Money at Juanda International (SUB)
Currency, tipping and cash-vs-card for arrivals at Surabaya, Indonesia.
Surabaya uses the IDR (Rp). Expected airport→city taxi fare is roughly IDR 100,000–180,000. 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 Juanda International (SUB)?
Indonesia uses the IDR (Rp). Airport ATMs dispense IDR directly — skip the exchange kiosks.
Q.How much should a taxi from SUB to the city cost?
Expected fare on the SUB → Surabaya centre route is roughly IDR 100,000–180,000. Around IDR 300,000+ is already high, and IDR 500,000+ is a scam quote — confirm the meter or a printed rate before you get in.
Q.Do I tip taxi drivers at SUB?
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 SUB?
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 SUB?
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.