Exchanging Yen, Won, AUD or Roubles in Bali: How Much Do You Lose?

Yen and Australian dollars exchange well in Bali, at roughly 3.5 percent below the Bank Indonesia rate, while won and roubles lose a lot: about 26 percent for won and about 51 percent for roubles. These figures come from Central Kuta Money Exchange's indicative rate board at 3:45 pm on 29 October 2026, compared with Bank Indonesia (BI) transaction rates and the Central Bank of Russia (CBR) official rate on the same day.

Comparison on 29 October 2026

The reference rate below is the midpoint of BI's buy and sell rates. BI does not publish a rouble rate, so the rouble reference is the CBR rate (Rp10,000 = 44.58 roubles, about Rp224 per rouble).

• Yen (JPY): the money changer buys at Rp111.25 per yen; BI reference about Rp115.24. ¥10,000 becomes Rp1,112,500, about Rp40,000 short of the reference.
• Australian dollar (AUD): Rp12,350; BI reference about Rp12,793. A$100 becomes Rp1,235,000, about Rp44,000 short.
• Won (KRW): Rp10 per won; BI reference about Rp13.59. ₩100,000 becomes Rp1,000,000, about Rp359,000 short.
• Rouble (RUB): Rp110 per rouble; CBR reference about Rp224. ₽10,000 becomes Rp1,100,000, about Rp1.14 million short.
• For comparison, US dollar (USD): Rp17,700; BI reference about Rp18,183, a gap of about 2.7 percent. The same board bought euros at Rp19,775.

The board says its rates are indicative. At the counter, small notes or worn notes can get a lower rate, and rates can change during the day.

Japanese travellers: is bringing yen enough?

Yes. Yen is on the boards of the big money changers with a gap similar to AUD, so carrying yen cash and changing it in stages at a licensed outlet makes more sense than buying US dollars in Japan first and paying the spread twice. Before you leave, compare with the rupiah rate at your bank or a Japanese airport counter. If the gap there is more than 3-4 percent from the market rate, change in Bali instead. JCB cards are accepted at some merchants; see our Mir, UnionPay and JCB article.

Korean travellers: why is won the worst?

Won is bought at Rp10 against a reference of almost Rp13.6, so more than a quarter of the value disappears at the counter. Two routes cost less. First, bring US dollars: the gap in Bali is only about 2.7 percent, plus your bank's spread when you buy dollars in Korea, and the total stays far below 26 percent as long as your bank's rate is reasonable. Second, withdraw rupiah from an ATM with an international debit card; check the ATM withdrawal fees in Bali and your Korean bank's charges first.

Russian travellers: roubles are accepted, at half the value

Roubles do appear on the rate board, but Rp110 per rouble means your money is worth roughly half of the CBR official rate. Visa and Mastercard cards issued by Russian banks do not work in Indonesia, and Mir is very limited. The sensible option is US dollar or euro cash, exchanged in Bali. Make sure dollar notes are new, crisp and unmarked, because old or folded dollars are often refused or bought at a lower rate.

Australian travellers

AUD is one of the most common currencies at Bali money changers, with a gap of about 3.5 percent on the day. For longer trips, a debit or travel card with no foreign transaction fee is often cheaper than carrying a lot of cash, but compare your bank's fees with local ATM fees first.

How to exchange without getting tricked

• Use a BI-licensed money changer (KUPVA BB) that displays its logo and licence number. Small kiosks offering rates well above the official boards are a warning sign.
• Do the maths yourself on your phone, then count the rupiah again in front of the cashier before you leave the counter.
• Ask for a receipt. More on licensed outlets and common scams is in our Bali money exchange guide.

Quick answers

Can I pay in yen, won or dollars at shops? No. Law No. 7 of 2011 on Currency requires rupiah for transactions in Indonesia. Other rules visitors should know are on our Bali rules page.

Do these rates apply at every money changer? Not exactly. Each outlet sets its own rates, but the pattern (won and roubles losing far more) is common because both currencies are rarely traded in Bali.

When should I check again? On the day you exchange. Central Kuta updates its board several times a day, and BI publishes rates every working day.

Data checked on 29 October 2026: Bank Indonesia transaction rates (bi.go.id), Central Bank of Russia official rates (cbr.ru) and Central Kuta Money Exchange's indicative rate board.