Monthly Expenses in Thailand – Expat Budget Breakdown 2025

For many expats, managing international money transfers is a monthly routine. Whether you’re funding your Thai bank account, paying rent, or sending money back home, it’s crucial to use a platform that’s fast, affordable, and transparent. In 2025, Wise and Revolut are two of the top choices among foreigners living in Thailand.

Let’s explore how to use these services, what they cost, and which one might be better for your needs.

Why Use Wise or Revolut?

• ✅ Better exchange rates than traditional banks

• ✅ Transparent, low fees

• ✅ Fast delivery to Thai bank accounts

• ✅ Easy-to-use mobile apps

• ✅ No need to visit a physical bank

🟢 Using Wise (Formerly TransferWise)

Wise is one of the most popular transfer services for expats in Thailand. It lets you send money from your home currency to Thai baht (THB) using the real exchange rate.

How to Use Wise:

1. Create a free account at wise.com

2. Verify your identity (passport or national ID)

3. Add your recipient's Thai bank details

4. Choose the amount and currency

5. Pay using a debit/credit card or bank transfer

6. Wise will handle the conversion and deliver funds to the Thai account (often within 24 hours)

💡 Tip:

You can even create a multi-currency Wise Account and hold balances in USD, EUR, GBP, or THB.

Wise Fees:

• ~0.35% to 1% of the transfer amount

• No hidden FX markups

• Fees vary depending on country and payment method

Example: Sending $1,000 from the US to Thailand may cost ~$7 in fees, and the recipient gets close to the full amount in THB.

🔵 Using Revolut

Revolut is a digital banking app that’s great for frequent travelers and remote workers. It includes money transfers, budgeting tools, and crypto/trading features. Although not a traditional remittance company, Revolut supports transfers to Thai bank accounts in many cases.

How to Use Revolut:

1. Download the Revolut app and create an account

2. Top up using your home currency (via bank or card)

3. Convert your balance into THB

4. Send the THB to a local Thai bank account

5. Track the transaction inside the app

Note: Not all Revolut plans support transfers to every Thai bank. Test with a small amount first.

Revolut Plans & FX Fees:

Plan

Monthly Fee

Free FX Limit

Extra FX Fee

Standard

$0

$1,000/month

1%

Premium

~$10

Higher

0.5%

Metal

~$16.99

Highest

0% during weekdays

❗️ Fees may apply on weekends or for exotic currencies.

Which One Should You Use?

Feature

Wise

Revolut

Real exchange rate

✅ Yes

✅ Yes (limits)

FX markup

❌ No

❌ No (with limits)

Thai bank transfer

✅ Yes (all banks)

⚠️ Partial support

App experience

✅ Excellent

✅ Excellent

Cash withdrawal

❌ No

✅ Yes (ATM card)

🔍 Verdict:
Use Wise for one-time or recurring transfers to Thailand.
Use Revolut for budgeting and spending while traveling across countries.

Best Use Cases for Expats

• Retirees: Use Wise to transfer pensions or retirement savings monthly

• Digital Nomads: Combine Wise and Revolut for multi-country flexibility

• New Expats: Start with Wise to move initial savings into your Thai bank

• Freelancers: Receive international payments in Wise and convert to THB

Additional Tips

• Always compare final THB received, not just the fee

• Avoid weekend conversions on Revolut (higher FX spread)

• Set up alerts in Wise for favorable exchange rates

• Transfer in larger batches to reduce relative fees

Trusted by Expats

According to Reddit expat threads and Facebook groups like “Expats in Thailand”:

“Wise is a lifesaver. I’ve saved hundreds on fees.”
“Revolut is great for spending, but I still rely on Wise for big transfers.”
“Avoid bank SWIFT transfers unless you enjoy pain.”

Both Wise and Revolut are game-changers for expats managing money between countries. Wise offers simplicity and low-cost transfers to Thailand. Revolut adds flexibility for travel, daily spending, and saving.

Choose based on your needs—or use both for the ultimate combo.