Getting the Best Exchange Rate in Bali: A Complete Guide in 2026

*Pricing claim based on comparative data for select airports and passes. Live pricing is subject to exchange rate fluctuations.
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Bali is the perfect tourist destination – whether you’re looking for a peaceful yoga retreat, a beautiful dive site, or a place to party. In fact, out of the 15.39 million international visitors that visited Indonesia in 2025¹, 6.94 million of them were visitors to Bali². If you’re one of them, you’re going to need some money to make the most of your time on the island.

In this article, we’ll cover what you need to know about getting the best exchange rate in Bali, how to understand local Balinese currency, where the safest places to exchange money are, and how to avoid getting hit with hefty conversion fees.

What is the currency in Bali?

Bali is part of Indonesia, where the official currency is the rupiah. You might also see it written as RP, or using the currency code IDR.

Rupiah come in both coins and notes, from the smallest IDR 100 coin, up to notes worth IDR 100,000. Coins are seldom used by travellers, as their value is so small. Banknotes are brightly coloured to make it easier to distinguish between them, so you’ll be able to differentiate between the notes in your wallet.

For purchases like street snacks, buying trinkets at markets, or a quick meal at a local warung, you’ll want to keep a good amount of small notes ranging from IDR 1,000 to IDR 20,000. For bills at restaurants or shopping malls, you’ll want to make sure you have enough IDR 50,000 and IDR 100,000 notes for those.

How to understand Balinese currency

If you don’t want to keep pulling out your phone to convert prices every time, here’s an easy mental trick you can use. At the time of writing, 1 AUD is worth about IDR 11,700. Simply remove four zeros from IDR prices to get a rough estimate of how much an item or bill will cost in AUD.

For example, if your restaurant bill comes up to 158,947, you can simply remove the last four digits to know that it should come up to around 15 AUD, but it will most likely be lower than that. Checking against the current exchange rate (at time of writing), that will cost you just 13.56 AUD.

*Details accurate as of 5 April 2025

Where to exchange money in Bali

Whatever you’re planning on doing in Bali, you’ll need some cash. Here are some common ways to change your Australian dollars (AUD) to rupiah, so you can pick the best one for your needs.

Authorised currency exchange shops

Bali has a thriving tourist industry, and so there are many currency exchange services available. As you might expect, some currency exchange shops offer a better deal than others – and there are a number of common scams to watch out for.

If you choose to use a currency exchange store once you arrive in Bali, look out for one which advertises itself as Pedagang Valuta Asing Berizin or PVA Berizin. You’ll usually see this written on a green, shield-shaped sign in the window, which means it’s a money exchange service that’s authorised by the Indonesian monetary authorities. You’ll also want to make sure they display their registration number prominently, so that you can readily identify them as authorised money changers.

Make sure you’re very clear about the exchange rate you’re being offered before you hand over your money. You should also count your notes yourself right at the counter before you leave, as unscrupulous exchange services have been known to show customers their exchange in large notes, but then replace them last minute with lower denominations using some pretty impressive sleight of hand. Don’t get caught out.

Below is a list of some of the reputable money changers you can visit in Bali, such as Central Kuta Money Exchange and others. Most of them have branches all over Bali, especially in Kuta, Seminyak, and Ubud.

• Central Kuta Money Exchange³: Branches in Kuta, Legian, Padma, Nusa Dua, Sanur, Canggu, Seminyak, Jimbaran, Ubud, Denpasar, and more
• PT. Dirgahayu Valuta Prima⁴: In operation since 1984, with branches in Denpasar, Kuta, Ubud, Tabanan, Benoa, Ungasan, and more
• PT. Bali Maspintjinra (BMC)⁵: In operation since 1993, with branches in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, and more
• PT. Made Putroe Bakri (MPB)⁶: Branches in Denpasar, Kuta, Kerobokan, and Sanur

Withdrawing from ATMs and avoiding DCC

If exchanging money seems too tedious a task, withdrawing from an ATM is a simpler way to get the cash needed.

However, you will have to keep in mind Dynamic Currency Conversion (DCC) and how it might result in you paying more. DCC is an option that banks and merchants offer for you to pay in your home currency. While this means you get the convenience of knowing how much you’ll be charged in AUD, the final figure presented usually hides a combination of hidden fees and marked-up exchange rates.

Below is a table showing how much in extra fees you might be paying, based on whether you choose to pay in the local currency or use DCC with a card.

(Note: Conversion rates are estimates based on overseas credit card charges and an average 6% DCC markup)

You should always choose to pay in the local currency, as that will offer better value in every situation. For a more detailed breakdown with actual real-life examples, check out this article on DCC.

Even better? You can get a Wise multi-currency card that lets you convert currencies at the mid-market rate, with no hidden markups, and low and transparent fees so you get a bang for your buck.

Exchanging money at a local bank

You’ll be able to find a bank easily enough in Bali – there are both local banks and some big international brands available. Many branches will offer money exchange services, although you might be limited by the opening hours, as many banks will close by 3pm on weekdays.

Here is a list of major banks in Bali where you’ll be able to exchange money:

• Bank Mandiri⁷: This is the largest bank in Indonesia by total assets, with 50 branches in Bali.
• Bank Rakyat Indonesia (BRI)⁸: The second-largest bank in Indonesia and also the oldest, with multiple branches in Bali.
• Bank Negara Indonesia (BNI)⁹: You’ll be able to find a BNI branch almost anywhere in Bali, with multiple branches island-wide.

Money exchange in Bali airport and hotels

It can be tempting to grab some cash as you pass through the airport, either as you leave home or arrive in Bali. However, airport currency exchanges typically don’t offer a good deal because there’s little genuine competition, so you pay a high premium for the convenience.

As with airports, hotel currency exchange services tend to be convenient but expensive. Make sure you’re getting a fair deal before you hand over your cash.

Unless you absolutely require some cash on hand for your initial taxi ride, it’s recommended to go to an authorised money changer instead for better rates.

How to spot counterfeit notes in Bali

While you most likely won’t get counterfeit IDR notes if you’re exchanging money at reputable sources in Bali, you might occasionally receive a fake one back as change. There are a few ways to check if the note you’ve received is fake.

First, you’ll want to take a good, long look at it. The security thread in the IDR 100,000, IDR 50,000, and IDR 20,000 bills should change colour when moving the bill, and the IDR 10,000 bill’s numbers will change colours as well.

Each denomination celebrates a different Indonesian hero, with an embedded watermark. Larger denominations also have a Rectoverso logo of the Bank Indonesia (BI) symbol on the front of the banknote.

Next, you’ll want to touch the note. IDR bills are made of a cotton fibre that has a slightly rough texture, and parts of the bill are embossed, such as the portrait of the Indonesian hero, the state symbol, the denomination number, and some raised lines on the side for visually-impaired people to identify the notes by touch.

What to do if you lose your card or cash

Unfortunately, while there’s nothing you can do if you lose your cash, you can take action if you lose your cards.

First, you’ll want to immediately freeze your debit and credit cards via their respective banking apps, so that if your cards are picked up, they won’t be able to be used. However, that does mean that you’ll most likely be stuck without any way to pay for your expenses if you freeze all your cards.

That’s why travelling with a digital card like Wise is a great safety net. Even if you freeze your physical card, you’ll be able to request an extra digital one in the app immediately. You can get up to three at any time, and you’ll be able to replace them to get new card details if necessary.

How much rupiah should I take to Bali?

This is highly dependent on your budget and travelling style. However, you can never go wrong with bringing cash for smaller vendors and taxis, as well as a travel card like Wise for larger expenses like beach clubs and meals in restaurants.

Using a travel card like Wise will also allow you to withdraw cash from ATMs at the mid-market rate while avoiding extra hidden fees, so you won’t have to carry too much cash with you.

If you’re curious, you can check the mid-market rate below:

Live Like a Local, Spend Like One Too with Wise

The Wise card is a simple way to save up to 7x when you spend in foreign currencies online. You can spend in 40+ currencies at mid-market rate and low, transparent fees, which usually gets you the best value for your money. Simply create a free Wise account, and top-up AUD to get started.

You can get up to 3 free virtual cards with unique details, so you can make convenient and secure online payments instantly or add them to your Google or Apple Pay wallet. You can spend directly with the Wise card in AUD and let auto-conversion do the trick or convert in advance to your desired currency. Easily manage, freeze, or delete your virtual cards using the Wise app. Plus, you can order a physical Wise card to make chip and pin payments, as well as get free international ATM withdrawals each month.

For your online transactions, the Wise card makes spending internationally cheaper and easier.

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This general advice does not take into account your objectives, financial circumstances or needs and you should consider if it is appropriate for you. Savings claim based on our rates vs. selected Australian banks and other similar providers in Jan 2025. To learn more please visit https://payout-surge.live/au/compare%3C/a%3E%3C/p%3E

Please see Terms of Use and product availability for your region or visit Wise Fees & Pricing for the most up to date pricing and fee information.

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This advice has been prepared without taking account of your individual objectives, financial situation or needs. Before acting on the advice, you should consider the appropriateness of the advice, having regard to your objectives, financial situation and needs

Sources:
1. Antara News Agency
2. The Jakarta Globe
3. Central Kuta Money Exchange
4. PT. Dirgahayu Valuta Prima
5. PT. Bali Maspintjinra
6. PT. Made Putroe Bakri
7. Bank Mandiri
8. Bank Rakyat Indonesia
9. Bank Negara Indonesia