The most cashless countries in Asia

32 countries and territories in Asia, ranked by how easily a visitor can get by without cash in The Cashlessy Index 2026. Singapore and South Korea share the lead with 90 out of 100; North Korea is the most cash-reliant. 9 of 32 are cashless or mostly cashless, and the region averages 45.

What the checked guides say

We have checked 17 of the 32 guides in Asia against sources so far. Fee-free ATMs are easy to find in Hong Kong, Malaysia, Kazakhstan and Macao. Expect a fee at every ATM in South Korea, China, Japan, Thailand, Cambodia and Nepal. In South Korea, China, Hong Kong, Malaysia, Japan, Kazakhstan, Thailand, Indonesia, Philippines, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia and Nepal, there is a payment app a visitor can set up without a local bank account.

All 32 ranked

  1. 1
    Singapore

    Cards: accepted almost everywhereCash: rarely neededATMs: some ATMs are fee-freeChecked October 2026

    Go cashless90
  2. 1
    South Korea

    Cards: accepted almost everywhereCash: rarely neededATMs: expect a fee at every ATMChecked October 2026

    Go cashless90
  3. 3
    China

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: rarely neededATMs: expect a fee at every ATMChecked October 2026

    Go cashless88
  4. 4
    Hong Kong

    Cards: widely acceptedCash: carry a littleATMs: fee-free ATMs are easy to findChecked October 2026

    Mostly cashless84
  5. 5
    Malaysia

    Cards: widely acceptedCash: carry a littleATMs: fee-free ATMs are easy to findChecked October 2026

    Mostly cashless72
  6. 6
    Japan

    Cards: widely acceptedCash: carry a littleATMs: expect a fee at every ATMChecked October 2026

    Mostly cashless70
  7. 6
    Maldives

    Cards: widely acceptedCash: carry a littleNot yet checked

    Mostly cashless70
  8. 8
    Kazakhstan

    Cards: widely acceptedCash: carry a littleATMs: fee-free ATMs are easy to findChecked October 2026

    Mostly cashless68
  9. 9
    Macao

    Cards: widely acceptedCash: carry a littleATMs: fee-free ATMs are easy to findChecked October 2026

    Mostly cashless66
  10. 10
    Brunei

    Cards: widely acceptedCash: carry a littleNot yet checked

    Mixed62
  11. 10
    Taiwan

    Cards: widely acceptedCash: carry a littleATMs: some ATMs are fee-freeChecked October 2026

    Mixed62
  12. 12
    Thailand

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyATMs: expect a fee at every ATMChecked October 2026

    Mixed56
  13. 13
    Indonesia

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyATMs: some ATMs are fee-freeChecked October 2026

    Mixed50
  14. 14
    Mongolia

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyNot yet checked

    Mixed48
  15. 14
    Philippines

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyATMs: some ATMs are fee-freeChecked October 2026

    Mixed48
  16. 14
    Vietnam

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyATMs: some ATMs are fee-freeChecked October 2026

    Mixed48
  17. 17
    India

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyATMs: some ATMs are fee-freeChecked October 2026

    Mixed46
  18. 18
    Uzbekistan

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyNot yet checked

    Cash preferred44
  19. 19
    Sri Lanka

    Cards: cities and tourist areasCash: needed dailyATMs: some ATMs are fee-freeChecked October 2026

    Cash preferred40
  20. 20
    Cambodia

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyATMs: expect a fee at every ATMChecked October 2026

    Cash preferred38
  21. 21
    Bhutan

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: needed dailyNot yet checked

    Cash preferred30
  22. 21
    Kyrgyzstan

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash preferred30
  23. 21
    Nepal

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyATMs: expect a fee at every ATMChecked October 2026

    Cash preferred30
  24. 24
    Bangladesh

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash preferred26
  25. 25
    Laos

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential24
  26. 26
    Pakistan

    Cards: hotels and a few big businessesCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential22
  27. 27
    Tajikistan

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential14
  28. 28
    Timor-Leste

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential12
  29. 29
    Myanmar

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential8
  30. 30
    Turkmenistan

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential4
  31. 31
    Afghanistan

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential2
  32. 32
    North Korea

    Cards: rarely or neverCash: bring plentyNot yet checked

    Cash essential1

Scores are out of 100. See the full world ranking and how we score. Last reviewed October 2026.

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