Which place is cheaper, Cusco or Jakarta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Jakarta or Cusco?
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 Cusco. 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 Cusco?
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.
Cusco
Cusco is most famous as the historic capital of the Inca Empire. It is in the southern Sierras and is one of the most popular travel destinations within Peru. The city is located at 3,400 meters above sea level so it is best to acclimate yourself slowly to avoid altitude sickness.
Cusco is the starting point for many travelers making their way to the famed Machu Picchu or other Inca sites in the surrounding area.
The city is very beautiful and has impressive architecture throughout. The history is obvious as you walk around town and there are impressive ruins nearby, with the most impressive being Sacsayhuaman. The city also has a significant indigenous population that is obvious from their traditional clothing and style.
Cusco has a subtropical highland climate with a pleasant daytime temperature year around. There are two distinct seasons with the dry season being between May and August and the wet season between December and March. During the dry season there is plenty of sun with occasional nighttime freezes. Frost is less common in the wet season.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Jakarta Prices
Indonesia PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJakarta $68Cusco $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Jakarta is $68, while the average daily cost in Cusco is $66. 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 Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJakarta $30Cusco $25
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJakarta $60Cusco $50
Compare Hotels in Jakarta and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Jakarta or Cusco? 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 and Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jakarta $18Cusco $11
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:
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Taxi to Station$0.98
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
- All-inclusive Private Jakarta Airport Transfer: $15
- Jakarta Airport Transfer Service: $20
- Private Transfer from Soekarno Hatta Airport to Jakarta Hotels: $22
- Private Hotel Transfer Service to Airport Jakarta: $22
- Jakarta Private Airport Transfer: $25
- Airport Jakarta, Private Transfer: $26
- Airport Transfer Jakarta - Bogor: $27
- Jakarta Airport Transfer for Small/Big Group: $28
- Airport Transfer Jakarta ( Private Car ): $30
- Soekarno Hatta Int. Airport To Bogor city ( Private Transfer ): $30
- Private Airport Transfer: Hotel → Jakarta Airport (CGK): $33
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cusco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cusco:
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Taxi Ride$1.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- Private Transfer to Ausangate and the 7 Lagoons from Cusco: $210
- Private Transfer from Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport to Valle Sagrado: $171
- Private Transfer from Valle Sagrado to Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport: $168
- Private Transfer from Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport to Ollantaytambo: $152
- Private Transfer from Ollantaytambo to Alejandro Velasco Astete (CUZ) Airport: $149
- Cuzco to Ollantaytambo Train Station - Departure Private Transfer: $106
- Transfer Cusco - Ollantaytambo train station: $95
- Ollantaytambo train station to Cuzco city or airport- Roundtrip Private Transfer: $82
- Private Transfer to Ollantaytambo Station and Sacred Valley 24 7: $69
- Airport Cusco Transfers: $69
- Private Transfer from Cusco Airport to Urubamba: $60
- Tourist Transfer from Cusco to Hydroelectric: $60
Is it cheaper to fly into Jakarta or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco 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
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Food Meals for one dayJakarta $26Cusco $25
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:
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Dinner$2.46
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Dinner$0.67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta
For Jakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Jakarta Night Tour with Dinner at Café or Food street: $50
- 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
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.37
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Mango$0.59
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Cusco Tunupa Restaurant Folk Show with Dinner: $32
- Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, Papa Huancaina, Pisco Sour in Cusco: $48
- Cusco Cooking Class by ChocoMuseo in Cusco: $54
- High-End Peruvian Cooking Class, Pisco Sour & San Pedro Market: $57
- Short Immersion Cooking Class: $60
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $63
- Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
- Cooking Class Peruvian Culinary Experience with Local Chefs: $70
- Dinner Show at SUYU a Peruvian Gastronomic and Experience: $77
- Cusco Tour at Night: Planetarium, Dinner & Pisco Sour: $79
- Cusco Food Tour: Andean Cuisine & City Tour: $79
- Curious Monkey Cusco- Market and Streets, Walking Food Tour: $80
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jakarta $11Cusco $32
Tours and Activities in Jakarta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.
- Ancol Entrance Gate Entry Ticket: $4.00
- Jakarta City Center: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Atlantis Water Adventures at Ancol Entry Ticket: $9.61
- Jakarta Aquarium Safari Admission Ticket: $11
- Dunia Fantasi at Ancol Entry Ticket: $20
- Jakarta Tour Guide: $25
- Watercolor & Wellness : A Healing Art Therapy Experience: $27
- Jakarta Culture and History Walking Tour: $33
- Jakarta Private Custom Walking Tour with A Guide: $37
- Experience Jakarta Street Food Scene with MRT Transportation: $40
- Highlights of Jakarta City : Half-Day Tour All around Jakarta: $41
- 3 Hours Jakarta City Tour (Jakarta's Iconic Places): $45
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:
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Salsa Class$2.96
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- 1 Day Ausangate 7 Lakes Hiking Tour & Hot Springs: $48
- 1 Day Palcoyo 7-Color Mountain Hiking Tour: $45
- 1 Day Rainbow Mountain Walking Tour: $35
- 1 Day Sacred Valley VIP Tour from Cusco: $100
- 1 Day Tour to Palccoyo (Alternative Rainbow Mtn) from Cusco, Peru: $154
- 1-Day Humantay Lake Tour From Cusco: $60
- 1-Day Tour Rainbow Mountain from Cusco: $190
- 2 Day Machu Picchu Tour by Car: $150
- 2 Day Tour to Machupicchu by Minivan: $145
- 2 days 1 night - Machupicchu by bus tour: $220
- 2-Day Group Tour: Cusco City Tour & Sacred Valley of the Incas: $46
- 2-Day Machu Picchu Tour by Minivan from Budget Adventure: $203
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJakarta $3.80Cusco $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $18
When comparing the travel costs between Jakarta and Cusco, 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. Even though Jakarta is in Asia and Cusco is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jakarta Expensive? and Is Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Cusco?
Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta and Cusco, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.