A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Arusha vs. Jakarta for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Arusha or Jakarta?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Arusha and Jakarta can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Arusha or Jakarta?

Arusha

Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.

Jakarta

As Indonesia's capital and largest city, Jakarta rests on the northwest coast of the island of Java. It is the country's economic, cultural, and political center with plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, nightlife, shopping, and entertainment.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Jakarta or Arusha?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $201, while the average daily cost in Jakarta is $73. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Arusha and Jakarta in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Arusha $134
    Jakarta $32
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Arusha $268
    Jakarta $64
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Jakarta

Looking for a hotel in Arusha or Jakarta? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Arusha


Hotels in Jakarta


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Arusha Hotel Prices and Jakarta Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Arusha $14
    Jakarta $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha

Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Arusha to Kilimanjaro Airport (KIA): $161
  • Kilimanjaro Airport to Arusha City Private Transfer: $120
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Pick Up & Drop Off | Private Transfer Service: $77
  • Kilimanjaro Airport Transfer to Moshi: $65
  • Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
  • Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
  • Arusha Airport & Hotel Transfers: $40

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:


  • Taxi to Station
    $1.04

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta

Also for Jakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Soekarno Hatta Int. Airport To Bogor city ( Private Transfer ): $30
  • Private Transfer from Tebet to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $35
  • Private Transfer from Tebet to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $35
  • Private Transfer from Tanah Abang to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $35
  • Private Transfer from Tanah Abang to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $35
  • Private Transfer from Taman Sari to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $35
  • Private Transfer from Sunter to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $35
  • Private Transfer from Sumur Batu to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $42
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $184
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regenc to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196
  • Private Transfer from Sukarasa Tangerang to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $38
  • Private Transfer from South Jakarta to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $42

Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Jakarta?

Prices for flights to both Jakarta and Arusha change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Arusha $43
    Jakarta $28
Typical Food Prices in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • A Quick Lunch (for 2)
    $2.23

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha

For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class & Food Market Tour: $43
  • NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50

Typical Food Prices in Jakarta

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:


  • Dinner
    $2.62
  • Dinner
    $0.72

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta

For Jakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Mangga Besar Food Tour: $49
  • Jakarta Night Tour with Dinner at Café or Food street: $55
  • Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
  • Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
  • Halfday Batavia by Night with dinner at Cafe Batavia & souvenir: $120
  • Jakarta Private Cooking Class and Experience Tour: $120

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Arusha $47
    Jakarta $12

Tours and Activities in Arusha

For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Arusha National Park Guided Day Tour From Arusha: $290
  • Marangu waterfall & Coffee making Cultural Tour | BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS CO LTD : $150
  • Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee making Cultural Tour | BURIGI CHATO SAFARIS LTD : $167
  • Materuni Waterfalls, Visiting Chagga Village, CoffeeTour Kikuletwa Hotsprings: $100
  • 1 Day Tour Hot Spring (Majimoto): $80
  • 2 Day Mount Meru Private Camping Tour from Arusha: $200
  • A Day at Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour in Mt Kilimanjaro : $160
  • Amazing Lake Duluti Day Trip Experience: $70
  • Arusha African Shopping Tour: $100
  • Arusha City town tour: $101
  • Arusha Full Day Tour to Waterfall and Coffee Tour: $140
  • Arusha Guided Walking City Tour: Culture, History & Local Markets: $20

Tours and Activities in Jakarta

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.

  • 1 Day Jakarta Historical Tour : $75
  • 1 Day Motorcycle Tour To Citorek Banten West Of Java: $177
  • 4 Hours Jakarta Private City Tour - (Most Tourist Attractions): $55
  • 7 Hours Indonesia Cultural & Heritage Park Tour: $110
  • Afternoon city tour Jakarta: $82
  • Bandung City Tour Mountain Volcano and Hotspring ( Start From Jakarta): $154
  • Batik Course & City Tour Jakarta: $60
  • Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park Tourism ( TMII ): $135
  • Bogor City Full-Day Private Tour from Jakarta with Pick Up: $160
  • Bogor City Tour Nature waterfall with Local Food ( Start From Jakarta ): $130
  • Bogor City Tour With a guide and lunch: $136
  • City Tour Jakarta: $75

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Arusha $11
    Jakarta $4.06


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Jakarta, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Jakarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa and Jakarta is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Jakarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jakarta and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha than you might in Jakarta.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Jakarta Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Arusha or Jakarta?

Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha and Jakarta, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.