Money in Indonesia: currency, ATMs, cards and tipping

Indonesia prices everything in rupiah, so the practical question is how much cash to hold on a given day and whether your card will work where you are going. The table below sets out what to expect by traveller type and by month, using the site's 2026 estimates.

The rupiah is written Rp and abbreviated IDR. Notes run from Rp1,000 to Rp100,000, and the practical rule is to keep a stack of small notes: warungs, parking attendants, temple offerings, bemo drivers and market stalls all work in cash and rarely have change for a Rp100,000 note.

Prices look large because of the zeros. A warung meal of nasi goreng is Rp20,000–40,000, a large Bintang in a bar Rp50,000–80,000, and a Grab car 5 km in Bali Rp40,000–80,000. Carry roughly Rp300,000–1,000,000 in mixed notes depending on your tier, and top up before weekends and public holidays when ATMs empty faster.

Coins exist but are not worth chasing. Round up rather than wait for exact change, and keep a few Rp2,000 and Rp5,000 notes for offerings and parking.

Use ATMs attached to a bank branch, ideally inside a bank lobby or a mall during opening hours. Cover the keypad, check the card slot for anything loose, and decline dynamic currency conversion — always choose to be charged in rupiah, not in your home currency, so your own bank sets the rate.

Cards work in hotels, malls, tourist restaurants and larger shops, but not in warungs, markets or small guesthouses. Carry a backup card and some cash; a blocked card in a village is a long way from a fix. Notify your bank before you travel and keep the emergency number offline.

Change money only at authorised changers with a visible licence, and count the notes before you leave the counter. Avoid street changers offering rates that look too good; the shortfall usually appears in the count. Hotels and airports are convenient but usually give a worse rate than a licensed changer in town.

Tipping is not obligatory in Indonesia and locals do not expect it, but rounding up and small notes are normal and appreciated. In restaurants, check the bill first: many places in Bali and Jakarta already add a service charge and tax, in which case no extra tip is needed. If nothing is added, 5–10% is a reasonable tip for good service.

For drivers, guides and hotel staff, a small cash tip is the norm. Rp10,000–50,000 covers a short ride, a bag carried to your room or a day's guiding; a full-day private driver at Rp600,000–900,000 is usually tipped on top if the day went well. Spa and massage staff are often tipped Rp20,000–50,000. Keep small notes ready so you are not asking for change from a tip.

Tipping in cash in rupiah is simplest. Adding a tip to a card payment is possible in hotels but the money does not always reach the staff member, so cash is the safer choice.

The most frequent money problems are a card swallowed by an ATM, a bad exchange rate at a street changer, and running out of cash on an island or in a village. Withdraw during bank hours where possible, keep two cards in separate bags, and carry enough rupiah to cover two days in case the nearest ATM is empty or broken.

Watch for card skimming at standalone machines and for 'helpful' strangers offering to assist at an ATM. If a machine eats your card, report it to the bank branch, not to anyone who approaches you. Keep a photo of your card and the bank's local phone number.

Finally, budget for the Bali tourist levy of Rp150,000 per visit and for cash-only extras such as parking, temple donations and boat tickets. These small costs add up over a trip and are easier to absorb if you keep a dedicated cash pocket.

Facts on this page are cross-checked against the sources listed below and the site's Indonesia country page. Prices are 2026 estimates in rupiah. Anything we could not confirm is marked check.