Sending $10,000 to Thailand: bank wire vs Wise (2026)
Every Thailand move involves at least one big transfer — the housing deposit, visa show-funds, or your first months of living money. Banks charge for this twice: a visible wire fee, and an invisible 2–4% markup baked into the exchange rate. On $10,000, that's $300–500 gone. A mid-market service like Wise does the same job for roughly $50–100.
The numbers, side by side
| On a $10,000 transfer | Typical bank wire | Wise (mid-market) |
|---|---|---|
| Exchange rate | Marked up 2–4% | Real mid-market rate |
| Total cost (fees + markup) | $300–500 (3–5%) | $50–100 (~0.5–1%) |
| What arrives in Thailand | ≈ $9,500–9,700 | ≈ $9,900–9,950 |
| Fee visibility | Markup hidden in the rate | Itemized before you send |
Estimates researched July 2026. Actual costs vary by bank, currency corridor and day — always compare the total received in THB, not the advertised fee. Not financial advice.
Why this matters more in a move than in normal life
A relocation front-loads your biggest transfers into a few months: move-in costs of about 3× your monthly rent, visa show-funds of ฿500k–800k for many routes, and your setup budget. Run 3–5% leakage across all of that and the "convenience" of your home bank quietly costs more than your flight over. See where transfers fit in the full picture with our free move-cost calculator or the relocation stack.