Money & paymentsBy Clever Tourists · Published · Last updated
Tipping has no traditional roots in Indonesian or Balinese culture, but tourism has made it increasingly common in Bali's visitor-heavy areas — think of it as genuine appreciation rather than an obligation, since that's closer to how it's actually treated locally.
Free toolWork out the exact tip on any bill →Pick the country, enter the bill and get the tip in local currency — including the places where service is already on the bill.Restaurants: many tourist-area places add service plus tax, shown as ++ on the menu. If ++ is already there, you do not need to add more.
Private drivers hired for the day: about 50,000–100,000 IDR (≈ $2.8–5.5) for good service, on top of the agreed rate.
Spa and massage: a small note is normal; at the better places it is often already included.
Warungs and markets: no tip. Rounding up is a generous gesture, not an expectation.
Grab, Gojek and taxis: round up to the next 5,000 or 10,000 IDR (≈ $0.55), or use the in-app tip.
50,000 IDR (≈ $2.8) is the blue banknote, and whether it is generous depends on who you give it to.
For a 1-hour Balinese massage at a standard spa or a day of villa housekeeping, 50,000 IDR (≈ $2.8) is a good tip at the top of the normal range: both usually sit at 20,000–50,000 IDR (≈ $1.1–2.8), so it will be appreciated without being extravagant. For a porter carrying bags up steep resort stairs, where 10,000–20,000 IDR (≈ $0.55–1.1) per bag is usual, it is generous. For a full 8 to 10 hour private driver, it is the low end of the usual 50,000–100,000 IDR (≈ $2.8–5.5); after a long day through mountain traffic to Uluwatu or Mount Batur, 100,000 IDR (≈ $5.5) or more is fairer.
Nicer, tourist-oriented restaurants commonly add a service charge plus government tax to the bill, shown as "++" pricing — roughly 15–21% combined depending on the venue, though the exact split varies. If that's already on your bill, no additional tip is needed. Local warungs serving nasi campur or babi guling don't add this, and tipping isn't expected there; dropping 5,000–10,000 IDR (≈ $0.28–0.55) in the tip jar on the counter is a nice but optional gesture.
A full day (8 to 10 hours) with an air-conditioned car and an English-speaking driver typically costs 600,000–800,000 IDR (≈ $33–44). Private drivers typically get 50,000–100,000 IDR (≈ $2.8–5.5) for good service, up to about 150,000 IDR (≈ $8.3) for an especially long or difficult day. Villa and hotel housekeeping: 20,000–50,000 IDR (≈ $1.1–2.8) per day is standard, more (50,000–100,000 IDR (≈ $2.8–5.5) per person per day) at villas with more personal, attentive service, given in cash at checkout or through a shared tip box. Spa and massage: 20,000–50,000 IDR (≈ $1.1–2.8) for a standard hour-long treatment, up to 50,000–100,000 IDR (≈ $2.8–5.5) at higher-end spas or longer sessions.
On shared boats to Nusa Penida or the Gili Islands, 20,000–50,000 IDR (≈ $1.1–2.8) per passenger, pooled for the crew, is common.
For ride-hailing apps (Grab and Gojek), round up the fare to the nearest 5,000 or 10,000 IDR (≈ $0.55) in cash, or use the in-app tip function (5,000 to 10,000 IDR (≈ $0.28–0.55)) after the ride.
Metered Blue Bird taxi drivers in South Bali rarely carry change. Round up to the next 5,000 or 10,000 IDR (≈ $0.55) (for instance, pay 40,000 IDR (≈ $2.2) on a 34,000 IDR (≈ $1.9) meter reading).
Tour and trekking guides (temple visits, Kintamani/Mount Batur treks) follow a similar general norm to drivers, roughly 50,000 IDR (≈ $2.8) as a day-tour tip, though specific volcano-trek tipping amounts vary enough by operator that it's worth asking your guide company directly for their norm rather than assuming one figure applies everywhere.
Tip in Indonesian Rupiah, not USD — foreign currency is sometimes accepted at large hotels but usually at a poor exchange rate. Carry small notes (5,000, 10,000, 20,000, 50,000 IDR (≈ $2.8)), since ATMs and tipping situations both favor having smaller denominations on hand.
Most of the tipping above happens with drivers and villa staff, so it helps to know where you'll be based. Compare where to stay in Ubud, see how many days in Bali for splitting the island, and read the Bali airport arrival guide before the first taxi of the trip.
Often, yes, at nicer tourist-oriented restaurants — look for "++" next to the price, which means service charge and tax are already added, commonly totaling around 15–21%. If it's there, no extra tip is needed.
Typically 50,000–100,000 IDR (≈ $2.8–5.5) for a full day of good service, and up to about 150,000 IDR (≈ $8.3) for an especially long or difficult route.
Rupiah — USD is sometimes accepted at large hotels but usually at an unfavorable exchange rate, so tipping in local currency is both more practical and more genuinely useful to the person receiving it.
Yes. 50,000 IDR (≈ $2.8) is a solid tip for a day-tour guide, the top of the normal range for an hour-long spa treatment or a day of villa housekeeping, generous for a bag porter, and the low end of the 50,000–100,000 IDR (≈ $2.8–5.5) range for a full-day private driver.
Yes. 100,000 IDR (≈ $5.5) is the top of the usual range for a full-day private driver or a longer session at a higher-end spa, and generous for most other services.
Temple tickets usually include the sarong loan. If an attendant helps tie your sash or you receive a holy-water (tirtha) blessing, putting 10,000 to 20,000 IDR (≈ $0.55–1.1) in the donation box (punia) is respectful.
By color: blue is 50,000 IDR (≈ $2.8), red is 100,000 IDR (≈ $5.5), green is 20,000 IDR (≈ $1.1) and purple is 10,000 IDR (≈ $0.55). Take care in dim restaurants not to confuse the blue 50k and red 100k notes.
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