The Indonesian Rupiah (pronounced “rue-pee-ah”) is Bali’s main form of currency and is often abbreviated as Rp or sometimes Rs. The official currency code for the Indonesian Rupiah is IDR and you will often find prices in shops abbreviated before the amount, such as Rp 10.000. Similar to our Australian Dollar the currency is rather colorful which can make it easier to get to grips with unlike other foreign currencies you may have used in the past. When you first start to shop around in Bali you will see that amounts tend to be quite large because of all the zeros. Don’t let this put you off initially as more often than not prices are given with the thousand already implied. Something that costs “one hundred” would usually mean 100.000 rupiahs which would cost around $10 Aussie Dollars.
A single Indonesian Rupiah is divided into 100 sen. The value of this has declined so low that this is no longer circulated. The most common denomination is the Rp 50.000 banknote, the second-largest banknote of the Indonesian Rupiah. The largest being the 100,000 banknotes which can be hard to break outside of big-name shops, eateries, and the larger hotels. We would always recommend trying to keep hold of and using smaller denominations where possible.
What Denominations Are Available For The Indonesian Rupiah
Similar to Aussie Dollars, the Indonesian Rupiah is colorful which makes it very easy to differentiate which note is which. There is nothing worse than getting to your destination and by the time you leave, you still have no idea which note is which when dealing with your foreign currency.
The smaller denominations from 1,000 to 5,000 are all fairly similar but it is fairly easy to determine which is which. Below is a brief overview of the main banknote denominations with their colors for reference.
- The Rp. 5.000 Banknote is Brown.
- The Rp. 10.000 Banknote is Purple.
- The Rp. 20.000 Banknote is Green.
- The Rp. 50.000 Banknote is Blue.
- The Rp. 100.000 Banknote is Pink.
Coins do exist within the Indonesian Rupiah but they are very seldom used by tourists. Unlike us Aussies, coin values are so small that using them or losing them is not a big deal. The 500 Rupiah coins are made out of aluminum, making them so lightweight they almost feel like toy money. You will notice that in shops, bars and restaurant amounts are rounded to avoid the need for small change. Some shops and supermarkets will even give you a few lollies to make up the difference.
Bali is a well known popular tourist destination amongst us Aussies which makes it a prime location for ATMs within prime shopping districts as well as popular tourist destination spots. Here at Foreignxchange.com.au, we strongly recommend that you get your travel money sorted prior to heading overseas to Bali as these ATMs can charge high commission fees with relatively weak exchange rate options.
Even waiting to exchange your money on your arrival could see you getting less money if you were to do it prior to your departure. Getting local currency upon your arrival could again see you pay high commission fees and the rate won’t be as great as back home.
Why Use Foreignxchange.com.au To Buy Your IDR For Your Bali Trip?
We pride ourselves in being able to deliver exceptional customer service coupled with one of the strongest currency exchange rates in the country! Our two-step online currency exchange process really does take the hassle out of getting your foreign currency sorted before your next big trip. With access to over 60 different currencies, we are one of Australia’s largest online currency exchange platforms. We can deliver foreign currency to Melbourne, Adelaide, Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, and any other location right across Australia. Order your currency online today with us and it could be in your hands, ready for your next trip in just five business days!