Last checked: November 2026. Prices and rules change, so confirm before you go.
Money in Indonesia comes down to this: carry cash for daily life, use cards in hotels, malls and bigger restaurants, and pull rupiah from bank ATMs rather than changing piles of dollars. Warung, street food, parking attendants, small shops and most of rural Indonesia run on notes.
The currency is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR, written “Rp”). In late October 2026 it sat around IDR 18,000 to USD 1. So IDR 100,000 is roughly USD 5.50. Rates move, so check a live converter before you go.
Quick answer
| Situation | What to use |
|---|---|
| Street food, warung, markets, small shops | Cash |
| Grab and Gojek | Card in the app (Grab is easier) or cash |
| Hotels, malls, chain restaurants, supermarkets | Card usually fine |
| Getting cash | Bank ATMs (BCA, BNI, Mandiri, BRI and others) |
| Changing foreign cash | Licensed money changers or banks, not backstreet booths |
| Paying by QR | QRIS, if your home bank or wallet is linked |
Rupiah notes and what they’re worth
Current notes are IDR 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000. Bank Indonesia released a refreshed 2022 design, but older notes are still legal tender, so you’ll see both.
Rough value at IDR 18,000 to the dollar:
- IDR 10,000: about USD 0.55. A bottle of water and change, or a parking fee.
- IDR 20,000: about USD 1.10. A simple street snack or a short scooter ride.
- IDR 50,000: about USD 2.80. A decent warung meal with a drink.
- IDR 100,000: about USD 5.50. The red note. ATMs mostly give you these.
The zeros mess with your head for the first two days. A trick: knock off the last three zeros and you’re talking “thousands”. Locals do it too. “Lima puluh ribu” or just “lima puluh” means 50,000.
The 50,000 (blue) and 100,000 (red) notes look a bit alike in dim light. Check before you hand one over.
ATMs in Indonesia
ATMs are everywhere in cities and tourist areas. They thin out fast in rural areas and small islands, so stock up before you go somewhere remote.
Fees
Expect two layers:
- The Indonesian bank’s fee. Mandiri, for example, announced an access fee of IDR 50,000 per withdrawal for most foreign cards from February 2026 (JCB and UnionPay cards were excluded). Other banks vary, and fees change. The ATM screen should show the charge before you confirm. If it doesn’t, cancel and try another bank.
- Your home bank’s fee. Foreign transaction fees, flat ATM fees, or both. Check before you leave. A travel-friendly debit card can save you a lot.
Because of the per-withdrawal fee, take out larger amounts less often instead of IDR 500,000 every day.
Withdrawal limits
Per-transaction limits are usually somewhere around IDR 1,000,000–3,000,000 depending on the bank and the machine. Your home card’s daily limit also applies. Need more? Do two withdrawals, or try a different bank’s machine.
Safe ATM habits
- Use ATMs inside banks, malls or minimarts (Indomaret, Alfamart) rather than lone machines on dark streets.
- Cover the keypad. Card skimming happens, especially in busy tourist areas.
- Decline dynamic currency conversion. If the ATM offers to charge you in your home currency, say no and choose rupiah. The “convenience” rate is worse.
- Take your card. Some machines give cash first and card second. Tourists walk off and leave the card in the slot more often than you’d think.
Cards: where they work
Visa and Mastercard are accepted at hotels, malls, supermarkets, airline counters, bigger restaurants and most cafes in tourist areas. Amex is patchier.
Small places often add a surcharge of a few percent for card payment, or have a minimum spend. Ask “bisa kartu?” (can I pay by card?) before you order.
Contactless tapping is becoming more common but don’t count on it outside cities. Always carry a backup card in a different bag.
QRIS: the QR code on every counter
You’ll see the red and white QRIS sticker everywhere, from boutique cafes to market stalls. It’s Indonesia’s national QR payment standard, run under Bank Indonesia.
Can tourists use it? Sometimes. Bank Indonesia has linked QRIS with apps from several countries, including Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Japan and South Korea, with China and others in progress. If your home banking app or e-wallet is part of that network, you can scan and pay in rupiah. Otherwise, you’d need an Indonesian e-wallet, which usually means a local number and ID checks.
Check with your bank or wallet before you fly. If it’s not supported, cash it is.
Changing money
Bring some cash from home as a backup, ideally US dollars, euros, Australian dollars or Singapore dollars. Money changers are fussy about condition: torn, marked or very old notes often get refused or a worse rate. Bring clean, newer notes.
Where to change
- Banks: safe, fair, slower.
- Licensed money changers: a proper shop with a counter, a printed rate board and a receipt. In Bali, the established chains with their own branches are your safest bet.
- Airport counters: fine for a small amount to get started. Rates are usually worse.
The counting scam (especially in Bali)
It’s been reported for years and still catches people. The rate on the board looks too good. The teller counts your rupiah in front of you, hands it over for you to count, then “recounts” it once more and palms a few notes. You walk out short.
How to dodge it:
- If the rate beats every bank and chain nearby, walk away. That’s the bait.
- Count the money yourself, twice, at the counter.
- Once you’ve counted it, don’t hand it back. If they ask to recount, say no, or recount it again yourself after.
- Avoid booths that are just a desk in the back of a souvenir or phone shop.
- Insist on a receipt.
How much cash to carry
For a typical day of food, short rides and small purchases, IDR 300,000–700,000 (around USD 17–40) covers most tourists comfortably outside of hotels. Keep it spread out: some in your wallet, some in your bag, a card somewhere else.
Keep small notes handy. Parking attendants, toilets, drivers and warung often can’t break a 100,000. Swap big notes for small at minimarts by buying a drink.
If you’re bringing a lot of cash into the country, customs rules require you to declare amounts of IDR 100 million or more (or the foreign-currency equivalent). That won’t affect most tourists. For other arrival rules, see the Entering Indonesia section.
Common mistakes
- Leaving all your cash in one place. Pickpocketing isn’t rampant, but losing a bag is.
- Running out before a remote trip. ATMs on small islands may be empty or offline. Withdraw on the mainland.
- Accepting home-currency conversion. At ATMs and card terminals, always choose rupiah.
- Forgetting to tell your bank. A blocked card on day two is a miserable way to start.
- Haggling in dollars. Prices in rupiah are clearer, and you’ll pay less.
Paying for rides? Browse our Travel Tips. Moving here longer term and need a local bank account? Start with the Living in Indonesia section.
FAQ
Should I bring cash or use ATMs in Indonesia?
Both. Bring a small cash backup in a major currency, then use bank ATMs for rupiah. It’s usually cheaper than changing large amounts of foreign cash.
Can I use US dollars in Indonesia?
Not for everyday purchases. Prices are in rupiah. A few tour operators or hotels quote in dollars, but you’ll get better value paying in IDR.
Which ATMs work with foreign cards?
Most major bank ATMs, including BCA, BNI, Mandiri and BRI, accept Visa and Mastercard debit cards. Fees and limits differ by bank, so check the screen before confirming.
Is it safe to use money changers in Bali?
Yes, at licensed, established ones with posted rates and receipts. Avoid changers offering suspiciously good rates and always count your cash yourself.
Do I need to tip in rupiah?
Yes, tip in rupiah. Small amounts in local currency are easier for staff to use than foreign coins or notes.
How much is IDR 100,000 in US dollars?
About USD 5.50 at late-2026 rates. Check a live converter, as the rupiah moves.
Featured photo: rupiah banknotes, by Jonny-mt, via Wikimedia Commons, licensed under CC BY 3.0.
