The currency in Bali is the Indonesian rupiah. They have 6 banknotes called rupiah and 5 coins called sen. The most common notes you’ll probably be dealing with are the blue Rp. 50,000 banknotes or the reddish-pink Rp. 100,000.
Yes Bali does take debit cards especially those linked to Mastercard or Visa, less so with American Express. Most debit cards issued in Australia will work in Bali and it’s best to advise your bank that you are travelling to Bali before you leave so they don’t cancel your card while you are away. Debit cards work in a similar way to in Australia, tap and pay or punch in your digits and pay. Always accept the local currency when the DCC screen appears to save money.
You should take both cash and a card to Bali. A travel money card is better than cash for security reasons and that in most places in Bali you can pay with a card. No one can access your cash unless they have your 4 digit pin. If you lose your travel money card you can quickly report it lost or stolen to stop unauthorised transactions. Cash is better for tipping, on transport and in markets.
It’s not advisable to carry too much money into Bali, while there is no limit on the amount of foreign currency you bring into Bali, it’s better to only bring enough for 2 days.
Yes, it is better to have a little bit of Indonesian Rupiah before you arrive. You need cash to pay for your visa when you arrive, cash to pay for transport and tipping in accommodation. The Indonesian exchange rate can be found at the Bank Indonesia page or our home page.
The best debit card for Bali charges no international transaction fees and offers market exchange rates on currency conversion, this is the Wise Multi Currency card. It has no set up costs, no ongoing costs or fees for inactivity.v
Like all reputable money exchanges, we are registered with AUSTRAC and regulated by the Australian Securities and Investment Commission (ASIC).
S Money complies with the relevant laws pertaining to privacy, anti-money laundering and counter-terrorism finance. This means you are required to provide I.D. when you place an order. It also means the order must be paid for by the same person ordering the currency and you must show your identification again when receiving your order.
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