Want to bring your home country’s currency to Bali and then change your cash when you arrive?
Then you need our list of recommended Bali money changers and our helpful tips on exchanging currency on the island without getting ripped off.
Here’s everything you need to know about getting a fair exchange rate from authorised money changers in Bali.
Rules You Need To Know Regarding Changing Money In Bali
Using a money changer in Bali to exchange currency isn’t very hard.
However, you do need to know that the money exchange you use will follow a set of rules, and the money changer cannot alter these rules for you.
So, it’s best to understand how foreign currency and local currency interact with each other and the rules you need to follow to get your money exchange done with the least amount of pain.
About The Indonesian Rupiah
Firstly, you should know what local money looks like and how it works. There are the following banknotes:
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100,000 IDR (a red note with pictures of Indonesia’s founding fathers on one side and the national parliament on the other)
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50,000 IDR (a blue note with Gusti Ngurah Rai on one side and the Ulun Danu Beratan Temple on the other)
These two notes will make up the bulk of what you are given by the money changer.
However, you may also receive notes in the following denominations: 20,000 IDR, 10,000 IDR, 5,000 IDR, 2,000 IDR and 1,000 IDR.
There are also 500, 200, and 100 IDR coins. These are silver.
To protect yourself against counterfeits, you must ask the money changers for a receipt and keep it on you at all times.
Pristine Notes Only At The Money Changer
If you’ve ever used a money exchange at home, you will probably find this aspect of money changing in Indonesia peculiar, but it’s how things work in Bali.
You will find that the money changer will reject creased bank notes, particularly if they are in USD.
You will also find that the exchange rates quoted tend to be for large denomination notes (such as 100 USD), and there are lower exchange rates for smaller denominations.
Only Use Popular Money Changers In Popular Tourist Areas
You will get the best exchange rates and fairest treatment at the places where they deal with the most tourists. Even the airport money changers are going to give you much better value for money in Bali than some backstreet shack.
If you are offered an exchange rate, that seems too good to be true.
That’s because you are at one of the country’s fraudulent money exchanges and are about to be ripped off.
The official exchange rate is the official exchange rate; nobody can exchange money for less.
You Don’t Pay Commissions, Just Market Rates (And No Haggling)
When you change money in Bali, you should be quoted an exchange rate, and then you change money at that rate. There is no commission added on top.
Competitive rates tend to be within 2-3 points of the official Interbank rate. You can Google this rate at any time and compare it to the rate you are being offered by local exchange agents.
However, if you receive money via Western Union when you’re in Bali? You will probably find the exchange rate is terrible. This is a major downside of wiring money rather than using banking services.
There Is A Legal Limit To The Amount Of Cash You Can Bring Into Bali
It is just possible that unsuspecting tourists find themselves losing all their money to the Bali customs officers before they even get to exchange it in the tourist areas of Bali.
This is because if you bring in more than 100 million IDR (about $7,500 USD) in cash – you must declare it as you enter the country.
Failure to do so can result in confiscation of the currency.
There is also a maximum figure of $75,000 (1 billion IDR) that may be brought in by any individual. Any amount in excess of this figure, even if you declare it, may be confiscated.
However, we don’t imagine many of you are going to be bringing over $75,000 in folding green to Bali any time soon. They have banks and ATMs here too.
A List Of Some Of The Best Money Changers In Bali
This is not a definitive list of money changers in Bali. There are so many places to change money here, and most of them are just fine.
Instead, it’s a list of the places that deal with large volumes of tourists that we know are trustworthy.
BMC Seminyak
BMC Seminyak is a very popular destination for changing money. That’s because they have no commission fees as standard and very competitive rates for most currencies.
Given that this is also a short walk from most of the popular tourist areas in Seminyak, BMC can be a no-brainer if you’re in the area.
Where Is It? Jl. Raya Seminyak No.16A, Seminyak, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Online: BMC
RARA Money Changer, Seminyak
This local exchange bureau has been open for more than two decades and has gained a reputation for honesty and good customer service.
You will see the rates here, which are always displayed on an electronic board over the counter, and there are no hidden charges or commission fees.
What you’re quoted for your cash is what you will get. Always.
Where Is It? 75C9+P43, Discovery Shopping Mall, Jalan Kartika, Kuta, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Online: RARA Money Changer
PT Dirgahayu Valuta Prima, Island-Wide
This very popular chain of money changers can be found all over Bali and is present in almost every tourist destination.
They are directly licensed by the Indonesian Central Bank and have gained a good reputation in their 30+ years as a money changer in Bali.
Their rates tend to be fair, and there are never any hidden charges.
Where Is It? Ubud Branch, Jl. IB Manik, Petulu, Kecamatan Ubud, Kabupaten Gianyar, Bali 80571, Indonesia
Online: PT DVP
Central Kuta, Kerobokan II
This is one of several Central Kuta Money Exchange branches, and it’s probably the most popular of them.
They make good on the promise that changing money in Bali will be better value than changing your money back home.
As you’d expect, their rates are openly disclosed, and there are no hidden commissions or freebies.
Where Is It? Jl. Raya Kuta No.168, Kuta, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Online: N/A
MPB Money Changer, Legian
Legian is a very popular place for families and people looking to party, and the best money changer there is MPB.
They have excellent exchange rates and are generally as competitive as anywhere else on the island can be.
They are also known to take a wider range of currencies for exchange than some of the other exchanges in Bali, so if you’re having problems getting rid of your foreign currency, you might want to try this exchange.
Where Is It? Jl. Kartika Plaza No.99, Kuta, Kec. Kuta, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Online: MPB
BMC Branch, Batu Bolong
This Canggu-based branch of BMC is well known for offering speedy and trustworthy services to tourists looking for some Indonesian Rupiah before they go to FINNS, the best beach club in the world.
As with all exchanges on our list, you only pay an exchange rate, and there are no hidden fees or commissions to pay at this exchange.
Where Is It? Jl. Pantai Batu Bolong No.18, Canggu, Kec. Kuta Utara, Kabupaten Badung, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Online: BMC
Central Kuta Money Exchange
Central Kuta Money Exchange is, perhaps, the biggest brand in money exchange in Kuta, and it’s certainly one of the most reliable in our experience.
You can change money in Bali here with ease, and their staff are very helpful and are fully knowledgeable of the full currency exchange process.
There are no hidden fees or commissions when you exchange your money for Indonesian Rupiah at this currency exchange either.
Where Is It? Central Kuta Money Exchange, 8584+WQ9, Kerobokan Kelod, Kuta Utara, Badung Regency, Bali 80361, Indonesia
Online: Central
FAQs
Is It Best To Exchange Money In Bali?
In general, you will get better exchange rates in Bali for Bali currency than you will at home.
Given that it’s easy to use an ATM at Ngurah Rai International Airport and there are plenty of money changers in Bali, there’s no real need to exchange currency until you arrive in Bali.
We would note that money changers here take most major currencies, including the USD, AUD, Pound Sterling, Singapore Dollar, etc., but if you’re bringing obscure currencies, you might want to change them into USD before coming to Bali.
It’s hard to get rid of Lao Kip or Vietnamese Dong, for example, for a decent rate in Bali.
What Is The Best Way To Take Money To Bali?
The best way to take money to Bali is to bring USD in cash. However, there’s no need to convert Australian dollars into USD. For example, most money changers in Bali can easily convert AUD to AUD, too.
How To Convert Cash In Bali?
There are three main ways to change up foreign currency in Bali. The first and most popular is to use the services of money changers, but you can also visit a bank (which will give you worse exchange rates than the money changers) or use an ATM.
Is The Australian Dollar Good In Bali? Can I Use Australian Dollars In Bali?
No, while Bali may be very close to Australia, it’s part of Indonesia and not part of Australia.
That means the Indonesian Central Bank expects people to use the Indonesian Rupiah as the official currency and money changers to exchange currency for the Rupiah.
Is It Good To Exchange Money At Bali Airport?
The exchange rates at a money exchange in the airport will be a little worse than those offered elsewhere on the island but not so much worse than it really matters (unless you change up thousands of dollars in one go).
The money changers at the airport are safe and effective, and all of them are licensed to deliver exchange services to tourists.
Final Thoughts On Finding A Money Changer, Bali
It’s really easy to exchange money in Bali, and as long as you use one of the authorised money changers we’ve listed above, you will have no problem changing your money for Indonesian Rupiah at a fair rate.
