Wise Best exchange rate
Wise debit card
45k0.43%-0.65% conversion fee
The best travel card for Indonesia
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers.
Cards, cash and FX fees for Australian travellers. Well over Rp 12,000 to the dollar. Knocking four zeros off a price gets you close enough for a quick read.
Mostly - cards work in cities and tourist areas in Indonesia, but you still need cash outside them.
5 travel card options for Indonesia, compared
Revolut No weekday FX fee
Revolut Standard
30k0% FX fee
Compare only
ING Orange Everyday ATM fees rebated
ING Orange Everyday
22k0% FX fee
ubank Spend
ubank Spend account
9k0% FX fee
Macquarie Transaction Account
Macquarie Transaction Account
6k0% FX fee
Prices are indicative, shown in AUD and refreshed from provider APIs where available. Always confirm the final price on the provider's site - it is the price that applies. We may earn a commission if you buy through our links, which never changes what you pay. Partners are listed before providers who pay us nothing, as our terms set out; sorting by price ignores all of that and orders on the number alone. How we make money.
Compared side by side
| Card | FX fee | ATM | Annual fee |
|---|---|---|---|
| Wise Partner | 0.43%-0.65% conversion fee | 2 free withdrawals/month up to $350, then 1.75% | $0 |
| Revolut | 0% on weekdays, up to 1% on weekends | $350/month fee-free, then 2% | $0 |
| ING Orange Everyday | 0% with monthly criteria met | International ATM fees rebated with criteria met | $0 |
| ubank Spend | 0% international transaction fee | No ubank fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
| Macquarie Transaction Account | 0% foreign transaction fee | No Macquarie fee; operator fees still apply | $0 |
Paying for things in Indonesia
Can you pay by card in Indonesia?
Hotels, larger restaurants and chain stores take cards. Warungs, markets, temples and drivers are cash.
Cash and ATMs in Indonesia
Everywhere in tourist areas. Use ATMs attached to bank branches - skimming from freestanding street ATMs is a known problem. Fees are typically IDR 25,000-50,000.
Plan for cash as your default. Withdraw the maximum per transaction to spread the fee.
Do you tip in Indonesia?
Not traditionally expected but increasingly common in tourism. Many restaurants add a 5-10% service charge plus 10-11% government tax. Rp 20,000-50,000 is a generous tip for a driver or guide.
Worth knowing about paying in Indonesia
Card payments often attract a 3% surcharge. Always decline dynamic currency conversion and pay in rupiah.
Before you pay for anything in Indonesia
Pay in Indonesian rupiah or Australian dollars?
The terminal will offer you both. One of them is materially more expensive.
How much cash to take overseas
What Indonesia needs in cash, next to 35 other destinations.
How to avoid ATM fees overseas
Three fees stack on a withdrawal. Two of them are avoidable outright.
What one Australian dollar buys in Indonesia
Rp12500 IDR per AUD
Last recorded rate
These are mid-market rates - the rate banks trade at, published by the European Central Bank. It is not what you will be offered. Expect a card or exchange service to take 0.5% to 5% off it, which is exactly what our travel money comparison is for. Past movement doesn't predict future rates, and none of this is financial advice.
View the numbers as a table
More Indonesia essentials
Indonesia visa and entry rules
Passport, visa, arrival cards and customs rules for Australian passport holders.
Flights to Indonesia
Search fares from Australia, then sort the rest of the trip.
Indonesia eSIM plans
Instant data, no physical SIM required.
Indonesia travel insurance
Medical, cancellation and luggage cover for Australian travellers.
Indonesia airport transfers
Trains, buses, private transfers and taxis compared.
Driving in Indonesia
International Driving Permit rules and car hire for Australians.
Indonesia travel essentials
Adapters, plugs, tap water, tipping and health basics.
Things to do in Indonesia
Attractions, tours and passes worth booking ahead.
Further reading: Travel money for Australians: cards, cash and the fees nobody mentions
How these comparisons are made
Cards are compared on the three fees that actually cost travellers money - the FX margin, ATM fees and account fees - using each issuer's published rates. Jamie has personally spent on travel cards recommended here while overseas. Cash-versus-card guidance is researched per destination rather than copied between pages, because a card strategy that works in Stockholm fails in Osaka. Read the full editorial policy.
Indonesia money & payments FAQs
What is the Bali tourist levy and do I have to pay it?
Yes, if you're entering Bali. It's a one-off IDR 150,000 (about AUD $15) levy per visitor, separate from your visa. Pay it online at the official Love Bali site before you fly and keep the QR code - spot checks happen at the airport and at major attractions.
Planning Indonesia?
We will send you the Indonesia guide as it grows - what to book before you go, which eSIM and travel card are worth it there, and what things actually cost in Australian dollars.