Bali Q&A

How much cash should I bring to Bali?

Answered by Alex M., our Bali-based editor · July 25, 2026

Short answerDo not fly in with a wad for the whole trip. Bring or withdraw enough for your first 2-3 days - roughly 1-2 million IDR (about 60-125 USD) - then top up from bank ATMs as you go. Card and QRIS acceptance in tourist areas is wide in 2026, but warungs, small shops, parking and village vendors still run on cash.

Daily numbers that hold up

Budget travellers get by on 300,000-600,000 IDR a day for food and local transport; a comfortable mid-range day (cafe meals, a massage, rides, a beach club) runs 1-1.5 million IDR per person, which matches 2026 budget guides (Cafe del Mar, bali.com). Of that, the part that must be physical cash is small: usually 200,000-500,000 IDR a day unless you are deliberately eating only at warungs.

ATMs: limits and the one rule

Bank ATMs (BCA, Mandiri, BNI, CIMB) dispense 1.25 million IDR per withdrawal on 50k-note machines and up to 3 million on 100k-note machines, with daily caps around 6 million (bali.com). The one rule: use ATMs attached to real bank branches or inside minimarts, not free-standing street machines, and always decline the ATM's own conversion offer - your card's rate is better.

Cards and QRIS in 2026

Visa and Mastercard work in most cafes, spas, gyms and supermarkets, often with a 2-3 percent surcharge. The bigger 2026 shift is QRIS, Indonesia's universal QR payment standard - nearly every counter has the sticker (Short Stay Bali). It only helps if you have an Indonesian bank or e-wallet app, so for a 1-3 week holiday the practical answer stays: card where possible, modest cash for the rest. For what things actually cost once you are here, our guides publish verified prices in IDR - see is Bali expensive?

Related guides

Ask your own question

Real questions from readers get researched and answered on this site, marked "asked by a reader". Leave an email if you want a ping when your answer is published - it is optional and never shown publicly.