What kind of money does bali use

The Indonesian Rupiah is the only currency accepted at all Balinese businesses. The larger hotels and tour operators may accept foreign currency but at an expensive premium.

I have written a comprehensive guide to Bali Currency including detailed descriptions of the banknotes, current exchange rates and a guide to what some basics cost when on holiday in Bali. You are also best off taking cash to the markets for buying some of those genuine fake t-shirts, bags, hats and shoes along with the obligatory souvenirs for the family and friends back home. And taxis only accept cash. Yes, you can at most hotels, but the premium for changing money at a hotel is usually very steep.

Changing currency is a profitable revenue stream for hotels and bargaining for a better exchange rate is usually out of the question. They often charge a transaction fee or commission on top of the uncompetitive exchange rate, so changing cash, particularly small amounts, is prohibitively expensive. I highly recommend exchanging your cash for local currency at a reputable money changer. Using money changers in Bali will get you the best exchange rate and value for money than any other method.

The problem is that there are still many unscrupulous money changers looking to take advantage of unsuspecting tourists. There are several reputable and trustworthy money changers in Bali and I highly recommend you read my article on how to exchange cash using local money changers. There are many people who, unfortunately, do get ripped off because they use dodgy money changers in the many side streets and alleyways of Bali, particularly in Kuta, Legian and Seminyak.

Without doubt, the most efficient and recommended method for exchanging your money for local Indonesian Rupiah is using the money changers.

You can find money changers pretty much everywhere in Bali, although I recommend only using those who are on the trusted list of Bali Money Changers. In that article, I also cover which money changers to use and how to avoid the bad ones.

Exchanging cash for Indonesian Rupiah at a money changer will get you a better exchange rate than using a bank, withdrawing from an ATM, changing at a hotel or using the exchange booths at your departure airport.

Generally, yes. There are ATMs all over Bali, although there is a continuing problem with skimming machines being used by criminals to capture your card details and either on-sell them or use the cards for purchases. The official currency of Bali is the same money used in all Indonesian islands: the Indonesian rupiah. This is the only currency officially used on the island. It's represented by the currency code IDR and the currency symbol Rp. Prices are usually quoted with the abbreviation before the price while units of a thousand are represented with a full stop, rather than a comma.

The thousands are also often implied. If you see a price tag of Rp. Australian visitors are so entrenched in the island's tourism that it's natural to wonder if you can use Aussie dollars in Kuta or Ubud. In short, Australian dollars are not accepted across the island. Despite our frequent travels there, the Aussie dollar has no value to locals and will need to be converted into Indonesian money before you hit up the markets or bars.

The Indonesian rupiah IDR is made up of six banknote denominations and five coin denominations. Banknotes are available in the following values: Rp. Coins are available as Rp. But these values are so insignificant Rp. The AUD to IDR exchange rate depends on a multitude of factors, including recent events, politics, and the state of the Indonesian economy. While bank cards are accepted in some Balinese businesses more on that below , cash is still the predominant payment method on the island and will be essential in more rural areas.

You might be looking at a local bank fee, a foreign withdrawal fee, a currency conversion fee, and more. Changing money on arrival is a feasible option — and one that many tourists take. But it does come with several caveats. Most tourists are tempted to exchange their money at the Ngurah Rai International Airport.

Many official banks outside the airport offer money exchanges at better deals. While many hotels also have a bureau de change desk, they typically offer poor deals.

You could be looking at a transaction fee, commission, AND an uncompetitive rate. There are reputable money changers in the bigger tourist destinations, though you have to be careful who you deal with. Avoid changing money in back alleys, attached to other businesses, in unofficial kiosks, or with lone individuals. This makes it a great idea to buy your Indonesian money before you leave home.

You can load it with credit before you arrive and top it up during your stay, so that the money you need is always to hand. You can then use it like a credit card to pay for purchases and withdraw cash from ATMs. They are much rarer in the north and eastern reaches of the island. We use cookies to provide you with a better experience. By continuing to use our site you accept our cookie policy. This series features images of traditional dance on one side, and famous national heroes on the other.

The Rupiah comes in notes of , meaning you will most often be dealing with amounts of 10, on your travels in Bali - which can get confusing! Denominations of Indonesian banknotes are: Rp 1, - these are yellow Rp 2, - these are grey Rp 5, - these are brown Rp 10, - these are purple Rp 20, - these are green Rp 50, - these are blue Rp , - these are red Coins do exist and are in circulation in Indonesia, but they are not commonly used.

Denominations of coins are 25, 50,, , and 1, Travelex Tip: It can be common to make mistakes with Indonesian money, especially in busy crowded markets.

Take your time to read banknotes properly to avoid handing over the wrong amount! Most Balinese people will speak both Indonesian, and Balinese dialect. However, because many Indonesians come to Bali from other islands to work, Indonesian is the most common language used within the tourism sector 3. You may also find that many people speak English in Bali.

English Indonesian Do you speak English? Bisa bicara bahasa Inggris? How much does this cost? Berapa harganya?