What Budget Should You Plan for a Trip to Indonesia?

Indonesia is a vast archipelago of more than 17,000 islands located in South-East Asia, attracting millions of foreign tourists every year. If, like them, you have chosen Indonesia as the destination for your next trip, you are probably wondering what budget you should plan in order to enjoy your stay in the best possible conditions.

In this article, we explain everything you need to know about the official currency, the Indonesian rupiah (IDR), the main expense categories to plan for and how they are distributed, as well as our tips for getting your IDR at the best possible rate.

 

Key Takeaways: 

• Indonesia mainly operates on a cash basis using the Indonesian rupiah (IDR), as card payments are not widespread due to costs, limited infrastructure and a population that is still largely unbanked.
• Flights are the main expense: expect around £650–£800 in low season, £900–£1,200 in high season (July–August), and £1,050–£1,600 during the Christmas and New Year period.
• On site, transport is very affordable with scooter rental (70,000 to 120,000 IDR/day), local buses (50,000 to 100,000 IDR/day) and taxis via Grab or Gojek (10,000 to 50,000 IDR per journey).
• Accommodation and food suit all budgets: hostels from 80,000 IDR per night, comfortable hotels around 500,000 to 1,000,000 IDR, and local meals in warungs for 30,000 to 60,000 IDR.
• Activities remain affordable (temples, parks, volcanoes, diving, yoga), and the daily budget excluding flights ranges from around 340,000 to 500,000 IDR for a budget trip, up to 1,000,000 to 1,150,000 IDR for a more comfortable stay.

 

Indonesia’s official currency is the Indonesian rupiah.

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 only rarely accepted, for several reasons:

• Card payment terminals are expensive and banks charge high commission fees.
• Outside major cities and tourist areas, internet connections can be very poor, making card terminals difficult or even impossible to use.
• A large part of the population does not have a bank account or card.

The country therefore relies mainly on cash, and you will need to carry IDR banknotes for your day-to-day expenses.

Read also : Do I need cash in Indonesia?

Below is a breakdown of the main expenses to plan for during your stay in Indonesia, with an estimate of their cost.

Your flight to Indonesia is generally the largest expense. Prices can vary greatly depending on the season, so choosing the right travel period is essential if you want to keep costs down.

Low Season

If you want to benefit from more attractive fares, travel between February and June or from September to early December.
During this period, return flights usually cost between £650 and £800.

High Season

Between July and August, ticket prices are higher due to strong tourist demand.
Return flights generally cost between £900 and £1,200.

Festive Periods

From late December to early January, prices are usually slightly lower than in high season. Expect to pay between £1,050 and £1,600 for a return ticket.

Whatever period you choose, remember to book your flights well in advance to benefit from lower fares. Using flight comparison websites such as Skyscanner or Kayak is also an excellent way to find the best prices in just a few clicks.

Transport in Indonesia is very affordable.

A practical way to get around is to rent a scooter, which is the preferred means of transport for locals. Expect to pay between 70,000 and 120,000 IDR per day depending on the season and location. Add the cost of petrol (around 13,000 IDR per litre) and you will be fully independent.

You can also use local buses for a daily fare of between 50,000 and 100,000 IDR.

Finally, taxis are plentiful, especially in tourist areas. You can use apps such as Grab or Gojek to easily find a driver. Depending on the distance, expect to pay between 10,000 and 50,000 IDR per ride.

Read also: Transport in Asia

Accommodation in Indonesia is easy to find, with a wide range of options, comfort levels and prices to suit all budgets:

• For a budget trip, hostels cost between 80,000 and 150,000 IDR per night.
• A guesthouse or simple local hotel will cost between 200,000 and 400,000 IDR.
• For a more comfortable stay with Wi-Fi, air conditioning and breakfast included, budget between 500,000 and 1,000,000 IDR.
• For a high-end hotel, expect to pay at least 1,500,000 IDR per night.

Read also: Accommodation in Asia: How to Find a Place to Stay Without Breaking the Bank?

Indonesia is an ideal destination for food lovers thanks to the wide variety of dishes and the low prices offered by many establishments.

Meals

• Warungs, small local restaurants, are a great way to discover Indonesian cuisine on a budget: expect to pay between 30,000 and 60,000 IDR for a full meal. You will find many local specialities such as nasi goreng, mie goreng and fried chicken (ayam goreng).
• There are also many tourist restaurants offering more Western-style food (burgers, pizza, bowls, brunch, etc.). These are most commonly found in popular areas such as Bali, Lombok and Java, and meals usually cost between 120,000 and 240,000 IDR.
• In tourist areas, you will also find more upmarket restaurants offering refined dishes for between 300,000 and 600,000 IDR.

Drinks

• It is essential to drink only bottled water, as tap water is not drinkable. Expect to pay between 7,000 and 15,000 IDR for a 1.5-litre bottle.
• For a fresh fruit juice or a fresh coconut, budget between 20,000 and 40,000 IDR.
• Alcohol is generally more expensive, but you can find local beers in supermarkets for 20,000 to 40,000 IDR. In restaurants or bars, expect to pay between 60,000 and 120,000 IDR.

You will have no trouble finding plenty of activities and visits to enjoy during your stay in Indonesia, often at very reasonable prices.

• Entrance fees for famous temples range from 60,000 to 750,000 IDR depending on the site.
• Visiting a palace or museum costs between 20,000 and 100,000 IDR.
• Indonesia’s natural landscapes are also well worth discovering. For example, watching the sunrise at Mount Bromo costs between 500,000 and 1,000,000 IDR.
• Entry to national parks and jungles usually ranges from 100,000 to 300,000 IDR.
• Diving is one of the must-do activities in Indonesia. The country boasts some of the world’s most beautiful dive sites, such as Raja Ampat, Komodo and Bunaken. A dive costs between 600,000 and 1,000,000 IDR.
• Finally, a yoga class costs between 160,000 and 300,000 IDR.

The budget needed for your trip to Indonesia can vary greatly depending on your level of comfort, the number of activities planned and the means of transport used.

Below is a summary of the estimated daily cost per person for each expense category:

Category	Budget Trip	Mid-range Trip
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 your currency for Indonesian rupiah is essential when travelling to Indonesia, as most expenses are paid in cash.

With city exchange offices, airport bureaux de change, online services and withdrawing directly on site, it can be difficult to identify the most attractive option. Here are our tips to help you get the best rates and make the most of your travel budget.

First of all, make sure you exchange your currency before leaving for Indonesia: you will benefit from much better exchange rates than if you try to obtain rupiah once you arrive.

Read also: Why Planning Your Currency Exchange in Advance Can Save You Money

In addition, ordering your currency online is the best way to maximise your budget. Not only do you benefit from a preferential rate, but you also pay no commission on the exchange. You therefore know exactly how much you will receive and remain in control of your expenses. When placing your order, you can choose free collection from the ChangeGroup branch of your choice or have your IDR delivered directly to your home thanks to our home delivery service.

Finally, our BuyBack guarantee is a solution worth considering if you wish to sell back your unused currency after your trip without being affected by exchange rate fluctuations.

Read also: 4 things you can do with ChangeGroup that could save you time and money