Do they charge a commission on UnionPay cards on Ko Lipe?

Yes, there are commissions, and they come in three types. We personally checked all options so you don't overpay.

Commissions when using UnionPay on Ko Lipe

Operation	Commission	Note
Card payment in cafes/stores	0–5%	Depends on the seller: supermarkets don't charge, private individuals, travel agencies, hotels add 3–5%
ATM withdrawal	220 baht + your bank's commission	Fixed fee of the Thai bank per transaction
Cashing out at an exchange office (Cash advance)	about 5%	Exchange office commission, sometimes negotiable

1. Commission for card payment
As we already wrote, terminals are available, but small shops and cafes include an additional percentage in the bill. We checked: in Patt Market and Market (on Walking Street) supermarkets, there is no extra charge—we paid exactly the amount on the price tag. In restaurants and travel agencies, they often ask to add 3% "for the card." Whether this is legal or not is a question, but arguing is useless. So if you see the bill is small, it's easier to pay in cash.

2. ATM withdrawal
There are ATMs from Krungsri, Bangkok Bank, Kasikorn on the island. All charge the standard Thai commission of 220 baht per transaction (regardless of the amount). Plus, your Russian bank will take its own commission for conversion and withdrawal (usually 0.5–1% + a fixed amount). Result: withdrawing 1000 baht is suicidal, the commission will eat up more than 20%. Optimal—withdraw 10–15 thousand baht at once.

3. Cashing out through an exchange office
There are several exchange offices on Ko Lipe that offer a "cash advance" service: you swipe your card through a terminal as a purchase, and they give you cash. Commission—about 5%. We compared: for amounts up to 4000 baht, this can be more profitable than paying 220 baht to the ATM + bank commission. But it doesn't work with all UnionPay cards, and not all exchange offices do this. Ask at those with the "Money Changer" sign on Walking Street.

By the way, the exchange rate on the island is not ideal either: dollars are exchanged at 30 baht with an official rate of 31.08. The difference is small, but if you plan to bring cash, it's better to exchange on the mainland. Details in our guide to Ko Lipe.

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