By Michèle · Updated on
Money and payments in Bali
In Bali you pay in rupiah: €1 is about IDR 20,000. About cards and cash machines, cash, bargaining, tips and the costs you should budget for.
In short
- You pay in Indonesian rupiah (IDR). €1 is about IDR 20,000.
- Paying by card and withdrawing cash is easy with a credit card or a debit card that works outside Europe (check with your bank). Take cash with you to the countryside.
- In hotels and restaurants in the south and Ubud you can pay by card; in warungs and at markets you can't.
- Tips are not expected, but they are appreciated.
The numbers are big: a meal in a warung costs IDR 30,000 to 60,000, or €1.50 to €3. Drop four zeros and divide by two, and you have roughly the amount in euros. Use cash machines inside or next to a bank or supermarket; standalone machines on the street are sometimes tampered with. When you pay or withdraw by card, always choose to be charged in rupiah, not in euros.
At markets and stalls, bargaining is normal. In shops with price tags and in warungs it isn't. A tip of 5 to 10 percent in a restaurant is nice, unless a service charge has already been added. For Dek Leonk, after a multi-day trip, IDR 100,000 to 200,000 per day is usual.
Costs to budget for: the tourist levy (IDR 150,000 per person), the visa (IDR 500,000 per person) and entrance fees of IDR 30,000 to 100,000 per temple or waterfall.
From the blog
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