Travel · Tool
Cash or card? The guide for every destination
How much cash do you actually need? Card or cash for taxis, restaurants, and markets? Get destination-specific advice.
Whether you need cash depends entirely on where you're going. Japan, Thailand, and Bali are still predominantly cash economies — expect 65–70% of your spending to be in cash. Australia, the USA, and Singapore are almost fully cashless — a small amount of cash covers everything else. Getting this wrong means either running out of cash in a rural Thai market, or carrying a wallet full of unneeded currency.
Select your home region and destination to see the recommended cash/card split, ATM withdrawal strategy, and any Dynamic Currency Conversion warnings specific to that country.
Cash necessity
HighCash strategy
Street food, tuk-tuks, markets, temples — almost all cash. Budget for 500–1000 THB per day in small notes.
Card strategy
Major hotels and malls accept cards. Always pay in THB, never in your home currency.
ATM withdrawal strategy
Withdraw 3,000–5,000 THB at a time from AEON or Kasikorn ATMs (lower fees). Expect a 200–220 THB flat fee per withdrawal.
⚠️ DCC warning for Thailand
Decline 'fixed rate' on Thai ATMs — always choose to continue in Thai Baht.
Frequently asked questions
Should I take cash or use a card in Japan?
Japan remains very cash-heavy — budget for 70% cash spending. Many restaurants, small shops, and some hotels are cash-only. Use 7-Eleven or Japan Post ATMs for international card withdrawals. Withdraw 10,000–20,000 JPY at a time and always decline any conversion offer at the ATM — always choose Japanese Yen.
How much cash do I need in Thailand?
Thailand is cash-heavy — expect about 65% of your spending to be in cash. Street food, tuk-tuks, markets, and temples are all cash-only. Budget 500–1,000 THB per day. Use AEON or Kasikorn Bank ATMs for lower surcharges. Always decline the fixed rate DCC offer at Thai ATMs.
Can I use a card everywhere in Bali?
No. Bali is predominantly a cash economy — warungs, taxis, temples, and most small shops are cash-only. Carry IDR at all times. Use bank ATMs (BNI, BCA, Mandiri) in town centres rather than standalone tourist ATMs which aggressively push DCC.
Is it better to withdraw cash before or after arriving abroad?
Withdraw after arriving, from a local bank ATM, using a zero-fee card for your region (Starling/Chase UK for UK travellers, Charles Schwab for US, Niyo Global for India, ING Orange for Australia, N26 for EU). Airport exchange desks typically offer rates 3–6% worse than the interbank rate. Only get a small amount before travelling if you'll arrive late at night.