Money & Payments in Amed (2026)

Good to know

Good to Know

Cash is the safer, more practical option in Amed. Carry sufficient IDR to avoid frequent ATM visits or unfavorable money-changer rates.
Expect a 3% merchant surcharge when paying by card at smaller establishments. This is standard practice, not a scam, and applies to accommodations, dive shops, and casual restaurants.
Break large bills (100,000 IDR) at supermarkets, banks, or reputable money changers early in your stay to have change for small purchases and tipping.
Amed's dive centers increasingly accept Wise transfers, making this a convenient option if you have a Wise account.
Card payments at beachfront warungs and street vendors are almost never available; plan accordingly.
If traveling with cards, inform your bank of your destination to avoid fraud blocks, and enable transaction alerts.
Keep one backup card stored separately from your primary card in case of loss or theft.

ATM Fees

Bank Charges: Your home bank may charge a fixed fee plus a percentage (typically 2–3.5%) for foreign ATM withdrawals. Check with your bank before traveling.
Note: Amed has no major shopping centers; nearest ATMs are in Bali's tourist hubs. Consider withdrawing larger amounts at arrival if accessing an ATM in Amed is inconvenient.

Recommended Practices

Use ATMs inside bank branches or shopping malls during daylight hours
Withdraw sensible amounts every few days to minimize trip frequency
Cover the keypad when entering your PIN
Inspect machines for unusual attachments before use
Keep receipts until you reconcile withdrawals

Tipping Norms

General Note: Carry small bills (20,000–50,000 IDR notes) for tipping ease. Larger denominations (100,000 IDR) may be difficult for small businesses to break for tips.

Hotel Staff

Guideline: Cash tips are customary and often the only option.
Note: Hotel staff typically cannot process card-based tips.

Restaurants

Guideline: 5–10% of the bill or simply rounding up.

Diving And Tours

Guideline: 5–10% for guides or dive masters is customary if you had a good experience.
Note: Some dive centers now accept card payment for the dive fee itself, but tips are still best left in cash.

Taxi Drivers And Guides

Guideline: Tipping is appreciated for good service but not mandatory.

Card Acceptance

Overview: Amed has mixed card acceptance. Larger establishments and tourist-oriented businesses accept cards, but cash remains essential.

Details

Card Types: Visa and MasterCard are most widely accepted. Amex and Diners Club rarely accepted.
Merchant Surcharge: Many venues (hotels, guesthouses, smaller restaurants, dive shops) add a 3% surcharge for card payments. Some businesses also enforce minimum card spend around 100,000–200,000 IDR.
Payment Alternatives: Wise transfers increasingly accepted by accommodations and dive centers in Amed. GoPay, OVO, and QRIS (QR code payments) available but primarily for app-based services like Gojek/Grab.

Rarely Accepted

Beach warungs and street food stalls
Small local shops and markets
Motorcycle rentals
Local taxi drivers
Most private drivers

Widely Accepted

Hotels and guesthouses (many)
Established restaurants and bars
Dive centers (increasingly)
Tour operators

Banking

NPWP Requirement: Not typically required for basic tourist/foreigner savings accounts at OCBC or CIMB Niaga; BCA may require it
Account Opening For Foreigners: Possible but complex; KITAS (long-term visa) historically required but exceptions exist
Practical Note: Many nomads prefer multi-currency accounts (OCBC, CIMB Niaga) for flexibility; QRIS payments widely accepted but require local account for utility/rent payments

Tourist Account Option

Fee Caveat: High transaction fees if balance below USD 10,000
Documents Required: Passport only; proof of return flight may be requested
Maximum Balance USD: 50000
Minimum Deposit USD: 2000

Foreigner Friendly Banks

OCBC NISP
KITAS Required
No, but large deposit required
Minimum Deposit IDR
50000000
Minimum Deposit USD
2770
Service Fee Via Agent
USD 100–300 if using legal services agent
Term Deposit First 3 Months
IDR 25,000,000 minimum balance
CIMB Niaga
KITAS Required
No
Notes
Accepts B211A, E33G visa holders; more flexible than state banks; English-speaking staff at Bali branches
Bank Central Asia (BCA)
KITAS Requirement
Historically yes, but recent flexibility reported
Notes
Large ATM footprint; stricter non-resident account policies than private banks
Bank Mandiri
KITAS Requirement
Typically yes
Notes
Good for account holders with KITAS; extensive ATM network

Account Opening Assistance

Providers: Bali-based relocation agencies (Bali Visa Co, Bizindo, Emerhub) offer guided account opening
Cost IDR Range: 500,000–2,000,000 IDR
Cost USD Range: USD 27–111

AI-generated estimateData refreshed July 2026

Sources cited for this category

These are the sources cited in this money & payments research for this city. Individual figures may not each trace to one of them.

More About Amed

Data last updated July 2026 · Verify anything important.

Money & Payments in Amed