← Part of the Indonesia money guide
Indonesiachecked Jul 2026Do I need cash in Indonesia, or can I use cards?
Short answer: cards in tourist hubs like Bali and Jakarta, and rupiah cash for daily life. Watch the big numbers and the ATM withdrawal caps. Here is how to handle it.
At a glance
Currency
Indonesian rupiah (IDR)
Cards
Hotels, malls, upscale (Bali, Jakarta)
Cash for
Warungs, markets, drivers
Watch
Big numbers, ATM caps
Both, and carry cash. Indonesia takes cards at hotels, malls and upscale restaurants in tourist hubs like Bali and Jakarta, but warungs (local eateries), markets, small shops and drivers are largely cash. The currency is the rupiah, which has a lot of zeros (amounts run into the tens and hundreds of thousands), so mind the notes. ATMs often cap withdrawals and dispense set denominations. Choose rupiah, not dollars, on any card or ATM.
Cash-reliant, and big numbers
Indonesia takes cards at hotels, malls and upscale restaurants in Bali, Jakarta and tourist hubs, and contactless is growing there. But warungs (local eateries), markets, small shops and private drivers are largely cash, so carry rupiah.
The rupiah has a lot of zeros: amounts run into the tens and hundreds of thousands, so check the notes before you pay, since large and small denominations can look similar.
Choose rupiah, not dollars
When a card terminal or ATM asks whether to charge in dollars or rupiah, always choose rupiah. Dollars trigger dynamic currency conversion at a rate about 3 to 8% worse than your own bank's. Decline it every time.
For cash, use ATMs at major banks (such as BCA, Mandiri or BNI). Many cap withdrawals per transaction and dispense either 50,000 or 100,000 notes (the machine usually says which), so plan around it. Use a debit card to avoid cash-advance fees.
ATMs, Bali drivers, and paying
Break large notes at hotels or bigger shops so you have smaller ones for warungs and small vendors. A private driver for the day in Bali, a common way to get around, is usually paid in cash, in rupiah.
For tipping norms, see tipping in Indonesia, and for the wider picture, the Indonesia money guide.
Common questions
Quick answers.
Do I need cash in Indonesia?
Yes. Cards work at hotels, malls and upscale restaurants in Bali, Jakarta and tourist hubs, but warungs, markets, small shops and drivers are largely cash. Carry rupiah.
Should I pay in rupiah or dollars in Indonesia?
Always rupiah. If a card machine or ATM offers dollars, decline: that dynamic currency conversion adds roughly 3 to 8%, and your own bank's rate is better.
Why does Indonesian money have so many zeros?
The rupiah is a low-value unit, so everyday amounts run into the tens and hundreds of thousands. Large and small notes can look similar, so check before you pay.
Do Indonesian ATMs limit withdrawals?
Often. Many cap the amount per transaction and dispense either 50,000 or 100,000 notes (the machine usually indicates which). Use ATMs at major banks like BCA, Mandiri or BNI, and always choose rupiah.
More on Indonesia
The little money things nobody warns you about.
- Tipping in IndonesiaIndonesia has a light tipping culture, and the main thing to know is the plus plus (++) service charge at hotels and restaurants. Where it is added you need not tip; where it is not, a small tip is appreciated. Here is what you actually owe.
- Staying connected in IndonesiaCoverage in Indonesia is not one thing, it is a carrier question. If your trip stays in South Bali almost any plan is fine, but the moment you head to Nusa Penida, the Gili Islands or a remote dive site, the network behind your eSIM decides whether you have signal.
- Taxi apps in Bali, and the pickup zones to knowBali has no trains and barely any public transport, so the apps matter, but a local taxi mafia complicates them in a few tourist spots. Here is which app to install, how to spot a fake Bluebird, and where the apps quietly stop working.
Sources, and how this was checked
Last checkedJul 2026
- Bank Indonesiaofficial exchange rate information
- US State DepartmentIndonesia country information
Our own readIndonesia takes cards in tourist hubs but daily life runs on cash, and the rupiah's many zeros plus ATM caps are practical hurdles. The rupiah rate moves, and the firm rule is to decline dollar conversion. Checked July 2026.