Best card and money tips for Indonesia.
For Indonesia, the best Aussie card is the Wise Debit (best rate on eftpos for tourist-area restaurants + hotels. hold idr balance.). Cards work in cities for bigger transactions, but cash still rules for everyday spending.
Cash or card?
Bali's tourist areas (Canggu, Seminyak, Ubud) take cards widely. Outside the tourist bubble, it's cash-only. Always carry IDR — the country runs on cash for warungs (local food), scooter petrol, and most transactions.
- Big notes (100,000 IDR ≈ A$10) are useful — small ones (1,000 IDR ≈ A$0.10) are essential for markets.
- Hotels and bigger restaurants accept cards but often add 3% 'card fee'. Worth paying for big tabs, skip for small ones.
- Bali airport ATMs near baggage claim have ~5% worse rates than ones outside. Walk past the first row.
Best Aussie cards for Indonesia
Best rate on EFTPOS for tourist-area restaurants + hotels. Hold IDR balance.
CATCH: ATM fees free up to A$350/mo, then 1.75%.
Refunds international ATM fees with eligibility — useful given IDR ATM operator fees average A$3-5.
CATCH: Eligibility = $1000/mo deposit + 5 card purchases prior month.
No FX fees on contactless. Works at almost every Bali tourist-area card terminal.
CATCH: ATM fees refundable up to set limits — check current policy.
ATM playbook
- BNI (Bank Negara Indonesia)
- Mandiri
- BRI
- BCA ATMs (often reject foreign cards or charge double)
- Airport baggage-claim row of ATMs
Withdrawal limits in IDR can look terrifyingly high (3,000,000 IDR sounds like a lot — it's only ~A$285). Don't be alarmed. Most ATMs have a 1,250,000-3,000,000 IDR max per transaction.
Local money hacks
Watch out for
Indicative FX as of May 2026. Card features and eligibility change — verify with the issuer.