How much should you budget for a trip to Indonesia?

Indonesia is a vast archipelago of over 17,000 islands in Southeast Asia, attracting millions of international visitors every year. If, like them, you’ve chosen Indonesia as your next travel destination, you’re probably wondering how much budget you’ll need to make the most of your trip.

In this article, we break down everything you need to know about the official currency—the Indonesian rupiah (IDR)—along with the main expense categories, how to allocate your budget, and our tips for getting the best rates when exchanging your money.

 

Key takeaways

• Indonesia mainly operates on cash using the Indonesian rupiah (IDR), as card payments are not widely accepted due to costs, limited infrastructure, and a largely unbanked population.
• Flights are the biggest expense: expect around AUD 1,200–1,500 in low season, AUD 1,700–2,300 in high season (July–August), and AUD 2,000–3,000 over the Christmas/New Year period.
• Local transport is very affordable, with scooter rentals (70,000–120,000 IDR/day), local buses (50,000–100,000 IDR/day), and taxis via Grab or Gojek (10,000–50,000 IDR per ride).
• Accommodation and food suit all budgets: hostels from 80,000 IDR per night, comfortable hotels around 500,000–1,000,000 IDR, and local meals in warungs for 30,000–60,000 IDR.
• Activities remain affordable (temples, parks, volcanoes, diving, yoga), and the daily budget excluding flights ranges from about 340,000–500,000 IDR on a budget to 1,000,000–1,150,000 IDR for a more comfortable stay.

 

Indonesia’s official currency is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR).

Banknotes:

• 100,000 IDR
• 50,000 IDR
• 20,000 IDR
• 10,000 IDR
• 5,000 IDR
• 2,000 IDR
• 1,000 IDR

Coins:

• 1,000 IDR
• 500 IDR
• 200 IDR
• 100 IDR
• 50 IDR

Card payments are rarely accepted for several reasons:

• Payment terminals are expensive and banks charge high fees
• Internet connections outside major cities and tourist areas can be unreliable
• A large part of the population doesn’t have access to banking services

As a result, Indonesia is largely cash-based, so you’ll need IDR in cash for your day-to-day expenses.

Reserve your currency online

Enjoy the best exchange rates and 0% commission when booking your travel money online.

Exchange Currency

Here’s a breakdown of the main costs to expect during your stay in Indonesia:

Flights are usually the biggest expense, and prices vary significantly depending on the season.

• Low season (February to June, September to early December): Return flights typically cost between AUD 1,200 and AUD 1,500.
• High season (July–August): Due to high demand, expect return fares between AUD 1,700 and AUD 2,300.
• Holiday period (late December to early January): Prices are slightly lower than peak season, ranging from AUD 2,000 to AUD 3,000 return.

Regardless of when you travel, booking in advance and using comparison sites like Skyscanner or Kayak is the best way to find good deals.

Transport in Indonesia is very affordable.

• Renting a scooter is one of the most popular options. Expect to pay 70,000–120,000 IDR per day, plus fuel (around 13,000 IDR per litre).
• Local buses cost around 50,000–100,000 IDR per day.
• Taxis are widely available, especially in tourist areas. Apps like Grab and Gojek make it easy to book a ride, with fares ranging from 10,000 to 50,000 IDR depending on distance.

Indonesia offers a wide range of accommodation options:

• Budget: Hostels from 80,000–150,000 IDR per night
• Mid-range: Guesthouses or simple hotels from 200,000–400,000 IDR
• Comfortable: Hotels with Wi-Fi, air con, and breakfast from 500,000–1,000,000 IDR
• Luxury: From 1,500,000 IDR per night and up

Indonesia is a great destination for food lovers, with plenty of affordable options.

Meals

• Local warungs: 30,000–60,000 IDR for a full meal (try nasi goreng, mie goreng, or ayam goreng)
• Tourist restaurants: 120,000–240,000 IDR
• Upscale dining: 300,000–600,000 IDR

Drinks

• Bottled water (1.5L): 7,000–15,000 IDR
• Fresh juice or coconut: 20,000–40,000 IDR
• Beer: 20,000–40,000 IDR in supermarkets, 60,000–120,000 IDR in bars/restaurants

Indonesia offers a wide range of affordable activities:

• Temple visits: 60,000–750,000 IDR
• Museums or palaces: 20,000–100,000 IDR
• Mount Bromo sunrise tour: 500,000–1,000,000 IDR
• National parks and jungle access: 100,000–300,000 IDR
• Scuba diving: 600,000–1,000,000 IDR
• Yoga classes: 160,000–300,000 IDR

Reserve your currency online

Enjoy the best exchange rates and 0% commission when booking your travel money online.

Exchange Currency

Your overall budget will depend on your travel style and activity choices.

Estimated daily budget per person:

Category	Budget	Mid-range
Accommodation	100,000 IDR	500,000 IDR
Food	60,000 IDR	150,000 IDR
Transport	80,000 IDR	200,000 IDR
Activities	100,000 IDR	300,000 IDR
Total	340,000–500,000 IDR	1,000,000–1,150,000 IDR

Exchanging currency into IDR is essential when travelling in Indonesia, as most expenses are cash-based.

With options ranging from exchange offices in cities and airports to online currency exchange services and local withdrawals, it can be tricky to find the best deal. Here are our top tips:

• Exchange before departure: You’ll generally get better rates than exchanging once you arrive.
• Order currency online: This often gives you preferential rates with zero commission, so you know exactly how much you’re getting.
• Flexible collection options: You can collect your currency in-store or have it delivered to your home.
• BuyBack guarantee: This allows you to sell back unused currency after your trip without being affected by exchange rate fluctuations.