweng or Bophut, around 1,000 THB to the west coast): Fixed fares, no meters; confirm the price before you get in.
Shared minibus (around 150-250 THB per person): Cheaper than a taxi, leaves when full and drops at hotels along the way.
Hotel transfer (often included or a set fee): Many resorts collect guests and add the fee to the room bill.
Ride-hail (Grab or Bolt) (sometimes below the desk fare): Available on Samui, but drivers are fewer than in Bangkok and pick-up rules at the airport can apply.
⚠ DCC trap. When the ATM or terminal asks if you want to be charged in your home currency instead of the local currency, always decline and choose the local currency. Accepting locks in a 3-13 percent markup that your no-FX-fee card cannot undo. Full DCC explainer →
Frequently Asked Questions
Do I need cash to get from Koh Samui (USM) to Koh Samui?
Usually, yes. The taxi desk sells fixed fares and many drivers prefer baht, and shared minibuses want cash. Hotel transfers go on the room bill and ride-hail apps bill your card, but beyond the airport Samui's songthaews, island boats and ferry pier transfers are cash, so withdraw at USM or in Chaweng.
Can I order baht before flying?
Reasonable for a multi-island trip. CEI Currency Exchange ships baht to a US address in 2-5 days, so you are not paying 220 baht on every top-up and not hunting for a working machine on Koh Tao. Order a mix of 100 and 500-baht notes for taxis, boats and songthaews.
Why are flights to Koh Samui so expensive?
Because the airport is privately owned by Bangkok Airways, which operates most of its flights and limits the number of daily movements. Fares are consistently higher than to Surat Thani or Krabi. The cheaper alternative is to fly to Surat Thani and take a combined bus and ferry ticket to Samui, which takes several hours longer.
Do Koh Samui taxis use meters?
Rarely. Samui taxis generally charge fixed, negotiated fares, and the airport taxi desk posts prices by destination. Confirm the fare before you get in, carry baht in small notes, and consider the shared minibus or a ride-hail app, which bills your card, for lower prices.
How do I pay for the ferry from Samui to Koh Phangan or Koh Tao?
Tickets for the Lomprayah, Seatran and Raja services can be booked online by card, but pier transfers, tickets bought at the pier and anything on the smaller islands are usually cash. Withdraw baht on Samui before you sail; Koh Tao and parts of Koh Phangan have fewer machines, and all charge 220 baht.