Money at Chiang Mai International (CNX)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Chiang Mai, Thailand.
Chiang Mai uses the THB (฿). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly ฿100–฿200. Cash preferred; small THB notes — drivers rarely have change for ฿1000.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Chiang Mai International (CNX)?
Thailand uses the THB (฿). Airport ATMs dispense THB directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from CNX to the city cost?
Expected fare on the CNX → Old City route is roughly ฿100–฿200. Around ฿300+ is already high, and ฿500+ private 'limo' is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at CNX?
Not expected — round up 20฿. Drivers in Thailand don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at CNX?
Cash preferred; small THB notes — drivers rarely have change for ฿1000. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of THB notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at CNX?
Only if you need $10–20 of THB to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.