Should you visit Jakarta or Chengdu?
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 Chengdu. 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 Chengdu?
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.
Chengdu
Chengdu is in China's Sichuan Provence and is in what is known as the Red Basin. It is a particularly fertile region in China that is known for its agriculture. For this reason it is sometimes referred to as the "Land of Milk and Honey". The Funan River cuts through the city but has almost no boat traffic anymore. The city itself has a wonderful relaxed vibe compared to the rest of China and is filled with green parks and places to relax. It is considered one of the most livable cities in China.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
Which place is cheaper, Chengdu or Jakarta?
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 Jakarta is $73, while the average daily cost in Chengdu is $67. 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 Chengdu in more detail.
Accommodation
Looking for a hotel in Jakarta or Chengdu? 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.
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.
Local Transportation
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta
Also for Jakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
-
Airport Jakarta Soekarno - Hatta ( Private Transfer ):
$18
-
Airport Private Transfer Jakarta, Best Price:
$19
-
Airport Transfer:
$30
-
Airport Transfer Jakarta ( Private Car ):
$30
-
Airport Transfer Jakarta - Bogor:
$27
-
All-inclusive Private Jakarta Airport Transfer :
$20
-
BEST PRICE Private Airport Transfer per CAR with Tax & Insurance (Oneway):
$30
-
Departure Private Transfer: Jakarta City to Jakarta Airport CGK:
$113
-
Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Bandung/Lembang Arrival Transfer:
$72
-
Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Cipanas - Arrival Private Transfer:
$54
-
Jakarta Airport Transfer for Small/Big Group:
$28
-
Jakarta Airport Transfers : Jakarta City to Jakarta Airport CGK in Business Van:
$113
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chengdu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Chengdu:
-
Chengdu 3-Day Self-Guided Jiuzhaigou&Huanglong with Transfer:
$412
-
Algou Valley Hiking Tour with Roundtrip Transfer:
$289
-
Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 40 pax:
$230
-
1-Day Chengdu Layover Tour: Leshan Giant buddha with Round Airport Transfer:
$205
-
Private Transfer from Chengdu to Mount Emei and Stops at Leshan Giant Buddha:
$160
-
Leshan Buddha Optional Tours w/ Transfer or Guide:
$156
-
Chengdu Private Round Trip Transfer to Emei Mountain:
$128
-
Chengdu Airport to Hotel: Private Transfer for up to 5 pax:
$120
-
Round-Trip Private Transfer between Emei Shan and Chengdu City:
$113
-
Private Airport Transfer – Chengdu Tianfu:
$110
-
Downtown to Sichuan Opera round way transfer:
$99
-
Sichuan Face Changing Opera With Door to Door Private Transfer:
$75
Is it cheaper to fly into Jakarta or Chengdu?
Prices for flights to both Chengdu 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 $28
Chengdu $38
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chengdu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Chengdu.
-
Chengdu Night: VIP Seat Opera Show or Back Alley Food Tour:
$40
-
Discovery more Chengdu evening food tour with locals :
$55
-
Chengdu Hidden Street Food Tour Spice Trails:
$60
-
Eat Like a Local! Food Tour in the Hidden Alleys:
$67
-
Tuktuk Food Tour Through Chengdu's Local Eats:
$69
-
Half-Day Professional Mapo Tofu Cooking with a Local Market Visit:
$69
-
Market Tour and Sichuan Cooking Class:
$70
-
Half-Day Chengdu Cooking Class with a Local Market Visit:
$75
-
Half day Sichuan Cuisine Cooking Class Tour(Cooking 3 dishes):
$75
-
Evening Food Tour with Local Guide:
$78
-
Chengdu Evening Food Tour:
$79
-
Half-Day Private Hot-Pot Cooking Class with a Local Market Visit:
$80
Entertainment
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
-
Watercolor & Wellness : A Healing Art Therapy Experience:
$29
-
Jakarta Culture and History Walking Tour:
$33
-
Jakarta Private Custom Walking Tour with A Guide :
$37
-
Jakarta Walking Tour with Public Transportation Visiting Sites:
$45
-
Jakarta Half Day Visit The Monument with Highlight City Tour:
$45
-
Jakarta Half Day Shared Guided Tour Visit Monument and Old Town:
$49
-
Pasar Baru Foodie Tour:
$49
-
Experience Jakarta Street Food Scene with MRT Transportation:
$50
-
Jakarta Half-Day Highlights Tour:
$50
-
Half Day Jakarta Private Tour in two highlight place:
$50
-
4 Hours Jakarta Private City Tour - (Most Tourist Attractions):
$55
Tours and Activities in Chengdu
Here are a few actual costs in Chengdu for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
-
3-Hour Private Tour of Antique Furniture and Flea Market :
$51
-
Chengdu Leshan Buddha and Drop off off Railway Station Day Tour:
$226
-
Chengdu Private Day Tour to the Leshan Giant Buddha and Huanglongxi Old Town:
$248
-
Chinese Traditional Massage Experience with Healthy Lunch:
$68
-
Dujiangyan Irrigation System and Panda Base Day tour:
$238
-
Private Chengdu Panda Base and Sichuan Cuisine Museum Day Tour:
$120
-
Private Day Tour Chengdu Panda Base and The Leshan Giant Buddha:
$230
-
Private Full Day Chengdu Panda Base and Jinsha Site Museum Tour:
$136
-
Private Leshan Buddha Day Tour with Local Market visiting:
$227
-
1 Day Panda Breeding Center Plus Chengdu City Tour:
$175
-
1 Day Tea Trip in Mount Mengding with Tea Making Experience:
$135
-
1 Day Wolong Panda Nature Reserve Tour:
$218
Alcohol
Sample the Local Flavors in Chengdu
Also in Chengdu, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Tipsy Travel: Chengdu Local Food and Bar Crawl Night Tour :
$128
When comparing the travel costs between Jakarta and Chengdu, we can see that Jakarta is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jakarta Expensive? and Is Chengdu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Chengdu?
Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Chengdu. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta and Chengdu, 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.
Related Articles for Jakarta
Related Articles for Chengdu