With what currency to go to bali. Currency in Bali - the monetary issue of holidays in detail. How much money to take
In Indonesia, including the island of Bali, the national currency is the Indonesian rupiah, it is also the main means of payment in this country.
As of the beginning of 2019, 211 Indonesian rupiahs are given for one Russian ruble, or 14,166 rupiahs for 1 US dollar, but see the more current rate below in the currency converter.
A bit of history
The Indonesian rupiah became the main means of payment in Indonesia in 1965. This happened after the devaluation of the old Indonesian rupiah, which then stood at 1000 old rupiah for 1 new one. Before the rupee, the Javanese rupee was in circulation in the country.
Indonesia introduced the new Indonesian rupiah in 1965 as the main currency. This was done after the devaluation of the old currency, the Indonesian rupiah. 1 Indonesian rupiah was then worth 1000 old rupiahs. Previously, they had the Javanese rupiah, the Netherlands guilders and the NICA Dutch guilder, and the Dutch Indies gold money as currency in Indonesia.
Today, the currency of Indonesia is issued by the Central Bank of Indonesia, called BI (Bank Indonesia), the headquarters of the bank is located in Jakarta.
What you need to know about the local currency to travel to Indonesia.
Basic facts about the Indonesian rupiah
Basic currency data:
Russian ruble to Indonesian rupiah converter
What money to take to Indonesia with you
Indonesia has a well-developed network of ATMs, so you can withdraw money in local currency on the spot. The exchange rate at ATMs of large banks is close to the state one, therefore it is quite profitable. Without problems, cards of international payment systems Visa and MasterCard are accepted, card not accepted.
Before the trip, check the commission of your bank for the exchange and withdrawal of cash from ATMs in Indonesia, it may be worth getting a special card with favorable rates.
Nevertheless, in Indonesia itself it is rather problematic to pay with a plastic card, everywhere they prefer cash. Payment by card is available mainly in resort areas, large and expensive restaurants, large hotels and shops.
It is almost impossible to pay with a bank card in rural areas, street eateries and shops, they can also exchange dollars for local money there, but again, the rate will not be very profitable.
For this reason, you need to have cash.
You should know that there are many specialized local currency exchange offices in the country, but the exchange rate in them is not favorable, so if possible, look for a local ATM, they are in almost all the more or less large cities of Indonesia.
If you prefer to carry money with you, then take american dollars, euro and other currencies, as in all of Asia, are not entered, and there may be problems with their exchange.
Bali, as you know, is part of the Republic of Indonesia, and therefore the Indonesian rupiah is used on the island. Bali's money can be confusing at first - most of our compatriots have not seen so many zeros since the 90s. However, very soon it becomes commonplace to measure prices in thousands and millions of rupees. If the locals tell you that slippers cost 30 rupees, feel free to multiply that by a thousand (and divide by two, as bargaining is not prohibited in many places).
Bali money. Acquaintance
Bali money is represented by banknotes and coins. Banknote denominations:
- 100 thousand rupees
- 50 thousand rupees
- 20 thousand rupees
- 10 thousand rupees
- 5 thousand rupees
- 2 thousand rupees
- 1 thousand rupees
Bali money in the form of coins is rather useless for most calculations, however, we will list them anyway:
- 1 thousand rupees
- 500 rupees
- 200 rupees
- 100 rupees
Also sometimes you may come across coins with holes in the middle. Such Balinese money is of Chinese origin. In the past, they were used for small purchases, but now they have only a religious significance - they are used for a wide variety of ceremonies as offerings to spirits and gods.
At the moment (March 2016), the Indonesian rupiah exchange rate is approximately 13 thousand for one US dollar and about 15 thousand for the euro. In order to navigate the prices, you can approximately take 10 thousand rupees for one dollar or 1 thousand rupees - 5.5 rubles. In order not to bother yourself with calculations, follow the daily rate of the rupee on this website https://www.calc.ru/kurs-IDR-RUB.html
How to get the coveted rupees: ATMs and exchange offices
If you are going to Bali, you need to decide how you will receive Indonesian Rupiah. As you can guess, there are two ways to make money in Bali. Bali money can be withdrawn from local ATMs or foreign currency can be exchanged. Each method has its own nuances, which we will tell you about.
If you are going to come to Bali with cash and change it on the spot, there are a few things you need to know. Firstly, rubles are practically not exchanged here. Even if you find an exchange office where Russian currency is accepted, the rate will be such that you will begin to consider even Sberbank a stronghold of humanism and humanity. So bring dollars or euros with you. There is an exchange office, but the exchange rate is far from being the most favorable, so we advise you to exchange only the amount necessary for the transfer from the airport to the place where you booked accommodation. Try not to buy Bali money from street changers - their rate may seem more profitable, but they will almost certainly try to cheat you. If you decide to make such a deal, check your money at least twice. Keep in mind that in many exchange offices the rate depends on the denomination of the banknote. Thus, many places will allocate a little more Balinese money for one hundred-dollar bill than for five ten-dollar bills. Also, not everywhere you can exchange US dollars of 1996 and older.
If you decide to come to Bali with a bank card, you also need to know a couple of nuances about Bali money. Finding an ATM in most of the tourist areas of Bali will not be difficult. Whatever the denomination of your bank card - ruble or currency - ATMs dispense money in Indonesian rupees. Some of the machines are loaded with Rs 100,000 banknotes, while others are loaded with Rs 50,000 banknotes. It is best to take with you a card linked to an account in a freely convertible currency (US dollars or euros). This will help to minimize the amount of commissions when withdrawing money from the account. The average commission is around 3%. As in many other Asian countries, in Indonesia, including Bali, the MasterCard payment system is used more widely than Visa. Keep in mind that the amount that can be withdrawn from your card at a time is limited to 3 million rupees at best.
Important!!!Do not withdraw money from ATMs located on the street! Since you risk returning home and finding that someone in Indonesia has withdrawn all your money from the card. You need to withdraw money in protected places: banks or supermarkets.
As you can see, there is nothing particularly difficult in using money in Bali. You may be confused with zeros at first, but the adjustment period will take a very short time. Welcome to the land of rupee millionaires!
Before traveling abroad, experienced travelers probably think about how much money they will need on the road and what cards are accepted in the country of departure, what currency to take with them and what is its exchange rate against the ruble. You will find answers to these questions in the following article.
Local currency
The national currency of Indonesia in general and the island of Bali in particular is the Indonesian rupiah. And, although many sellers in stores write prices in dollars, it’s still better not to hope for a chance and have local money with you, especially since you will still be given change in Indonesian rupiah. In the first days of your stay in Bali, we recommend that you carefully count the money received in your hands - both when receiving change in stores and during currency exchange.
Due to the unstable economic situation in the world, the exchange rate of the Indonesian rupiah to other currencies is quite unstable, so we advise you to check it before traveling. By the way, many banknotes of the local currency of various denominations are similar to each other and remembering their appearance can take several days, so it’s better to protect yourself and download a photo of the Indonesian rupiah to your phone.
What currency to take with you
Going on a trip to Bali, tourists usually take euros or dollars with them. For the latter, make sure that your dollars were issued after 2004, as some exchangers or stores may refuse to accept notes from earlier years due to the large amount of counterfeit US currency that came out in the nineties. It is better to take banknotes of 50 or 100 USD with you, as their rate will be higher when exchanging currency.
Where to change money
Since it is extremely undesirable to change dollars at the airport (the exchange rate in Denpasar is not the best), we recommend doing it in advance, in Russia, or just exchange a small amount upon arrival. This money should be enough for a taxi to get to a bank or a currency exchange office.
There are two options for currency exchange - either banks or exchangers. Everything is clear with the first point, so let's take a closer look at the second point. One of the best exchange offices in Bali is located in one of the most popular places on the island - the resort of Kuta - and is called "Pt. Central Kuta Money Exchange, which is open on weekdays from 10 am to 8 pm. You can also change the currency at almost any authorized point ("authorized money changer" in English), with a sign or the inscription "NO COMMISSION".
During the exchange process, you must be extremely careful not to fall into the trick of scammers, so always count the bills.
How to avoid scams
It is better to make financial transactions at official exchange points, where you will most likely need to fill out a special form, indicating the amount and last name.
It is safer to change money in parts, having a small part of the amount in cash, and part on a bank card. And, of course, you should not count bills in public, it is better to do it in a secluded place.
Pay attention to the dignity of the banknotes that will be issued to you in the exchanger. If you see that they are trying to give you the full amount using a myriad of banknotes of 20,000 rupees, be careful, and best of all, ask to replace them with larger ones. It is not so easy to count a large amount of small money, and some especially “honest” workers are trying to confuse tourists in this way.
Also, beware of counterfeit dollars and carefully check the authenticity of bills without leaving the exchanger.
If you are still scammed by local money changers, you can, of course, call the tourist police, but it’s better to take precautions so as not to get into an unpleasant situation.
ATMs and plastic cards
One of the easiest, but not always economical, options for exchanging money in Bali is to withdraw rupees from a dollar account (if any). This can be done at one of the local ATMs, however, before withdrawing the amount, check the conversion rate with your bank and do not forget that the local ATM will also take its commission for the operation.
In this case, you can be advised to contact the locals or simply choose an ATM, to which a line of tourists lined up. But it is better not to withdraw Indonesian rupees from an ATM if you are not sure about the amount of the commission. The average commission for one withdrawal is 5 USD.
Do not forget also that each bank has a certain amount of cash withdrawal limit per day, so it is best to use the services of large Indonesian banks, such as Permata or BCA.
In Bali, MasterCard, American Express and VISA cards are readily accepted. Especially the latter - you can pay with a visa almost everywhere, including shopping centers, supermarkets, cafes and restaurants on the island.
Indonesia is famous for its hospitality and love for tourists. However, when traveling abroad, it is better to remain vigilant and be careful both when withdrawing money from an ATM and when exchanging currencies.
On the island of Bali, as well as throughout Indonesia, the Indonesian Rupiah (IDR) is used as the national currency. The history of its appearance dates back to 1945, during the War of Independence. However, the rupiah did not immediately become a single monetary unit throughout Indonesia. In the period from 1945 to 1949, in addition to the rupee, the Dutch guilders and the rupees of the Japanese occupation government were in use.
Some regions of Indonesia used their own currency until 1971. We are talking about the Indonesian part of the island of New Guinea and the Riau Islands.
In 1965, a decision was made to redenominate the rupee due to hyperinflation, which in 1965 reached an unprecedented 600%. As a result, the old rupee was devalued at a ratio of 1000:1. As a result, banknotes of 1, 5, 10, 25, and 50 sen and rupees of 1, 2.5, 5, 10, 25, 50, 100, 500, 1000, 5000 and 10000.
The "adventures" of the rupee did not end there. Depreciated the Indonesian rupiah by 80% during the Asian financial crisis between 1997 and 1998. From 2,000 rupees for 1 US dollar to 16,800. After that, the issuance of sen (1/100 rupee) was discontinued. During the financial crisis in Indonesia, there were mass unrest of the population, which led to the overthrow of President Suharto.
Denomination
In our time, coins are in circulation in denominations of 25, 50, 100, 200, 500 and 1000 rupees. Moreover, they are found in two varieties - light aluminum and heavier bimetallic ones. Banknotes exist in denominations of 1000, 2000, 5000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 and 100,000. The following images are placed on the banknotes:
1,000 rupees - Captain Pattimura on the obverse, on the reverse - a boat near Maitara Island
2,000 rupees - on the obverse is Prince Banjar Antasari, on the reverse - a dance of the Dayak tribe from Fr. Kalimantan (Borneo)
5,000 rupees - on the obverse is the national hero of Indonesia Tuanku Imam Bonjo, on the reverse is a weaver girl in a national costume
10,000 rupees - on the obverse of Sultan Badaruddin II, on the reverse of the building of Limas House in Palembang
20,000 rupees - Indonesian hero Oto di Nata on the obverse, tea pickers on the reverse
50,000 rupees - on the obverse is the national hero of the country I Gusti Ngurah Rai (after whom the airport in Bali and the streets on many islands of Indonesia are also named, on the reverse - the temple on the water Ulun Danu Bratan on the island of Bali
100,000 rupees - on the obverse the first President of Indonesia Sukarno and the Prime Minister of Indonesia Hatta, on the reverse - the building of the Assembly of the country.
All banknotes are paper and are made from wood fibers. The fibers of the abaca tree are mainly used. However, in 1993 and 1999 polymer banknotes were issued. However, they were later withdrawn from circulation, as it turned out that calculating machines in banks do not work correctly with them.
On all coins, except for 1000, the coat of arms of Indonesia, the mythical bird Garuda, is minted on the obverse. On the reverse sides of the new coins are:
25 rupees - hazelnut
50 rupees - oriole
100 rupees - palm cockatoo
200 rupees - Balinese starling
500 rupees - jasmine
1,000 rupees - Anklung, an Indonesian musical instrument.
