Use rupiah, and get it from an ATM in a bank or from a changer licensed by Bank Indonesia. On 2 November 2026 the bank's reference rate was Rp 18,161 per US dollar, and few ATMs release more than Rp 3,000,000 per withdrawal. Cards work in hotels and larger restaurants, but warungs, parking attendants and ticket gates need cash. Bali had 601 licensed changer offices in 2025, and most reported scams happen at unlicensed ones, so count every note on the counter before you leave.
By Alex Moskvin, Founder of SB Excursions · Published 3 November 2026 · Updated 3 November 2026
Tour on this route: Bali Airport Transfer — From $15 per car, depends on hotel area.
What currency does Bali use, and what is the rate in November 2026?
The Indonesian rupiah (IDR, written Rp). Bank Indonesia's JISDOR reference rate was Rp 18,161 per US dollar on 2 November 2026, so Rp 100,000 is about $5.50. Banknotes run from Rp 1,000 to Rp 100,000. The law requires the rupiah for payments inside Indonesia, so pay in rupiah, not dollars.
This guide also answers:
- How much can I withdraw from a Bali ATM?
- How do I know a Bali money changer is licensed?
- Do shops and restaurants in Bali accept cards?
Top picks from this guide
#1
Licensed money changers
A licensed changer displays a Bank Indonesia certificate, a registered company name and a logo with a QR code that you can scan to check the licence. Bank Indonesia Bali lists the licensed offices on moneychangerbali.com. Count the notes on the counter before you pick them up.
#2
Bank ATMs
Use a machine inside or beside a bank, not a booth on the street or a machine in a minimarket. Few ATMs in Indonesia give more than Rp 3,000,000 per withdrawal, so you may need several. Refuse any offer to be charged in your home currency, and read the fee on the screen before you confirm.
#3
Cash for small things
Warungs, parking attendants, ticket booths at beaches and waterfalls, and market and beach vendors often have no card reader. The Bali Sun advises carrying small notes for entry fees and for water and snacks. Keep a few notes of Rp 10,000, Rp 20,000 and Rp 50,000 apart from your larger ones.
#4
Cards and QRIS
Visa and Mastercard work in hotels and larger restaurants and shops, and smaller places may add 2 to 5 percent. QRIS, the national QR code, can be scanned directly with a home app by visitors from six countries: Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and China. Other visitors rely on a card or cash.
What currency does Bali use, and what is the rate?
Bali uses the Indonesian rupiah, written IDR or Rp. Bank Indonesia's reference rate, the JISDOR, was Rp 18,161 per US dollar on 2 November 2026. The bank's currency page lists banknotes of Rp 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000, and coins of Rp 100, 200, 500 and 1,000. Menus often drop the last three zeros, so a price written as 25 can mean Rp 25,000.
The rupiah is also the legal currency for payments. Article 21 of Indonesia's Currency Law (Law No. 7 of 2011) requires it for every transaction with a payment purpose inside the country, with exceptions such as international trade. Some tourist businesses still take US dollars in cash, but Wikivoyage's Indonesia guide notes that the rates are poor, so pay in rupiah.
| Banknote | Colour | About in US dollars |
|---|---|---|
| Rp 1,000 | Yellow | $0.06 |
| Rp 2,000 | Grey | $0.11 |
| Rp 5,000 | Brown | $0.28 |
| Rp 10,000 | Purple | $0.55 |
| Rp 20,000 | Green | $1.10 |
| Rp 50,000 | Blue | $2.75 |
| Rp 100,000 | Red | $5.51 |
Colours: Wikivoyage's Indonesia guide. Dollar values are our calculation at Bank Indonesia's rate of Rp 18,161 on 2 November 2026; the rate moves every day.
The Bali Sun singles out the Rp 50,000 and Rp 100,000 notes as the pair to learn at the changer's counter before you walk away: one is blue and the other is red. A plan to remove three zeros from the rupiah has been discussed, but in November 2025 a minister said it was still a long way off, according to The Bali Sun, so the notes you receive today carry all the zeros.
Should I use an ATM or a money changer in Bali?
Use an ATM for most of your money, and a licensed changer or a bank only if you bring foreign cash. The Bali Sun advised in September 2025 to withdraw from an ATM where possible rather than exchange cash, and it named banks (bring your passport), resort hotels and the genuine changers in the arrivals halls at Ngurah Rai airport as legitimate places to change money.
| Option | What to expect | Main risk |
|---|---|---|
| ATM in or beside a bank | Few machines give more than Rp 3,000,000 per withdrawal; the machine's bank and your own bank may both charge a fee | Card skimmers and fake out-of-order signs |
| Private ATM, or one in a minimarket or on the street | The same limits; airport and hotel machines often charge more | Higher chance of tampering; The Bali Sun advises against these machines |
| Licensed money changer | Each changer sets its own rate; a licensed office asks for your ID | Short-changing at the counter; scams can still happen at licensed offices |
| Bank counter or hotel desk | Bring your passport | Check the rate against Bank Indonesia's before you hand over cash |
| Unlicensed street kiosk | Often advertises the best rate | Most reported scams happen here |
Bank Indonesia Bali counted 601 licensed non-bank changer offices in 2025, the second-largest network in Indonesia, mostly in Badung, Gianyar and Denpasar. Licensed options are everywhere in the tourist areas, so there is no reason to use an unlicensed one.
How much can I withdraw, and what do ATMs charge?
Wise's guide to ATMs in Indonesia says limits vary by machine and that few ATMs give more than 3 million rupiah per transaction, about $165 at Bank Indonesia's rate. Wikivoyage's Indonesia guide adds that machines usually pay out only 25 to 30 notes at a time and that a daily limit of Rp 10-15 million may apply. Your home bank sets its own daily limit too, so check it before you fly.
Three charges can add up: the fee of the bank that owns the machine, your own bank's foreign-withdrawal fee, and the markup hidden in a currency choice. If the machine offers to bill you in your home currency, Wise warns that the ATM then sets its own rate, so choose rupiah. Wise also says airport and hotel machines often charge more, so make fewer, larger withdrawals and read the fee on the screen before you confirm.
- Use machines in a bank lobby. In April 2024 The Bali Sun advised avoiding private ATMs and machines in minimarkets and shopping centres.
- Wiggle the plastic around the card slot. If it feels thick or loose, walk away.
- Ignore a note on a working machine that says it is out of use and points to another machine; The Bali Sun reports this is a known trick.
- Do not call a phone number stuck on an ATM. The British FCDO warns that criminals add fake numbers to ask for card details. Call your own bank's number.
Withdraw cash before Nyepi, which falls on Monday 8 March 2027. In 2022 Bank Indonesia switched off all ATM services in Bali from 00:00 on 2 March to 06:00 on 4 March, and in 2026 part of the BCA network in Denpasar and Kuta went dark from 21:00 on 18 March. Our Nyepi guide lists what else closes.
How do I recognise a licensed money changer?
Look for four things: a business licence certificate issued by Bank Indonesia, a clear company name registered with the bank, a licensed-changer logo with a QR code, and staff with identification. These signs come from Bank Indonesia Bali officials quoted by ANTARA in September 2025 and March 2026. The British FCDO adds that you should open the QR code and check the business name and its operating licence.
Bank Indonesia Bali also runs moneychangerbali.com, which shows the nearest licensed changer on a map and has a reporting channel called BI-PATROL for illegal ones. A licensed changer asks for your ID card or passport, because anti-money-laundering rules require it, an official told ANTARA. Wikivoyage's Indonesia guide gives the same simple rule: a changer who does not ask for your passport is a warning sign.
In September 2025 the Gianyar civil service police, who counted 105 known changers in Gianyar regency (which includes Ubud), listed what they find wrong at illegal outlets: no registered company name on display, no permit on display, rates above the market average, semi-permanent premises and staff out of uniform. In the same month Bank Indonesia and the Bali police began to investigate 68 suspected illegal outlets that the public had reported.
What is the short-changing trick, and how do I stop it?
The teller counts the full amount in front of you. While the teller puts the notes into a bundle, often as you chat or sign the receipt, several notes are pushed off the counter out of sight. You saw the right count, but you leave with less. The Bali Sun has reported this trick many times, and its March 2026 reports say that it still happens and that scams can occur at licensed offices too. A genuine teller will not mind if you count again.
- Calculate the amount before you go in: your foreign amount multiplied by the rate on the board. Agree the final figure before you hand over any money.
- Count the rupiah yourself on the counter, before you pick it up. Do not look at your phone or sign the receipt while the bundle is made.
- Check each note. Return any that are torn or very worn, as The Bali Sun advises.
- Be wary of a rate that is much better than the others nearby. Wikivoyage warns that a changer who sees you checking may suddenly claim a 6-8 percent commission.
- If something is wrong, report it to the police and through BI-PATROL on moneychangerbali.com. Our safety and scams guide covers the other common tricks.
Do cards and QRIS work for visitors in Bali?
Cards work where there is a terminal. Wikivoyage's Indonesia guide says Visa, Mastercard and JCB are widely accepted at hotels and larger restaurants and shops, that American Express can be a problem, and that smaller places often add 2 to 5 percent. If a terminal offers a choice between rupiah and your home currency, choose rupiah. In March 2026 The Bali Sun wrote that more attractions and restaurants take cards, but that carrying cash is still advisable, especially small notes for entry fees. Our entrance fees guide lists what the gates charge.
QRIS is the single QR code that merchants display. In August 2026 the head of Bank Indonesia in Bali said that visitors from six countries can scan it with their home app: Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and China. Trials with Saudi Arabia and India are under way. Cross-border QRIS payments in Bali reached Rp 36 billion in 2025, up 229 percent, in 148,717 transactions, and more than 1.1 million Bali businesses accept QRIS. If your country is not on the list, use a card or cash. A QR payment needs mobile data, so see our SIM and eSIM guide.
In November 2025 Bank Indonesia also opened an Indonesia Tourist Travel Pack desk at the tourist information centre at Ngurah Rai airport, which bundles a Telkomsel SIM with an e-wallet balance for QRIS, according to ANTARA.
What if my bank card was issued in Russia?
On 10 March 2022 The Bali Sun reported that Russian citizens in Bali could not withdraw cash because the machines refused their cards, and that restaurants and cafes said many Russian customers pay in cash. For these visitors the practical route is rupiah cash from a licensed changer or a bank. Bring clean foreign banknotes, because Wikivoyage warns that changers reject torn, stained or marked notes. Card rules change, so ask your own bank what works before you fly. We do not advise on payment arrangements.
Our tours need no prepayment, so your booking does not depend on which card you hold. Ask us on WhatsApp how payment works on the day. Whatever you carry, change it only at licensed offices, and read the section above on counting.
How much cash can I carry into Indonesia?
Every arriving passenger completes a digital customs declaration inside the All Indonesia form, which can be filled in from three days before arrival. Indonesian Customs lists cash or payment instruments of at least Rp 100,000,000, or the foreign equivalent, among the items that can send a passenger to the red channel for a physical check. At Bank Indonesia's rate that is about $5,500, so declare it. Our visa and entry guide covers the other arrival steps, and the Rp 150,000 tourist levy can be paid online, as our tourist levy guide explains.
If you book a transfer before you fly, a driver is waiting at arrivals and you need not rush to the first changer you see; our airport transfer is from $15 per car. For tips and daily spending, see our tipping guide and trip cost guide.
Where these facts come from
- Bank Indonesia: JISDOR reference rate — Rp 18,161 per US dollar on 2 November 2026, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Bank Indonesia: Currency Image — banknote series and coin values in circulation, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Law No. 7 of 2011 on Currency, text on Wikisource — Article 21, the rupiah is required for payments inside Indonesia, retrieved 2 November 2026
- GOV.UK, Indonesia travel advice: safety and security — licensed changers, QR code check, fake phone numbers on ATMs, page updated 18 September 2026, retrieved 2 November 2026
- ANTARA Bali, 13 March 2026: BI provides a website against illegal money changers — moneychangerbali.com, BI-PATROL, 601 licensed offices in 2025, signs of a licensed changer, retrieved 2 November 2026
- ANTARA Bali, 29 September 2025: Bank Indonesia and Bali police investigate 68 suspected illegal changers — licence signs, ID checks, retrieved 2 November 2026
- The Bali Sun, 29 September 2025: Bali to crack down on illegal money exchange counters — 105 changers in Gianyar, warning signs, where to exchange, counting rule, retrieved 2 November 2026
- The Bali Sun, 12 March 2026: Bali Governor cracks down on illegal money changers — the short-changing trick, scams at licensed offices, retrieved 2 November 2026
- The Bali Sun, 25 March 2026: Bali proposes a new solution to money exchange scams — cards accepted more widely, carry small notes, retrieved 2 November 2026
- The Bali Sun, 7 April 2024: Tourists recommended to only use specific Bali ATMs — bank ATMs only, card reader check, out-of-use sign trick, retrieved 2 November 2026
- The Bali Sun, 1 March 2022: Bank of Indonesia to shut down ATMs on the Day of Silence — ATM shutdown hours in 2022, retrieved 2 November 2026
- The Bali Sun, 13 November 2025: Bali to introduce a digital payment system for tourists — Tourist Travel Pack, redenomination still a long way off, retrieved 2 November 2026
- The Bali Sun, 10 March 2022: Thousands of Russians in Bali unable to use ATMs — cards refused, many pay in cash, retrieved 2 November 2026
- ANTARA Bali, 8 August 2026: QRIS adds value to Bali tourism — six QRIS cross-border countries, 2025 volumes, merchants, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Wise: ATMs in Indonesia, credit cards and fees — per-transaction limits, currency conversion warning, airport and hotel ATM fees (guide published 2018), retrieved 2 November 2026
- Wikivoyage: Indonesia — banknote colours, card acceptance and surcharges, ATM note limits, changer tricks, retrieved 2 November 2026
- ANTARA Bali, 11 November 2025: BI starts a payment travel pack for visitors — SIM, e-money and tourist information desk at Ngurah Rai, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Our own Nyepi guide — ATM switch-offs on Nyepi 2026 and the Nyepi 2027 date
- Indonesian Customs: passenger goods and electronic customs declaration — Rp 100,000,000 cash threshold, All Indonesia declaration, retrieved 2 November 2026
- Tour prices from SB Excursions tour pages, November 2026
FAQ
What currency does Bali use, and what is the rate in November 2026?
The Indonesian rupiah (IDR, written Rp). Bank Indonesia's JISDOR reference rate was Rp 18,161 per US dollar on 2 November 2026, so Rp 100,000 is about $5.50. Banknotes run from Rp 1,000 to Rp 100,000. The law requires the rupiah for payments inside Indonesia, so pay in rupiah, not dollars.
Is it better to withdraw at an ATM or change cash in Bali?
An ATM in a bank is the simplest, because there is no counting trick and the rate is your bank's. Use a licensed changer or a bank counter if you carry foreign cash. The Bali Sun advises withdrawing at an ATM where possible rather than exchanging money. Compare the changer's rate with Bank Indonesia's before you hand over cash.
How much can I withdraw from a Bali ATM?
It depends on the machine. Wise says few ATMs in Indonesia give more than 3 million rupiah (about $165) per transaction, and Wikivoyage reports that machines pay out only 25 to 30 notes at a time. You may need several withdrawals, and each can carry a fee, so check your home bank's daily limit and fees before you fly.
How do I know a Bali money changer is licensed?
Look for a Bank Indonesia certificate, a registered company name and a licensed-changer logo with a QR code. Scan the code to check the business and its licence. Bank Indonesia Bali counted 601 licensed offices in 2025 and lists them on moneychangerbali.com. A licensed changer also asks for your ID.
Do shops and restaurants in Bali accept cards?
Hotels, larger restaurants and shops do, and some places add 2 to 5 percent. Warungs, parking attendants, market stalls, beach vendors and many ticket gates need cash. Keep small notes of Rp 10,000 to Rp 50,000. If a terminal asks whether to charge in rupiah or your home currency, choose rupiah.
Can tourists use QRIS in Bali?
Visitors from Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, South Korea, Japan and China can scan QRIS codes directly with their home apps, according to Bank Indonesia Bali in August 2026. Trials with Saudi Arabia and India are under way. Visitors from other countries use a card or cash. A QR payment needs mobile data.
Do ATMs work on Nyepi in Bali?
Not reliably. In 2022 Bank Indonesia switched off all ATM services in Bali for about 54 hours, and in 2026 part of the BCA network went dark from 21:00 on the eve. Nyepi 2027 is Monday 8 March, so withdraw your cash two days before.
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