Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas?
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 Saint Thomas. 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 Saint Thomas?
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.
Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia.
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Jakarta Prices
Indonesia PricesSaint Thomas Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJakarta $68Saint Thomas $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Jakarta is $68, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $258. 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 Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJakarta $30Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJakarta $60Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Jakarta and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Jakarta or Saint Thomas? 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 Saint Thomas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Jakarta $18Saint Thomas $37
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 from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Ujung Genteng Sukabumi: $241
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Ujung Genteng Sukabumi: $227
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Sukarasa Kuningan Regency: $193
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regency: $181
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Sukaresmi Garut Regency: $181
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $181
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Sukaresmi Bandung: $173
- Jakarta Airport CGK to Bandung or Lembang Round Trip Transfer: $141
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Sukarasa Bandung: $126
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Sukatani Purwakarta Regency: $126
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Karawang: $118
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Sukaresmi Cianjur Regency: $118
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$65
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Taxi Ride$5.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- St.Thomas Airport (STT) to St.Thomas - RoundTrip Private Transfer: $265
- ST.Thomas Private Airport One-Way Transfers: $200
- St.Thomas Airport(STT) to St.Thomas - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $190
- Private Airport Transfer in Luxury Vehicle- St. Thomas, USVI: $189
- Prince Taxi USVI-ST.Thomas Airport Transfer to Ritz Carlton: $180
- Prince Taxi & Tours St.Thomas Airport transfer to Redhook Ferry: $180
- St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to the Redhook Ferry: $180
- Vi Top Taxi and Tours Airport Transfer to the Ritz Carlton: $180
- Vi Top Taxi - St. Thomas Airport Transfer to Wyndham Margaritaville: $180
- Luxury Airport Transfer to or from St Thomas The Ritz Carlton: $175
- Private Arrival Transfer from Cyril E King Airport to Redhook Bay: $175
- Paradise Taxi & Tours USVI-St. Thomas Airport Transfer to Wyndham Margaritaville: $174
Is it cheaper to fly into Jakarta or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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 $26Saint Thomas $94
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:
- 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 Saint Thomas
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- St. James Snorkel & Pizza Pi Lunch: $90
- St. John PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail with Beach Stop, Lunch & Open Bar - Westin: $119
- Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $119
- Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
- Local Experience, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands Food Tour: $125
- St. Thomas Dinner Sail to St. John with Open Bar & Hors D'oeuvres - Ritz-Carlton: $129
- PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail from Westin Frenchman's Reef: $139
- Flavors of St Thomas Walking Food Tour: $145
- Pizza Pi Party- Snorkel & Sunset Cruise: $180
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Jakarta $11Saint Thomas $60
Tours and Activities in Jakarta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.
- 1 Day Motorcycle Adventure Tour West Java: $205
- 1 Day Motorcycle Tour To Citorek Banten West Of Java: $217
- 3 Hours Jakarta City Tour (Jakarta's Iconic Places): $45
- 7 Hours Indonesia Cultural & Heritage Park Tour: $110
- Afternoon Guided Chinatown Tour in Jakarta: $53
- Baduy Tribal Tracker and Village in Private Tour Full Day & Lunch: $130
- Batik Course & City Tour Jakarta: $60
- Botanical Garden And Miniature Park Of Indonesia Tour: $100
- City Tour Jakarta: $75
- City Tour Jakarta with Private Guide: $80
- Customized Private Tour Jakarta With Lunch: $80
- Experience Jakarta Street Food Scene with MRT Transportation: $40
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- #1 St. Thomas Ghost Tour – Virgin Island's Original Haunted Tour: $41
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Tour in the Virgin Islands from Westin St. John: $169
- 1-Hour Guided Jet Ski Tour in St. Thomas from Frenchman's Reef: $159
- 3 Hour Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $139
- Aerial Sightseeing Adventure!: $250
- Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today!: $150
- Cas Cay - Kayak Hike and Snorkel Adventure: $99
- Coral World Ocean Park General Admission Ticket: $29
- Cruise Ship Port Shuttle to St John Ferry: $34
- Cruise Ship Shuttle to Ferry going to St. John: $45
- Discover The Baths of Virgin Gorda Full Day Adventure - Westin St. John: $299
- Full-Day Sailing Tour in Virgin Islands National Park: $285
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJakarta $3.80Saint Thomas $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Thomas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Thomas:
- Da Conch Crawl- Walking Tour and Bar Crawl Downtown St. Thomas: $148
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jakarta and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Saint Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Saint Thomas?
Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 430 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta and Saint Thomas, 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.