Cash or card in Bali? ATMs, money changers and what to carry (2026)

Bali is a mixed-payment island: a beach club will take your card, the warung next door will not, and the scooter rental definitely will not. Here is a system that works.

What takes cards

• Hotels, supermarkets, malls, chain pharmacies, beach clubs and mid-to-upper restaurants, usually Visa and Mastercard.
• Many places add a surcharge of around 2 to 3 percent for card payment. Ask first.
• Gojek and Grab let you pay in-app from a card or their own wallets, which saves fumbling for change. See the ride apps guide.

What needs cash

Warungs, markets, temple entries, parking attendants, scooter rental, massage places, local drivers, beach sunbeds and most small shops. Carrying 300,000 to 500,000 IDR in small notes covers a normal day comfortably.

ATMs: the practical rules

• Withdrawal limits are typically 1,500,000 to 3,000,000 IDR per transaction depending on the bank and the machine's note denomination.
• Most machines charge a local fee on top of whatever your own bank charges, so fewer, larger withdrawals cost less.
• Use machines attached to bank branches, supermarkets or malls rather than standalone boxes in dark lanes.
• Take the card back before the cash on machines that dispense in that order, and always cover the keypad.
• Tell your bank you are travelling. A blocked card on day one is a real problem.

Money changers: where people lose money

Authorised money changers give good rates and are an entirely normal way to change cash. The scams are mechanical rather than dramatic: rigged calculators, a commission mentioned only at the end, sleight of hand while counting, or a rate board that applies only to amounts you are not changing.

• Use established, clearly branded offices with a visible rate board, ideally inside a shop or a hotel, not a hut with a hand-painted sign.
• Agree the rate and the total before handing over anything.
• Count the money yourself, slowly, before leaving the counter, and recount it.
• Bring clean, unmarked, newer banknotes. Worn or torn notes get rejected or discounted.
• Walk away from any rate that is much better than everyone else's. There is always a catch.

QRIS, the thing nobody tells you about

Indonesia has a universal QR payment standard called QRIS, and it is everywhere, including small warungs. It generally requires a local bank or e-wallet account, so most short-term visitors cannot use it, although some foreign apps are beginning to support it. If you are staying for months, opening a local e-wallet makes daily life much easier.

How much to bring and in what form

• Two cards from different banks, stored separately. This is the single best precaution.
• Some clean US dollars as a backup to change if cards fail.
• Rupiah from an airport ATM on arrival for the taxi and the first day, then better rates in town.
• Keep the bulk of your cash in the villa safe, not in your bag on a scooter.

More detail in the money guide, and the entry fees you will need to pay are in the visa guide.

Paying for accommodation

This is the one place not to improvise. Never hand cash to someone who has not signed an agreement, and make sure the account receiving the money matches the party in the contract, as set out in the contract guide and the scams guide. Booking direct from the owner avoids the 15 to 25 percent platform commission, with a written agreement, a fixed prepayment and a manager you can reach. See the rentals catalogue or the FAQ.