Money at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Jakarta, Indonesia.
Jakarta uses the IDR (Rp). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly Rp 70k–Rp 350k. Cash preferred; small IDR notes essential.
Airport currency kiosks quote rates 5–15% worse than any bank ATM inside the terminal. If you need cash on landing, use an in-terminal bank ATM — not the "0% commission" kiosks (the margin is in the rate).
Frequently asked
Q.What currency is used at Soekarno-Hatta International Airport (CGK)?
Indonesia uses the IDR (Rp). Airport ATMs dispense IDR directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from CGK to the city cost?
Expected fare on the CGK → Central Jakarta route is roughly Rp 70k–Rp 350k. Around Rp 500k+ is already high, and Rp 700k+ unbranded is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at CGK?
Not expected — round up. Drivers in Indonesia don't rely on tips the way US drivers do; inflated "tips" are sometimes used to justify an overcharge — pay the metered fare first, then decide.
Q.Cash or card for a taxi at CGK?
Cash preferred; small IDR notes essential. "Card machine broken" is the most common excuse to force a cash overpay — carry a small stack of IDR notes and you keep the leverage.
Q.Should I change money at CGK?
Only if you need $10–20 of IDR to cover a taxi or a SIM card. Airport exchange kiosks quote 5–15% worse than a bank ATM in the same terminal. If your card has no FX fee, just pay by card and skip cash entirely.
Every transport option ranked, fare tiers, first-30-minute checklist and reported scams.