The Rupiah's Zeros Take Getting Used To
Prices in the hundreds of thousands or millions of Rupiah are completely normal for everyday purchases — it's easy to misjudge a price by a factor of ten in the first day or two. Take a moment to actually convert rather than eyeballing it.
Cash Still Matters Outside the Tourist Hubs
Cards work fine in Seminyak and Canggu's malls, hotels and beach clubs, but local warungs, markets and smaller Ubud shops are often cash-only. ATMs are common in tourist areas — withdraw more than you think you'll need before heading somewhere rural.
Tipping Isn't Traditional, But It's Increasingly Expected in Tourist Venues
It's not culturally obligatory the way it is in the US, but drivers, guides and spa staff in tourist-facing businesses genuinely appreciate a small tip, and it's become close to standard practice in that segment. Local warungs are the exception — tipping there isn't expected.
The Cost Range Is Enormous
A meal at a local warung and a meal at a Seminyak beach club can differ by ten times or more. Bali can be a genuinely inexpensive destination or a genuinely expensive one depending entirely on which version of it you spend your trip in.
Carry cash for warungs, markets and Ubud's smaller shops, use cards freely in Seminyak and Canggu's more developed venues, and budget with real flexibility — Bali's price range is wider than almost anywhere else on this list.