Wise vs PayPal for Sending Money to Thailand
Both move money internationally. Only one is usually cheap. Here's the actual math at real amounts.
Affiliate disclosure: links to Wise may be affiliate links — we may earn a referral fee at no cost to you if you become a customer. The math stands regardless.
The short answer
For bank transfers to Thailand, Wise wins almost every time — typically 2–5× cheaper than PayPal once you include exchange rate markup, not just visible fees.
Worked example: $2,000 → Thai bank account
| Wise | PayPal | |
|---|---|---|
| Visible fee | ~$8–12 fixed+% | ~$0 (sender) but recipient pays or FX spread applies |
| Exchange rate markup | Mid-market rate (~0%) | ~3–4% hidden in rate |
| Recipient receives (≈) | ~71,500 THB | ~68,500 THB |
| You lose to fees/FX | ~1.5% | ~4.5–6% |
Illustrative rates — check live quotes before sending. The pattern (PayPal ≈ 3× costlier) holds across amounts.
When PayPal still makes sense
- The payer insists on it (many freelance platforms)
- Buyer protection matters more than fees
- Small amounts where convenience beats ~$10 savings
When neither is right
- Large transfers ($10k+): specialized FX brokers beat both
- Regular salary remittance: Wise + local account combo wins long-term
- Crypto rails exist but add tax complexity under the new remittance rules
Last updated: August 2026. Fee structures change; always compare live quotes.