For a short trip to Bali, bring a card that works abroad, a backup card from a different bank and some rupiah. QRIS, the QR payment system you will see at many warungs and shops, can be useful if your home payment app supports it or you set up a local wallet. Test your setup before depending on it.
I live in Indonesia and rarely use cash because QRIS makes everyday payments so convenient. Visitors can enjoy that convenience too: if your home app supports QRIS in Indonesia or you set up a local wallet such as GoPay, try it for small purchases. You will find the GoPay setup and top-up steps below. Keep a card and some rupiah as backup while you get it working.
Rp1,000,000 in cash is a starting reserve, not a daily spending target. You may need less if your bookings are prepaid and you can pay by card or QRIS, or more if you are shopping or paying a driver in cash.
The aim is to pay whichever way makes sense without standing at a counter negotiating with your banking app.
Cash, cards, Wise and QRIS: what should you bring?
| Payment method | Where it helps | What to know |
|---|---|---|
| Rupiah cash | Small purchases, markets, tips, some entry fees and a backup ride | Keep smaller notes handy and carry only what you are comfortable losing. |
| Debit or credit card | Restaurants, shops, online bookings, hotel deposits and balances | Check your overseas fees, and ask about acceptance before you order. |
| Wise card | Purchases and ATM withdrawals wherever its card network is accepted | Available to residents of certain countries. Check your account’s fees and ATM allowance. |
| QRIS | Warungs, shops, cafés and attractions | You need a compatible Indonesian wallet or a participating cross-border app. |
Swipe to see where each payment method helps and what to check.
Bali uses the Indonesian rupiah, shown as IDR or Rp. A price marked Rp50k means Rp50,000. For everyday purchases in Bali, plan to pay in rupiah whether you use cash or a card.
Our Bali solo trip cost guide covers what things cost. This guide covers how to pay for them.
What to use at the airport, restaurants and small businesses
| Situation | What to do |
|---|---|
| Airport arrival | Prepaid transfers are the easiest start. Know whether yours is prepaid or payable to the driver, and have some rupiah for anything unexpected. |
| Hotels and villas | If your stay is prepaid, check whether a deposit, incidentals or a balance are due on arrival. |
| Restaurants and cafés | Cards and QRIS are common in visitor areas. Expect tax, and sometimes a service charge, on top of menu prices. |
| Warungs and small shops | Many display QRIS. Use it if your app works, otherwise pay cash. |
| Markets and street vendors | QRIS is increasingly common, but keep small notes for vendors who prefer cash or when a payment fails. |
| Drivers and local transport | Agree the total and the payment method before you go. For app rides, check the options and final price before booking. |
| Temples and attractions | Many accept QRIS, but some entry fees need cash. Check the official instructions where available. |
Swipe to see what to do in each situation.
For your first ride, our Bali airport transfer guide compares the options. After a long flight, it is nice to make one fewer decision.
How much cash to carry, and how to get it
Rp1,000,000 is a starting cash reserve for a solo traveler, not a daily budget. How long it lasts depends on what you pay for in cash: a private driver or shopping can use it quickly, while prepaid bookings and working card or QRIS payments can make it last longer. For the cost of the trip itself, see our Bali solo trip cost guide.
You do not need to carry all of it. Keep the day’s spending money handy and the rest somewhere secure, such as your hotel safe.
Small notes matter more than the total. A vendor may not have change for a large note and may have to ask next door. A mix that works:
| Note | Number | Total |
|---|---|---|
| Rp100,000 | 5 | Rp500,000 |
| Rp50,000 | 6 | Rp300,000 |
| Rp20,000 | 5 | Rp100,000 |
| Rp10,000 | 10 | Rp100,000 |
| Total | 26 notes | Rp1,000,000 |
That is a guide, not a checklist to complete at the airport. If you cannot get smaller notes, five Rp100,000 notes and ten Rp50,000 notes also make Rp1,000,000. Break the larger notes when it is convenient and keep the small change for parking, small purchases and cash entry fees.
ATMs generally give you a limited choice of notes, so you will build the small ones by making purchases or changing larger notes later. Check the zeros when paying and count your change. The notes look surprisingly similar after a long flight.
Should you exchange money before you arrive?
Only if the rate is reasonable. Landing with about a day’s cash saves a hunt for an ATM after a late flight, but you do not need to exchange your whole trip budget at home. If the rate or fee there is poor, plan to use an ATM or an authorized money changer in Bali, and bring a card and a backup either way.
If you bring US dollars or euros, treat them as money to exchange, not to spend. At a money changer, check the rate and any commission, work out what you should receive and count the notes yourself before you leave. Australian travel advice warns that unauthorized money changers have scammed visitors.
Cards, restaurant tax and the final bill
A debit or credit card is useful at restaurants, shops and other businesses that take international cards. Acceptance is not universal, so ask before ordering if a card is your only option. Phone wallets can work at compatible contactless terminals, but bring the physical card too.
At restaurants, the extra to look for is tax and sometimes a separate service charge. Restaurant food and drink are generally subject to a local tax called PBJT rather than Indonesia’s national VAT, known as PPN. The national ceiling for this local tax is 10%, and local rules and exceptions apply. Badung regency, for example, sets its food and drink PBJT at 10% under its local tax regulation. Service charges are separate and vary by restaurant. Indonesia’s tax authority explains the distinction.
If a menu price is followed by “++”, it usually means tax and service are added on top. A Rp100,000 meal with 10% tax and no service charge comes to Rp110,000, and more if service is added. Check the menu or ask the restaurant for the total before ordering.
Tax and service are not a fee for paying by card. Bank Indonesia says merchants must not add a credit-card surcharge. If you see an unexpected card fee, ask the business to explain it and check the total before you approve the payment. Your own card issuer may still charge its own foreign transaction fee.
Choose rupiah on the terminal
If a terminal asks whether you want to pay in rupiah or your home currency, choose rupiah (IDR). The home-currency option is dynamic currency conversion: the merchant’s provider converts the amount and may add a markup.
For a Rp500,000 bill, select Rp500,000 rather than the amount offered in dollars or euros. Your card issuer or its network then handles the conversion under your card’s terms. That does not remove any fee your own issuer charges. Visa explains the choice here.
How to withdraw rupiah from an ATM
Three separate charges can stack when you withdraw: your own bank’s foreign fee, an ATM operator’s fee, and a conversion markup if you accept the machine’s offer. Check the screen for an operator fee before confirming, and decline the ATM’s conversion offer. Your own issuer may still charge for the withdrawal or currency conversion.
Start with a machine inside or beside an open bank branch. Staff are easier to reach if something goes wrong, though a branch cannot necessarily return a retained foreign card. Check the fee on the screen before confirming, because charges can vary by machine and card.
Bank Mandiri’s fee notice says that, as of 6 November 2026, the bank charges Rp100,000 per withdrawal for foreign Visa and Mastercard cards. Foreign JCB and UnionPay cards are exempt from this fee. On a Rp1,000,000 withdrawal, Rp100,000 is 10%, before any charge from your own bank. Check the ATM screen before confirming.
A flat fee is charged per withdrawal, so fewer withdrawals can reduce that particular cost. Say the operator fee is Rp50,000: five withdrawals of Rp500,000 cost Rp250,000 in operator fees, while one withdrawal of Rp2,500,000 costs Rp50,000, if the machine and your card allow it. Choose an amount that suits your plans and comfort level, and keep what you are not spending somewhere secure, such as your hotel safe. Machine and card limits, and fees from your own issuer, may affect the calculation.
- Check that the ATM shows your card network. Look for anything loose or unusual around the card slot and keypad.
- Shield your PIN and decline help from strangers.
- Choose the amount in rupiah. Machine limits and your card’s own limits may differ.
- Read the fee screen. If you do not accept an operator fee, cancel before confirming.
- Decline any offer to convert the withdrawal into your home currency and continue in IDR.
- Take your card, cash and receipt, and put them away before leaving the machine.
If a machine keeps your card, freeze it in your app if you can, then contact your issuer and the ATM’s bank using its official number. If you are charged but receive no cash, keep the receipt or note the location, time and amount, and report it to both. Avoid cash withdrawals on a credit card unless you have checked the cash-advance fees and interest.
Does Wise work in Bali?
Yes. If you have an eligible Wise card, you can generally use it wherever its Visa or Mastercard network is accepted, including compatible ATMs. Wise is an option, not something to sign up for just to visit Bali.
Card availability depends on your country of residence, not just your passport. Wise issues cards to eligible residents of the UK, the EEA, the US, Australia, New Zealand and several other markets. Check Wise’s current availability list before applying.
If you hold the currency a purchase needs, Wise uses that balance. Otherwise it converts from another balance and charges a conversion fee. Check your account’s rate and fees before you travel.
Wise’s own ATM charges start once you pass a monthly allowance that depends on where your card was issued. To check your allowance in the Wise app, open Cards, select Your spending limits, then tap View ATM fees. The ATM operator’s fee is separate. Wise says failed attempts can count toward your allowance, so do not keep retrying a machine that is not working.
Find an ATM in the Wise app: open the Card tab, select Travel hub, then choose Find an ATM for your destination. The ATM Guide can help you locate machines and spot options without an operator fee. App layouts can change, so use the guide as a starting point and check the fee on the ATM screen before confirming. An operator fee, a Wise withdrawal fee and a conversion fee are separate charges. Wise explains the ATM Guide here.
Order and activate a physical card before you fly if you can, check your PIN, and keep a second card separately. The Wise card is a card payment method; QR payments use the Wise app, as explained below.
Can tourists use QRIS?
Some can. QRIS is widely used in Bali, including by small businesses. The question that matters is whether your app can pay a QRIS merchant, not whether your phone has a camera.
If your home payment app supports cross-border QRIS
Bank Indonesia says its cross-border QR network connected Indonesia with Malaysia, Thailand, Singapore, Japan, South Korea and China as of August 2026. Participating apps can let visitors pay QRIS merchants, but coverage depends on the provider and the direction of the connection. Confirm that your app supports payments in Indonesia before relying on it. Bank Indonesia lists participating apps by direction.
Australia, the UK, the US and most of Europe are outside the Bank Indonesia cross-border QRIS partnerships listed above. Some eligible Wise customers have a separate Alipay+ QR option, explained below.
If you do have a working app, you may need very little cash on a given day. Keep a small cash backup for cash-only entry fees, connection problems and failed payments.
Can foreigners use GoPay?
Yes. Foreigners can use GoPay, and a working GoPay balance can be used to scan QRIS at participating merchants. GoPay is available inside Gojek and as a standalone app. Your phone number and how you add money matter, so test your setup before relying on it. Foreigners can apply for GoPay Plus with a passport, but an upgrade is a separate step; check the app for the requirements of the feature you want to use.
Set up your account: For Gojek, register with your email and phone number and enter the code sent by SMS. If your number is not accepted, Gojek suggests using a local number. Keep access to your registered number for security codes.
Using an eSIM? An eSIM can provide the mobile data GoPay needs. For example, Airalo's Indonesia eSIM plans are an option for an unlocked, eSIM-compatible phone. Use code WANDOPIA for 10% off. Airalo’s Indonesia plans are data-only, so they do not give you a phone number for SMS verification. Check your plan before buying.
If your phone supports using two lines at once, you can use the eSIM for data and keep your usual SIM or eSIM active to receive verification texts, provided your home provider supports SMS in Indonesia. Check roaming charges with your provider. Gojek may not accept every foreign number, so a local number capable of receiving SMS may be needed. An eSIM provides the connection; it does not guarantee account registration or a successful top-up.
How to top up GoPay: In the standalone GoPay app, tap Top Up and look for an option to add a payment method. GoPay’s instructions describe adding a Visa or Mastercard debit card. A foreign-issued card may work, but GoPay does not clearly confirm which foreign cards are accepted. If the option appears, follow the prompts and try a small amount. Check any fee and whether you can receive your bank’s security code. Keep another way to pay if your card is declined.
You can also check the cash top-up options in the app. GoPay lists Indomaret and Alfamart. The app may generate a barcode for the cashier, or the cashier may ask for your registered phone number. Check the fee and confirm the number or barcode before paying. Cash top-ups for accounts registered with every type of foreign number have not been confirmed, so check at the counter before relying on one.
Once you have a balance, tap Pay in Gojek or the QRIS button in the standalone GoPay app, scan the merchant’s QRIS code, check the name and amount, then confirm. Paying for a Gojek ride directly with a card is separate from adding money to your GoPay balance.
What about Wise, Grab and OVO?
- Wise: Eligible customers can use the Wise app to pay at supported Alipay+ QR codes in Indonesia. Open the app and look for Scan, then check the recipient, amount and any fees before confirming. Check Wise’s current eligibility list and look for Alipay+ at the merchant. Do not assume every QRIS code will work.
- Grab: In Indonesia, Grab supports most international cards for in-app payments, with a foreign payment fee on applicable services. Its terms also list OVO as a payment option. Paying for a ride by card is useful, but it does not mean you can scan any shop’s QRIS code through Grab.
- OVO: OVO supports QRIS, and its terms let foreigners submit a passport for an account upgrade. Check the current registration and top-up requirements for your situation.
Whichever wallet you try, make a small top-up and a small payment before adding more money, and keep a card and cash until it works.
Bank Indonesia describes the Indonesia Travel Pack as an option for visitors from countries outside the cross-border network. Check each service’s current eligibility and availability before counting on it.
A few payment problems worth avoiding
- An altered ATM: If the card slot or keypad looks suspicious, cancel and use another machine. Shield your PIN and monitor your account.
- A generous-looking exchange rate: Check the final rupiah amount, including commission, and count it yourself. Walk away if the terms change.
- An unexpected restaurant total: Ask whether tax and service are included, then check the terminal before paying. A restaurant service charge is different from a card surcharge.
- A QR payment to the wrong person: Check the recipient and amount in your app before confirming.
- A request for your PIN or one-time code: Do not share either. Contact your bank or wallet through its official app or number.
Know how to freeze each card from your app. If you are traveling alone, a second way to pay is especially useful when the first one decides it needs a day off.
Before you fly
- Bring a physical primary card and a separate backup, ideally from a different issuer.
- Check overseas payments, ATM access, your PIN, limits and foreign transaction fees.
- Make sure your phone can get data and receive any bank or wallet security codes on arrival. Your wallet or bank may send a verification code when you sign in or approve a payment.
- Check how your hotel handles its balance and deposit, and how your airport transfer is paid.
- Bring a little rupiah if the exchange is reasonable, or plan where you will use your first ATM or money changer.
- If you plan to use QRIS or a local wallet, check that your app can register, accept your funding method and pay in Indonesia.
- Turn on transaction alerts and save your issuer’s contact details somewhere you can reach without your phone.
For the rest of your arrival planning, see our first solo trip to Bali guide.
Frequently asked questions
Can I travel cashless in Bali?
You may be able to pay for most things digitally if your card and QRIS app both work. Still, keep some rupiah for smaller vendors, cash-only entry fees or a payment failure. How much you need depends on your route and bookings.
Can I pay in US dollars?
Plan to pay in Indonesian rupiah. Bring dollars to exchange if you want a backup, but do not rely on spending them directly.
Does Apple Pay or Google Wallet work?
They can work where the terminal supports contactless payments and accepts the card in your wallet. A QRIS code is a different payment method. Bring the physical card as a backup.
Do I need an Indonesian bank account?
Not for a typical short visit. A usable international card and rupiah cash can cover your basic payment needs. A local wallet may be helpful, but check its requirements before relying on it.
Why was my card declined?
Possible reasons include overseas transactions being disabled, insufficient funds, a card or ATM limit, an issuer security check, an unsupported network or a terminal problem. Check your app and contact your issuer if needed. Use your backup while you sort it out.
Is it safe to carry cash in Bali?
Carry what you need for the day and keep the rest, plus your backup card, in your hotel safe or a separate bag. Splitting your money means one lost wallet does not end your day. Count notes at exchanges and ATMs, and put everything away before you walk off.
Do I need to tip in cash?
Tipping is optional. If you want to leave a tip, cash is useful when there is no option to add one by card. A service charge on the bill is separate; do not assume how it is distributed.
