Cash vs card in Bali – all your questions answered

This raging question has often been asked: cash vs card in Bali. It’s a heavily debated topic, and you will get opposing opinions.

Some can be swayed in one direction due to their experiences with cash or cards in Bali. We have taken both and tested the theory of which one is better.

What is cash vs card in Bali?

For some, taking a huge wad of cash from their own country and using a money changer to change it into Indonesian Rupiah is the only way to go.

Others prefer to take their bank cards from home or sign up for a Revolut, Wise or ING card and use that instead of bringing a wad of money.

There are also some that use a mix of both, like us. In this article, we will cover the pros and cons of doing both so you can decide if cash or a card is the right choice for your trip to Bali.

What is the currency in Bali?

First, the money used in Bali, Indonesia, is the Rupiah. We have heard in some circles that you can use Australian currency and even USD in the shops there, but we have never seen it personally and have always used local money in Bali.

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Cash vs Card in Bali…our opinion

This is a hotly contested topic, as we have said before, and really, it does come down to personal choice. For us, a mix of both is the best way to do it. We are budget travellers and find if we are putting things on cards in Bali, things can quickly get out of hand, whereas if we have cash on us, we are much more aware of what we are spending.

Using cash in Bali:

One of the ways to spend money in Bali is to take cash to Bali and use a money exchange to exchange your home country’s currency for the Indonesian Rupiah.

Pros of using cash in Bali:

We like to use cash in Bali at the smaller shops and the warungs. You will find that at some places will only take cash and smaller notes at that.

• You will know how much you have, as you will either have to take it out of the bank branch or the ATM
• You can set a daily limit and only take that amount out with you
• No international transaction fees

Cons of taking cash to Bali to exchange

I feel there are more cons to taking cash to Bali with you than there are pros to be honest. This is only my opinion, though.

• Having to find an official money exchange to prevent being ripped off
• Carrying a large wad of cash around
• Keeping the money safe at your Sanur accommodation until you need it
• What if you don’t have enough at the end of dinner and have to go get more late at night
• Would you carry large amounts of cash around at home?

FAQ’s about using cash in Bali

There are plenty of questions that are asked about using cash in Bali. Here we have tried to answer the top questions

What is the currency in Bali?

We mentioned above that the official currency of Indonesia is the Rupiah.

There are a lot of 0’s. How can I convert it?

Below, we have included an image of the Rupiah compared to the Australian dollar. It will depend on your exchange rate.

Using a card in Bali

For us, having a backup card to use if we are stuck works for us. We have been on a night out with friends when they have had to return to their hotel and get cash to exchange to continue. It wasn’t that much of an issue ,but we did wander for a little while before we found an official exchange.

Pros of using card in Bali

There are plenty of pros to using a card in Bali

• Not having to find an official exchange
• Not having to worry about running out of money or having to get more cash to pay a bill
• Can make spontanious purchases or have an extra meal when out

Cons of using card in Bali

For some there are more issues with using a card in Bali than they care to worry about.

• The card can be skimmed causing some issues especially if you only rely on one card for your trip
• Some store charge between 3% and 20% surcharge for using card
• Some places do not take card at all
• If not notified your bank can put a hold on your card causing huge issues if this is your only source of money
• Your spending can become out of control if you are not aware of what you are spending

Using a mix of cash and card in Bali

This is what works best for us, and we find it gives us the freedom to enjoy your holiday in Sanur.

We usually withdraw a weeks worth of money out and divide it into daily amounts. We them put those in ziplock bags and use one every day. We always make sure we keep as many of the smaller notes from the previous days as we can.

Pros of using a mix of card and cash in Bali

I honestly think this is the best way

• If you run out put it on the card and then make sure you transfer the funds back to your daily amount
• You can pop into a little warung or beach side bar and not have to worry about what money you have
• If your card is skimmed you should have enough to get you through until you can work out your next steps

Cons of using cash and cards in Bali:

I’m not sure of many but let’s have a go!

• You’ll need to find an official exchange and an appropriate ATM to use
• You may be paying 2 lots of transaction fees if transferring or withdrawing

Find an official money exchange

This is the biggest piece of advice we can give you. There are a few things for you to look at before you walk into a place to exchange your cash.

What does an official money exchange look like?

There are a few things to look for when you are going to exchange cash in Bali

• Usually have a large shop front with a security guard
• A receptionist will usually confirm the exchange rate with you and ask how much you have
• Will count your money and take it through to a back room to be exchanged
• Will come back and count it and give you a receipt
• THEY WILL NOT TOUCH THE MONEY AGAIN ONCE YOU HAVE IT

Signs that an exchange is not an official one:

• If their exchange rate on the board is too good to be true, it usually is
• At times, they will pay out in 50,000 notes and count numerous times, skimming some of the notes back
• Usually, a small booth in a shop that looks like someone just knocked it up that morning

* If you feel that you have been ripped off it is a good idea to alert the local police and ask them to return to the exchange with you.

Cash vs card in Bali: Our top tips

It’s important to have a backup card if you are only taking a card. There have been so many cases where the bank has put a hold on the account due to them not being notified that the card is going to be used overseas. If you only have one source of money this can be a real hassle.

Try to find a card that has minimal fees for overseas withdrawals or transactions. These can add up so quickly and can add some serious dollars to your holiday. Wise, Revolut and some ING accounts are great for free withdrawals or lower fees.

Don’t walk around with large amounts of cash. If you wouldn’t do it at home, why would you do it in another place?

A small travel safe can help you keep your cash safe in your room if you are not comfortable using the room safe. In another city (not in Indonesia) we didn’t feel comfortable using the hotel safe. We cable-tied a suitcase to a bolted down desk and used a combination lock to lock the suitcase with our valuables inside.

If you are only using card, make sure you have some idea of what amount you have on the card and try not to put everything on credit. There is nothing worse than coming home from a great holiday to a huge credit card bill and the instant regret or anxiety that comes with having to pay it off.

In all honesty, a mix of both is the best way to go. You will be covered in most situations, and you won’t have any embarrassing moments with not being able to pay for something.

More from the things to do in Sanur team:

• 32 best things to do in Sanur Bali
• The best beachfront hotels in Sanur
• Our full review of our stay at the Prama Hotel Sanur

We hope you found this article helpful and informative. If you enjoyed this post, be sure to explore more content on the Things to Do in Sanur website. For additional resources, tips, and updates, visit our Facebook Group and our TikTok account.

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