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Money in Indonesia — ATMs, Cards, Cash, and QRIS

How money actually works in Indonesia: rupiah denominations, ATM access, card acceptance, the QRIS digital-payment standard, money changers, and what to bring.

5 min read

Indonesia's payment infrastructure has modernised rapidly. ATMs are widely available in cities, card payments work in most mid-range and upscale venues, and the QRIS digital-payment standard now reaches even street food stalls. But cash is still needed for everyday transactions in many places, and exchange-rate scams persist. This guide covers what you need to know.

Currency basics

The Indonesian rupiah (IDR, symbol Rp) is the national currency. At time of writing the exchange rate is roughly:

  • 1 USD ≈ Rp 16,000
  • 1 EUR ≈ Rp 17,000
  • 1 GBP ≈ Rp 20,000
  • 1 AUD ≈ Rp 10,500

Notes in circulation: Rp 1,000, 2,000, 5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000, 100,000. Coins (Rp 100, 200, 500, 1,000) exist but are rarely used in practice; small change is often rounded up or down or replaced with sweets.

The "many zeros" tendency is the main beginner trap. A Rp 100,000 note is about USD 6.30 — a typical mid-range restaurant bill for two. A Rp 1,000,000 (one million) is about USD 63 — a moderate hotel night. Mentally divide rupiah by 16,000 (or 15,000 as a rough rule) to get USD equivalent.

ATMs

ATMs are widely available in cities and tourist areas. Most accept international Visa, Mastercard, Cirrus, Maestro, and Plus network cards. The major reliable Indonesian banks:

  • BCA (Bank Central Asia): largest private bank, excellent ATM network, very reliable
  • Mandiri: largest state bank, extensive network
  • BNI (Bank Negara Indonesia): state bank, good network
  • BRI (Bank Rakyat Indonesia): largest branch and ATM network, including rural areas

Withdrawal limits: typically Rp 1,250,000 (USD 80) per transaction with foreign cards; some ATMs allow up to Rp 2,500,000 or Rp 3,000,000. Daily limits are usually Rp 10,000,000 (USD 630). Multiple withdrawals are often needed.

Fees: most Indonesian banks charge no ATM fee for foreign withdrawals (the cost is on your card issuer side). Some standalone ATMs in tourist areas charge Rp 25,000-50,000 per transaction.

Skimming: real but limited. Use ATMs inside bank branches when possible. Avoid standalone ATMs at petrol stations and small shops. Cover your PIN.

Cards

Visa and Mastercard are widely accepted at:

  • Hotels (almost universal at mid-range and above)
  • Mid-range and upscale restaurants
  • Major supermarkets (Indomaret, Alfamart accept some cards; larger chains all do)
  • Mall shops
  • Larger tour and ticket operators

American Express acceptance is more limited but improving. JCB is widely accepted in tourist areas with significant Japanese traffic (especially Bali).

Card terminals are usually brought to your table at restaurants. Surcharge fees (2-3%) are common; ask in advance.

Contactless / tap-to-pay works at many terminals.

QRIS — the Indonesian digital payment standard

The big innovation of the late 2020s is QRIS (Quick Response Code Indonesian Standard), a unified QR-code payment system that works across all Indonesian e-wallets and many bank apps.

In practice: walk into any restaurant, hawker stall, taxi, or shop in any Indonesian city, and there will likely be a small QRIS QR code displayed. You scan with your bank's mobile app or with a QRIS-enabled e-wallet (Grab Pay, GoPay, OVO, DANA, ShopeePay), confirm the amount, and pay.

For foreigners, the cleanest options:

  • Grab Pay (funded via international Visa/Mastercard): works for QRIS payments at most venues
  • OVO (the original e-wallet, partner with Tokopedia/Bukalapak): works similarly
  • Foreign-issued cards with QRIS support: increasingly available

If you'll be in Indonesia for more than a few days, setting up Grab and using Grab Pay for QRIS payments is a major convenience upgrade.

Money changers

Use only licensed money changers with the blue PVA Bermutu logo. These are regulated and offer competitive rates without short-counting scams.

The major reliable chains in tourist areas:

  • Central Kuta Money Exchange (Bali)
  • BMC Money Changer
  • Dirgahayu Valuta Prima
  • Various others with PVA certification

Avoid: unlicensed street operators offering "no commission" rates significantly better than the market — they almost always make it back through short-counting.

Count cash in front of the clerk before leaving. Don't accept a second count by the clerk after you've counted.

Comparison rates: check xe.com or Google for the mid-market rate. Legitimate money changers offer about 1-2% below mid-market. ATMs are usually competitive or better.

What to bring

For most visitors:

  • One or two international credit/debit cards (separate from your wallet for security)
  • A small amount of USD or EUR cash for emergencies (USD 200-300 equivalent)
  • Notification to your bank that you'll be using your card in Indonesia (modern banks usually don't need this, but some still do)
  • Travel insurance with cash-loss coverage

Don't bring large quantities of USD cash to convert — ATM withdrawals in rupiah are usually cheaper.

Tipping

Tipping is not deeply ingrained in Indonesian culture but is appreciated:

  • Restaurants: 10% service is often added at mid-range and upscale; otherwise rounding up the bill is sufficient
  • Hotel staff: Rp 10,000-20,000 for housekeeping daily, Rp 20,000-50,000 for porters
  • Drivers: rounding up; Rp 50,000-100,000 for a full-day private driver if service is good
  • Tour guides: Rp 100,000-200,000 per day for a small group
  • Spa: 10-15%
  • Hair stylists: 10%

Costs benchmark

Rough daily budget tiers for a couple (per person per day) in Indonesia:

  • Budget: USD 25-40 (guesthouses, street food, public transport)
  • Mid-range: USD 60-100 (mid-range hotels, restaurants, mix of transport)
  • Upscale: USD 150-300 (4-5 star hotels, fine dining, private drivers)
  • Luxury: USD 500+ (5-star resorts, fine dining, private guides)

Bali and Jakarta are notably more expensive than other parts of Indonesia. Lombok, Yogyakarta, and Sumatra are significantly cheaper. The remote eastern islands (Komodo, Raja Ampat) are surprisingly expensive due to logistics.

Practical tips

  • Always carry small notes. Rp 100,000 (the largest note) is often hard to break for a Rp 15,000 meal at a warung
  • Refuse damaged or worn notes — they may not be accepted elsewhere
  • Bring a separate emergency card stored separately from your wallet
  • Save photos of the back of your cards in case of loss
  • Indonesia is now a relatively cash-light economy in cities, but cash is still essential in rural areas

For most short visits, the workflow is: ATM withdrawal on arrival → cards for hotels and bigger meals → cash for small transactions → QRIS once you have an e-wallet set up.