Indonesia is one of the most incredible travel destinations in the world. It is also, without question, one of the easiest places to quietly lose a significant chunk of your travel budget through ATM fees in Indonesia, bad exchange rates, and outright scams, if you don't know what you're doing. I'm writing this because I've seen it happen too many times.
Travelers who have budgeted carefully, flown long haul, and landed in Bali or Lombok, only to bleed money at the ATM and get shortchanged at exchange counters that look completely legitimate. Here is everything you need to know about handling money in Indonesia. Read it before you go.
Indonesia's currency is the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). The largest banknote in circulation is the Rp 100,000 note, worth roughly USD $6. That means when you exchange $500, you walk away holding around Rp 8,000,000. Eight million. The notes you'll use most are the Rp 100,000 (pink/red) and Rp 50,000 (blue). Know what they look like. Count your money carefully every single time. Disorientation is exactly the condition that scammers exploit.
Using your home bank card at an ATM in Indonesia can cost you around 6.5% per transaction when you factor in your bank's foreign transaction fee, the currency conversion markup, and sometimes an additional local ATM surcharge on top. Most traditional banks charge between 2.5% and 3.5% of the transaction amount just for using your card abroad. Separate from the transaction fee, the currency conversion markup is often invisible but very real.
Some Indonesian bank ATMs charge foreign cardholders an additional flat fee or percentage on top of everything else. Some ATMs charge between IDR 20,000 to IDR 75,000 per transaction to foreign cardholders, while others charge nothing. When an ATM asks whether you want to be charged in your home currency or in Rupiah, always, always choose to be charged in Rupiah. Let your own bank handle the conversion. The ATM's dynamic currency conversion rate is always worse.
The single most important thing you can do to reduce ATM costs: get a travel-specific card before you leave home. Cards like Wise, Revolut, and Charles Schwab (for US travelers) are specifically designed for international use and can eliminate most or all of these fees. Multiple long-term travelers in Indonesia confirm paying zero in ATM fees using Revolut.
Stick to ATMs attached to major Indonesian bank branches. The best options for foreigners are those owned by Bank Mandiri, BCA, Danamon, Maybank, BTN, and BPTN. Avoid standalone ATMs in convenience stores, tourist kiosks, and airport arrivals halls, where fees and skimming risks are both higher.
Let me be direct: Indonesia has a serious money exchange scam problem, and it is concentrated precisely in the areas where tourists go. Bali in particular. The scams do not look like scams. That is the point. The offices are professional-looking, air-conditioned, and staffed by friendly people. Some have large signs advertising competitive rates. The most common technique is the counting trick. You hand over your foreign cash, the staff member counts out an impressive-looking stack of Rupiah, and through a practiced sleight of hand, you walk out with significantly less than you were quoted.
Other common tactics include displaying a great rate on the board but applying a commission that wasn't mentioned, or simply applying a different rate than advertised once your foreign currency is already on the counter. Rules that protect you: Only use licensed operators. Look for the Bank Indonesia PVA Berizin logo. Count your money yourself at the counter before you walk away. Never chase the rate. If an exchange office is advertising a rate that looks significantly better than everywhere else, that is not good fortune. That is the setup.
The money changers I trust in Indonesia: PT Central Kuta in Bali, with multiple branches in Kuta, Legian, Seminyak, Nusa Dua, Ubud, Sanur, and Denpasar, well known for competitive rates and no commissions. PT Dirgahayu Valuta Prima (Bali Best Rate), operating since 1984 with branches in Kuta, Sanur, and Ubud. PT Bali Maspintjinra (BMC), in business since 1993 with branches in Kerobokan, Legian, Sanur, and Ubud.
Every airport in Indonesia has currency exchange counters in the arrivals hall. They are convenient. They are also, reliably, the worst rates you will find anywhere. Exchange only the minimum you need to get to your accommodation, cab fare, a meal, maybe a coffee, and wait until you are in town to exchange the rest at a trusted office. The Indonesia money situation is genuinely manageable once you know the rules.
For more on making Indonesia travel affordable, read my guide to avoiding Bali Belly and food safety in Indonesia, another common budget killer. If you're exploring Lombok and the Gili Islands, my Gili Air travel guide covers what to expect there specifically. For all the booking platforms and deal tools I use, the Travel Deal Seekers page has everything in one place.