Is it better to exchange cash for Thai Baht in the US or use an ATM in Thailand?

Just go to an ATM after you arrive. Simple.

Schwab only

Listen to Bill Collins here. Schwab ATM card will work at any machine. Exchange rates are good. Get cash here. No need to bring with you. Though .... the rule is that you should have $600 in cash on you. Immigration might... I stress might... ask. Never happens as a rule but an ATM card will suffice.

Here's several options for you. 1. If you just need cash to pay for taxi, food & misc you will need only about a couple thousand baht, just use your Schawab debit card at any bank ATM. You'll get the banks rate and your ATM fees will be reimbursed. 2. If you know someone you trust in CM, set up a Wise account and transfer the money to them and go get it when you get to CM. Wise usually has better rates than banks or money changers. 3. If you don't have someone you trust to transfer to, follow step one and go to a local money changer and you will probably get better rates than the bank. Basically, your goal should be to get out of the airport and exchange your money outside. Compare rates at banks and money changers.

Bring crisp and clean US Dollar bills, and exchange them in the basement (!!) of the Suvarnabhumi Airport. After passing through the customs, follow the signs "Airport Rail Link". Right at the platform of the train, in the basement, there are THREE moneychangers (HappyRich, Kasikorn and SuperRich). Do NOT exchange in the upper levels of the airport or you will lose 3-4 Baht on every US Dollar. NEVER exchange Dollars into Thai Baht in your home country, you will lose 30%

use ur Schwab card as ur fees are reimbursed to you>

Bring some $ 50, 100's as well

Cash is king, and gets the best rates. Bring brand new $100 bills from the bank. Everything done in Thailand is done in baht, not foreign currency. This is not always true in surrounding countries, but it is in Thailand. There is no handling fee/stamp fee using cash at the exchange booths. You avoid the bt220 fee of ATMs, which your Charles Schwab account should refund, but there is also a slight difference in exchange rates. Cash is the best.

Probably better to use your Schwab card once you get through immigration. But if you want to bring some cash just bring crisp undamaged $100 bills and don't worry about getting baht in the US. The exchange rate won't be that great and it's better to wait.

I probably wouldn't try to pay rent or security deposit with cash as there's no record of it. I would get the Thai bank account number of your landlord and use Wise to transfer from your American bank account to their thai bank account. You can initiate the transfer for a certain amount of Baht and it'll tell you the exact cost in dollars based on Wise's exchange rate at that moment.

As far as bank exchange rate, you shouldn't really be using a bank to exchange. When you go to the ATM and it asks you if you want to let the ATM do the exchange and submit the request to your bank in USD, always say no. They give a truly criminal exchange rate where you lose 10% or more of the true rate. If you let them submit the request to Scwab in baht then Schwab will do the exchange at the daily rate which is very close to the true rate.

why do you need thai baht before arriving and lose a 30% in commission? Just bring some us$ with you and once u arrived at the airport you can exchance a couple of hundreds at the boots there. Never get thai baht out of thailand