Indonesia Travel Budget: Real Daily Costs and Money-Saving Tips

What a day in Indonesia really costs

Indonesia is one of the best value destinations in Southeast Asia, but prices swing wildly between backpacker Bali and a luxury villa in Seminyak. The currency is the Indonesian rupiah (IDR), and you will deal in big numbers: roughly 16,000-17,000 IDR to 1 USD, around 17,000-18,000 IDR to 1 EUR.

Daily budgets

• Backpacker: 350,000-550,000 IDR per day (about 22-35 USD). Guesthouse dorm or basic room, local warung meals, scooter rental.
• Mid-range: 800,000-1,500,000 IDR per day (50-95 USD). Nice hotel or private villa share, mix of cafes and restaurants, a few paid activities.
• Comfort/luxury: 2,500,000 IDR and up (150 USD+). Resort stays, private drivers, spa days, fine dining.

Sample prices

• Nasi goreng or mie goreng at a warung: 20,000-35,000 IDR
• Western cafe meal in Canggu or Ubud: 80,000-150,000 IDR
• Large Bintang beer: 35,000-55,000 IDR
• Scooter rental per day: 70,000-100,000 IDR
• 1 litre of petrol: around 13,000-15,000 IDR
• Grab/Gojek ride across town: 25,000-60,000 IDR
• Entry to a temple like Tanah Lot: 60,000-75,000 IDR
• Domestic flight Jakarta-Bali: 700,000-1,300,000 IDR

Money and cards

Indonesia is largely cash-first outside big hotels and malls. Withdraw from bank ATMs (BCA, Mandiri, BNI) rather than the standalone machines, which charge fees up to 50,000 IDR per withdrawal. Always choose to be charged in rupiah, not your home currency, to dodge bad conversion rates. Carry small notes for warungs, parking and tips. GoPay and OVO e-wallets are handy if you stay a while.

Saving tips

• Eat at warungs and padang restaurants where locals do; a full meal can be under 30,000 IDR.
• Use Gojek and Grab instead of haggling with taxis; insist on the meter for Blue Bird taxis.
• Travel in the shoulder season (April-June, September) for cheaper rooms and fewer crowds.
• Take overnight ferries or trains on Java instead of flying short hops.
• Buy a local SIM or eSIM so you can compare prices and use ride apps instead of paying tourist rates.

Stay connected in Indonesia

A HelloSIM eSIM keeps you online the moment you land for maps, translation, ride-hailing and last-minute bookings, with no roaming bills or hunting for a SIM kiosk.