Most debit cards issued in Australia will work in Bali and it's best to advise your bank that you are travelling to Bali before you leave so they don't cancel your card while you are away.
It is often mistaken for Bali Dollar or Bali Rupee. Can you use an Australian bank card to withdraw rupiah in Bali? Yes, you can use your bank card to withdraw cash in Bali, however depending on your bank, there may be associated fees.
Using Bank Cards or Credit Cards
Paying by card in Bali is a fairly safe option. Most of the bigger restaurants, resorts, shopping stalls will all accept payment via card. Taxis, small local restaurants (warungs), beach bars, and market stalls still only accept cash.
Bali is the largest of 17,508 islands that make up Indonesia and the Indonesian Rupiah is the only currency accepted in all of them. However, as Bali receives a lot of tourists on vacation Australian Dollars (AUD), American Dollars (USD) and Euros (EUR) are sometimes accepted and can be exchanged for IDR on the island.
It's an easy thing to verify. If you can access your savings and checking accounts in your home country using your Visa or Mastercard then you can do the same in Bali at ATMs. The exception is that most restaurants and hotels only accept a credit or debit transaction linked to your credit card.
Sometimes when you make a purchase Internationally with your Australian debit or credit card, you will be asked if you want to make the payment in your currency, or the local currency. It is almost always better to pay in the local currency than it is to pay in AUD. The exchange rates are generally awful otherwise.
You need to pay for a visa in a special counter on the arrival point at the airport in cash (USD, EUR, AUD or IDR) or by credit card*. After that the visa should be stuck into passport in the Immigration control with stamp Visa On Arrival and the arrival date.
Cash is still a very important form of payment in Bali, particularly in the smaller shops and also when you need to pay for your transportation, or if you need gasoline. The 100,000 bills are the largest bills (ca. USD 7 / AUD 10). It's useful if you take also some smaller bills with you.
What Is the Best Currency to Take to Bali? It's best to take Indonesian Rupiah to Bali. If you can't buy some before your trip, the next best options are Australian Dollars (AUD), US Dollars (USD) or Euros (EUR). You can easily change these 3 currencies almost anywhere on the island.
But, you will want to have some cash on hand to get you going, and just in case you have trouble finding or having technical problems with the ATMs. I suggest that for 10 days in Bali that you bring about $250-$500 USD. This will be more than enough to cover your day-to-day cash expenses on a small to medium budget.
Can I use my contactless payment in Bali? If you have a Visa paywave card, you should find it easy to use in Bali. However, as with any card, it's important to let your bank know about your holiday plans to avoid suspicious activity risks and potential blocks.
Typical Costs for 1 Week in Bali
For a comfortable private tour (2–4 people): About 160–220 USD per day per person is typical with private guide, 4- or 5-star hotels, nice meals, and private transfers included. For this standard of vacation in the US, the average price is 500+ USD.
You'll be able to use your card wherever Visa is accepted, including overseas and online. Remember, you're only ever spending funds from your transaction account. Use your NAB Visa Debit card to: Withdraw money at ATMs or at a branch, and to make purchases in person, online or over the phone.
The withdrawal limit on ATMs in Bali is usually between Rp 2,000,000 and Rp 2,500,000 (that's around AUD$200-250) per transaction for machines dispensing Rp 100,000 banknotes and Rp 6,000,000 in total per day. However, that total is for local accounts.
You'll get a far better exchange rate in Bali than in the UK, so it's best to change your British notes on arrival. Bali currency changers accept all major currencies, so make sure you have some new, clean and crisp notes in high denominations, which will speed up the exchange and often get you a better rate.
Is $100 a day enough for Bali? Definitely. One hundred dollars per day is a very generous daily budget for Bali as long as you aren't looking for high-end luxury.
On top of flights, if you budget around $100 per day for your trip to Bali it would be more than enough. This amount would enable you to stay in a mid-range hotel, eat out for every meal and enjoy some of the island's best activities. Therefore, $1500 per person (plus flights) would be plenty for two weeks in Bali.
The tipping culture in Bali isn't mandatory (although some restaurants in the main tourist areas may have a service charge included in the bill). In general you can choose to tip, or not, and no-one will be chasing after you.
In fact, the most expensive part of your Bali vacation will probably be spent on airfare. All that said, you can easily spend a week or two in Bali for under $2,000, without having to sleep on the beach. Here are a few things to consider when planning Bali on a budget.
We recommend packing a backpack or small, lightweight carry-on suitcase for Bali, particularly if you'll be taking your stuff with you on a ferry to the Nusa or Gili islands, which involves porters carrying your bags through waist-deep water.
At the beginning of 2022, The paid Visa on Arrival Scheme allows UK citizens to enter Bali using this method. The paid Visa on Arrival cost US$35 / 500,000 IDR which can be paid upon arrival or online before departure at the Indonesian immigration website Molina. Click here for the link.
What vaccines are recommended when travelling to Bali? All travellers should be up-to-date with their routine vaccinations before heading off to Bali. These vaccines for measles, mumps, rubella, diphtheria, tetanus, whooping cough, chicken pox, polio and influenza.
How much does a Bali visa cost? A Bali Visa on Arrival costs approximately AUD$50* (IDR 500,000). *Correct at 15/02/2023. This fee is subject to change, so you should always double check Bali.com and the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia website before you travel.