Rip-offs usually come from not knowing the going rate. Knowing the fair range, comparing with app fares and asking the price first avoids most of them.
🇹🇭 Thailand
Common tricksThe "Grand Palace is closed today" tuk-tuk detour to gem or tailor shops; taxis that refuse the meter and quote a flat fare.
Getting aroundGrab and Bolt are easiest. In taxis say "meter" and get out if it stays off. In Bangkok the BTS/MRT beat traffic. Bangkok 5 km taxi fair range ฿92–฿184, rip-off above ฿221
HagglingHaggle at night markets, souvenir stalls and with tuk-tuks. Price-tagged shops are usually fixed.
Common tricksMixing up 10,000 and 100,000 dong notes to short-change you; fake taxis with rigged meters.
Getting aroundGrab is the safe default and GrabBike is cheapest. For taxis stick to big firms like Mai Linh or Vinasun. Ho Chi Minh City 5 km taxi fair range ₫56,000–₫112,000, rip-off above ₫134,000
HagglingHaggle at markets, souvenir stalls and for cyclos. Fix the amount and the currency (dong or dollars) before you ride.
Common tricksSmall "no commission" money changers often short-change with counting tricks. Use Authorized Money Changers or bank ATMs.
Getting aroundGrab and Gojek fix the fare upfront for cars and bikes. With street taxis, confirm the meter is on before you go. Bali 5 km taxi fair range Rp 28,000–Rp 56,000, rip-off above Rp 67,200
HagglingExpect to haggle at markets, souvenir stalls, with ojek drivers and surf schools. Open at 60–70% of the first price.
Common tricksOverpriced flat-fare airport taxis; "foreigner prices" for island tours.
Getting aroundGrab is easiest in Manila and Cebu. On islands, agree tricycle fares before riding. Manila 5 km taxi fair range ₱176–₱352, rip-off above ₱422
HagglingHaggle at markets, souvenir stalls, with tricycles and for island hopping.
Common tricksDrivers raising the fare on arrival; for Angkor day tours, lock in route and price before setting off.
Getting aroundPassApp and Grab fix tuk-tuk fares upfront. On the street, agree the price before you get in. Phnom Penh 5 km taxi fair range $2–$4, rip-off above $4.8
HagglingHaggling is normal at markets (Russian Market, Old Market) and with tuk-tuks.
Common tricksTaxis at airports and sights refusing the meter and quoting flat fares; compare with Grab.
Getting aroundGrab is the default; in Kuala Lumpur the LRT/MRT is handy. Many taxis avoid the meter. Kuala Lumpur 5 km taxi fair range RM 10.4–RM 20.8, rip-off above RM 25
HagglingHaggle at night markets and souvenir stalls; malls and chains are fixed-price.
Got overcharged? Report itReports move each city's rip-off line toward what people really paid, so the next traveler can avoid it.
Figures come from the app: estimates built from public cost-of-living data, corrected over time by traveler reports. Exchange rates as of October 2026.
