If you are spending more than a few days outside of Yangon, Mandalay or Nay Pyi Taw, make sure to exchange enough money beforehand or make the necessary ATM withdrawal it can be difficult to change money outside the main cities, and you will probably get a worse rate. Smaller purchases, such as taxi rides, buses and cheaper to mid-range meals are quoted and are almost always paid for in kyat.Īs local currency is readily available at ATMs, how many USD you choose to take with you will depend on the type of trip you are planning and what your own USD reserves are – typically, it is not necessary to take more than a few hundred dollars as back up.
If payment is made in kyat for these transactions, it may sometimes be at a worse rate when paying in dollars, change will often be given in kyat. The US dollar, however, is used as an alternative currency, particularly for larger purchases: foreigners are sometimes expected to pay in dollars for hotels, high-end restaurants and flights (international credit cards can also be used for many of these purchases – for more information go to the bottom of this page). The kyat (pronounced ‘chat’) is the official currency of Myanmar, abbreviated as ‘ K‘ or ' MMK' and usually placed before the numerical value (i.e. Embassies, holidays & other useful info.Cultural differences & adapting to Myanmar.Community, charities & social enterprise.Mount Victoria and Nat Ma Taung National Park.Southern Myanmar And The Irrawaddy Delta.Shwedagon Pagoda & other religious sites.