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

Should you visit Jakarta or Byron Bay?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Jakarta and Byron Bay. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Jakarta or Byron Bay?

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.

Byron Bay

South of Brisbane, off the Pacific Highway, is the coastal town of Byron Bay. It is close to Cape Byron, which is the easternmost point in mainland Australia. Byron Bay makes its way onto most traveler's itineraries because of its wonderful beach activities. The area is world famous for its waves, making it popular with surfers, but it also has incredible scuba diving, whale watching, and a generally relaxed atmosphere. The area continues to rise in popularity with travelers and as such, amenities and facilities are popping up everywhere.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Australia, and The Best Contiki Tours to Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Byron Bay or Jakarta?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Jakarta is $64, while the average daily cost in Byron Bay is $139. 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 Jakarta and Byron Bay in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jakarta $33
    Byron Bay $66
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jakarta $66
    Byron Bay $132
Compare Hotels in Jakarta and Byron Bay

Looking for a hotel in Jakarta or Byron Bay? 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 Jakarta


Hotels in Byron Bay


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: Jakarta Hotel Prices and Byron Bay Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jakarta $20
    Byron Bay $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta

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


  • Taxi to Station
    $1.09

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta

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

  • Private Transfer Airport Soekarno Hatta (CGK) to All City Destination: $13
  • One Way Private Transfer Airport to Jakarta City: $16
  • Easy & Simple Transfer Airport Jakarta: $17
  • Airport Private Transfer Jakarta, Best Price: $19
  • CGK - Private Airport Transfer Service: $20
  • Jakarta Airport Transfer Service: $20
  • Private Airport Transfer Jakarta (CGK) To All Destination : $20
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Jakarta HTL-APT (CGK): $21
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service in Jakarta APT-HTL (CGK): $21
  • Private Transfer from Soekarno Hatta Airport to Jakarta Hotels: $22
  • Airport Jakarta Soekarno - Hatta ( Private Transfer ): $22
  • Private Transfer from Soekarno Hatta Airport: $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Byron Bay

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Byron Bay:

  • Byron Bay Tandem Skydive with Transfer Options: $240

Is it cheaper to fly into Jakarta or Byron Bay?

Prices for flights to both Byron Bay and Jakarta 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
    Jakarta $17
    Byron Bay $47
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta

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


  • Dinner
    $2.73
  • Dinner
    $0.74

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta

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

  • Fun Food Tour Jakarta: $30
  • Mangga Besar Food Tour: $49
  • Cikini Heritage Food Tour: $49
  • Jakarta Night Life Tour with highlight and food tour: $54
  • Jakarta Night Tour: Guided Sightseeing & Street food tour: $56
  • Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
  • Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
  • 10-Tasting Private Food Tour with a Local Host: $96

Typical Food Prices in Byron Bay

Some typical examples of dining costs in Byron Bay are as follows:


  • Dinner at Olivo (for 2)
    $58

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jakarta $13
    Byron Bay $35

Tours and Activities in Jakarta

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

  • Jakarta City Center: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
  • Jakarta Walkingtour : Explore Jakarta as the locals do: $19
  • Private custom tour with a local guide: $33
  • Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide in Jakarta: $34
  • Like a Local Customized Guided Tour: $35
  • Half-Day Highlights Tour: $38
  • Highlight Noon Batavia Tour By Walk : $40
  • guided tour of highlights in german language: $42
  • 3 Hours Jakarta City Tour (Jakarta's Iconic Places): $45
  • Highlights of Jakarta City: Half-Day Tour: $45
  • Best Jakarta Tours, your best friend in travelling.: $47
  • Private Half-Day Tour Highlight of Jakarta: $49

Typical Entertainment Prices in Byron Bay

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Byron Bay are as follows:


  • Buddha Gardens Spa (for 2)
    $123
  • Surf Lesson
    $42

Tours and Activities in Byron Bay

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Byron Bay are as follows:

  • 3-Hour Small-Group Byron Bay Tour: $66
  • Beyond Byron Hinterland Tour: $132
  • Broken Head Aboriginal Tour: $46
  • Broken Head Aboriginal Tour: $45
  • Brunswick River: Byron Sunset Eco Rainforest River Cruise: $62
  • Byron Bay Half-Day Tour: $65
  • Byron Bay Hinterland Tour Including Rainforest Walk to Minyon Falls: $112
  • Byron Bay Hinterland: National Park and Waterfalls Tour: $110
  • Byron Bay Lighthouse and Hinterland Tour: $66
  • Byron Bay and Beyond Tour Including Cape Bryon Lighthouse Crystal Castle and Bangalow: $125
  • Brunswick Heads Sunset Rainforest Eco-Cruise: $63
  • Brunswick River Scenic Kayak Tour: $39

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jakarta $4.23
    Byron Bay $14

Sample the Local Flavors in Byron Bay

Also in Byron Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Arvo Session Brewery and Distillery Tour: $97
  • Afternoon Brewery and Distillery session : $99
  • Full-Day Brewery and Distillery Tour with Lunch: $127
  • Full Barrel Brewery and Distillery tour: $129


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jakarta and Byron Bay, we can see that Byron Bay is more expensive. And not only is Jakarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jakarta is in Asia and Byron Bay is in Pacific, 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 Byron Bay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Byron Bay 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 Jakarta Expensive? and Is Byron Bay Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Byron Bay?

Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 1260 times larger than the population of Byron Bay. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta and Byron Bay, 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.