Banking & Money

Does a UnionPay card work in Bali (paying by card and ATM withdrawals)?

Yes, UnionPay cards are widely accepted in Bali — supermarkets, cafes, taxis, gas stations, and ATMs work fine; occasional declines happen (e.g. McDonald's) and there's a small transaction fee.

1 source · 1 day ago

How to avoid being scammed at currency exchange in Bali?

Money changers in Bali often use sleight-of-hand tricks — always count your bills at the counter, hold them in your hands, and don't walk away until you're sure the amount is correct.

1 source · 37 days ago

Is it better to use a foreign currency card or local currency card in Bali?

A card denominated in the transaction currency avoids double conversion fees. With a home-currency card, expect around 5% extra loss due to two conversion steps.

1 source · 29 days ago

Is it safe to keep money on a prepaid travel card in Bali?

No — keep only the exact amount you need for a specific transaction on prepaid travel cards. There are reports of card data theft and full balance being drained in minutes via small transactions.

1 source · 25 days ago

Should I bring USD or Indonesian Rupiah to Bali, and where to exchange money?

Bring USD cash (new, undamaged bills) and exchange on Bali for the best rates. Ubud has money changers everywhere; Gili Trawangan has some but rates are worse.

1 source · 27 days ago

Using a UnionPay card in Bali — payment limits and tips

RSHB UnionPay cards are widely accepted in Bali, but payments over 1 million IDR may be declined — ask the cashier to split the transaction into two payments.

1 source · 22 days ago

What currency to bring to Bali — USD or other currencies?

Bring US dollars — they get the best exchange rates in Bali. Other currencies are rarely accepted or exchanged at poor rates. All prices are in Indonesian rupiah.

2 sources · 30 days ago

What is the USD to IDR exchange rate at money changers in Bali?

Current USD exchange rate at Bali money changers is around 16,000–17,500 IDR per dollar. Chinese yuan can also be exchanged in Kuta.

1 source · 6 days ago

What's the cheapest way to withdraw cash rupiah (IDR) in Bali using a foreign bank card?

ATM withdrawals cost around $2 in fees per transaction plus hidden losses from double currency conversion, and single-transaction limits are often capped around 2 million IDR (roughly $130), especially at airport ATMs. Cards are more convenient than money changers but not necessarily cheaper — you'll still need some cash.

1 source · 2 days ago

What to do if a card payment fails or gets double-charged in Bali?

Card payment glitches happen in Bali: your bank debits the amount but the terminal shows an error, forcing you to retry the payment. Foreign cards may also have the issuing bank's own commission (~4%) taken on top.

1 source · 5 days ago

Where to get the best currency exchange rate in Bali (USD, CNY to IDR)?

Use licensed money changers rather than banks for much better rates. Old bills and less common currencies like CNY may not be accepted everywhere — check in advance.

2 sources · 6 days ago

Which US dollar bills are rejected at Bali money changers?

Some Bali money changers refuse new $100 bills starting with the L series, citing Indonesian bank restrictions. Other series and denominations are generally accepted.

1 source · 20 days ago