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

Should you visit Jakarta or Nanjing?

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 Nanjing. 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 Nanjing?

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.

Nanjing

Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Nanjing 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 $68, while the average daily cost in Nanjing is $124. 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 Nanjing in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jakarta $30
    Nanjing $49
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jakarta $60
    Nanjing $98
Compare Hotels in Jakarta and Nanjing

Looking for a hotel in Jakarta or Nanjing? 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 Nanjing


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jakarta $18
    Nanjing $41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta

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


  • Taxi to Station
    $0.97

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta

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

  • Airport Jakarta, Private Transfer: $26
  • Airport Transfer Jakarta ( Private Car ): $30
  • Airport Transfer Jakarta - Bogor: $27
  • All-inclusive Private Jakarta Airport Transfer: $15
  • Departure Private Transfer: Jakarta City to Jakarta Airport CGK: $110
  • Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Bandung/Lembang Arrival Transfer: $70
  • Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Cipanas - Arrival Private Transfer: $53
  • Jakarta Airport Transfer Service: $20
  • Jakarta Airport Transfer for Small/Big Group: $28
  • Jakarta Airport Transfers : Jakarta Airport CGK to Jakarta City in Business Van: $110
  • Jakarta Airport Transfers : Jakarta City to Jakarta Airport CGK in Business Van: $110
  • Jakarta Arrival Private Transfers from Jakarta Airport CGK to Jakarta City: $110

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:

  • Nanjing to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Local Private Transfers: $163
  • Nanjing Private Transfer from Nanjing Lukou Airport (NKG) to central Nanjing: $123
  • Nanjing to Beijing Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $120
  • Nanjing Tangshan Hot Spring Spa Experience with Private Transfer: $103
  • Private Transfer to Zhenjiang from Nanjing City Center: $94
  • Nanjing Lukou Intl Airport (NKG) to Nanjing hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $91
  • Nanjing to Huangshan Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $90
  • Private Round Trip Transfer to Yangzhou Attractions from Nanjing: $89
  • Nanjing to Wuxi Bullet Train Ticket with Train Station Transfer: $88
  • Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing Lukou Airport: $88
  • Nanjing Private Round Trip Transfer to Niushoushan Cultural Park: $67
  • Nanjing Private Arrival Transfer: Airport to Hotel: $67

Is it cheaper to fly into Jakarta or Nanjing?

Prices for flights to both Nanjing 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 $26
    Nanjing $52
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta

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


  • Dinner
    $2.44
  • 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:

  • Mangga Besar Food Tour: $49
  • 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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.

  • 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
  • Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option: $112
  • Nanjing City Private Night Tour with Qinghuai River Cruise and Dinner Option: $114
  • Nanjing Private Tour: Ming Mausoleum, Night View & Local Dinner: $198

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jakarta $11
    Nanjing $9.92

Tours and Activities in Jakarta

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

  • Ancol Entrance Gate Entry Ticket: $3.97
  • Gondola Ancol Entry Ticket: $4.76
  • Jakarta City Center: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
  • Jakarta Aquarium Safari Admission Ticket: $11
  • Atlantis Water Adventures at Ancol Entry Ticket: $12
  • Jakarta Tour Guide: $25
  • Watercolor & Wellness : A Healing Art Therapy Experience: $27
  • Dunia Fantasi at Ancol Entry Ticket: $28
  • Jakarta Culture and History Walking Tour: $33
  • Jakarta Private Custom Walking Tour with A Guide: $36
  • 3 Hours Jakarta City Tour (Jakarta's Iconic Places): $45
  • Jakarta Half Day Visit The Monument with Highlight City Tour: $45

Tours and Activities in Nanjing

Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 2-Day Nanjing Private Flexible Customized Tour with Lunch Option: $295
  • 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way: $109
  • 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour with Xiaoling Tomb and Sun Yatsen Mausoleum: $124
  • 6-Hour Private Tour of Xiaoling Tomb,City Wall & Memorial Hall: $144
  • All Inclusive Amazing Nanjing City Highlights Private Day Tour: $193
  • All Inclusive Nanjing City Private Day Tour with Tailor-Made Highlights: $213
  • Flexible Private Nanjing City Highlights Day Tour: $150
  • Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour: $63
  • Flexible Private Nanjing Layover Tour: $171
  • Half Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour with Night River Cruise: $206
  • Half Day Private Tour to Niushoushan Cultural Park in Nanjing: $156
  • Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour: $109

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jakarta $3.78
    Nanjing $10


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


Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Nanjing?

Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Nanjing. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta and Nanjing, 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.