A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Johannesburg vs. Yogyakarta for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Johannesburg or Yogyakarta?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Johannesburg and Yogyakarta can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Johannesburg or Yogyakarta?

Johannesburg

Johannesburg is the largest city in South Africa with a population of over 3 million people. Most of the population is made up of South Africa's black residents, who predominately reside in the Soweto area. There are approximately half a million white residents and 300,000 residents of other descent. Half of the population live in the Soweto area as well as the nearby suburbs.

Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta, also called Yogya, Jogja, and Jogjakarta, is Java's hub of culture and art, and is the top-visited destination on the island. While Jakarta is the most populated and industrially-developed city in Indonesia, Yogya has managed to progress without losing its cultural charm, as illustrated in its well-kept traditional Indonesian architecture.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to South Africa, The Best Eco Tours in South Africa, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Yogyakarta or Johannesburg?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Johannesburg is $95, while the average daily cost in Yogyakarta is $58. 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 Johannesburg and Yogyakarta in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Johannesburg $55
    Yogyakarta $37
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Johannesburg $110
    Yogyakarta $74
Compare Hotels in Johannesburg and Yogyakarta

Looking for a hotel in Johannesburg or Yogyakarta? 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 Johannesburg


Hotels in Yogyakarta


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: Johannesburg Hotel Prices and Yogyakarta Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Johannesburg $16
    Yogyakarta $1.34
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Johannesburg

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Johannesburg:


  • Taxi Ride
    $3.24

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johannesburg

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johannesburg:

  • Suncity Transfer: $194
  • Shuttle Transfer from Johannesburg Airport to Hazyview: $66
  • Private executive transfer to sun city or airport/hotels : $118
  • Private Van Airport Transfers : Johannesburg, Sandton, Pretoria: $71
  • Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Van: $72
  • Private Transfer: Tambo Airport JNB to Johannesburg in Luxury Car: $103
  • Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Sedan Car: $61
  • Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Luxury Van: $72
  • Private Transfer: Johannesburg to Tambo Airport JNB in Luxury Car: $103
  • Private Transfer, Airports to Cradle of Humankind & Muldersdrift : $147
  • Private Transfer from Johannesburg To Pilanesberg: $221
  • Private Transfer from Johannesburg OR Tambo Airport (JNB) to Pretoria hotels: $164

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yogyakarta

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

  • Transfer In or Out Airport Yogyakarta: $12
  • Yogyakarta Private Departure Transfer- Yogyakarta Hotel to Airport: $20
  • Ramayana Ballet Dance Show with Transfers: $25
  • Transfer in or out airport: $26
  • Private Transfer From/To Yogyakarta Airport: $28
  • Yogyakarta Airport : for pick up or transfer service: $29
  • Borobudur 5-Hour Guided Tour with Climb-up Access & Transfer: $29
  • Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport YIA To City Center: $29
  • Yogyakarta International Airport to Hotel - Arrival Transfer: $32
  • Private Transfer from Patehan to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $34
  • Private Transfer from Kricak to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $34
  • Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Kadipaten: $34

Is it cheaper to fly into Johannesburg or Yogyakarta?

Prices for flights to both Yogyakarta and Johannesburg 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
    Johannesburg $17
    Yogyakarta $12

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johannesburg

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

  • Maboneng Street Art and Street Food Tour: $41
  • A Private Traditional Cape Malay Cooking Class, with a MKR Finalist: $95
  • JOBURG DINNERS : MABONENG CITY DINNER: $97
  • Johannesburg Culture and food tour: $99
  • Pan-African Cooking & Dinning Experience: $216

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yogyakarta

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

  • Morning Food Tour with Tasting: $23
  • Yogyakarta : Guided City Walk and Food Tour: $32
  • Prambanan temple afternoon tour and dinner: $34
  • Prawirotaman Night Food Tour: $35
  • Night Walking and Food Tour: $37
  • Ramayana Ballet Performance with Dinner: $39
  • Yogyakarta Cooking Class and Market Tour : $40
  • Small-Group Walking and Food Tour by Night in Yogyakarta: $40
  • Javanese Cooking Class & Market Tour: $57
  • Yogyakarta Day Food Tour: $58
  • Yogyakarta Cooking Class: $71
  • Nusantara Cooking Course and Lokal Market Tour: $81

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Johannesburg $21
    Yogyakarta $16

Tours and Activities in Johannesburg

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

  • Golf Tour, Sun City , Gary Player Course - Rated the Best: $227
  • Half-Day Safari Tour of the Magaliesberg Mountains by Zipline: $122
  • Private Full Day Johannesburg Historical Tour : $194
  • Rhino and Lion Park Safari Tour : $96
  • Soweto half day tour including Mandela House.Private transport: $72
  • (Meet the Artist)Art Gallery & Street Art tour with lunch: $30
  • 10 Days Overland Tour-Johannesburg and Cape Town: $2,701
  • 15 Days Johannesburg, Kruger National Park – Cape Town Tour: $4,052
  • 3 Day Kruger National Park Tour from Johannesburg: $807
  • 3 Days 2 Nights Panorama Tour & Kruger National park Safari: $832
  • 4-Day Private Tour Johannesburg and Pretoria - See everything in 4 days : $214
  • 4-Days Overnight Experience in The Panorama Route & Safari: $1,735

Tours and Activities in Yogyakarta

For Yogyakarta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Obelix Hills Entry Ticket: $1.55
  • Chicken Church at Karangrejo Village Admission Ticket: $1.89
  • Prambanan Temple Afternoon Tour: $18
  • 6 hours Borobudur temple climb up tour only.: $19
  • Jomblang cave Tour only.: $19
  • Prambanan Afternoon Tour Discover Magic sunset: $20
  • Jogja Adventure Transport only: $20
  • Yogyakarta : Jomblang Cave tour with local Guide: $21
  • Walking Tour of Yogyakarta's Oldest Neighbourhood: $21
  • Authentic Yogya Bicycle Tour: $22
  • Jomblang Cave Tour: $22
  • Yogyakarta City Tour: $23

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Johannesburg $4.73
    Yogyakarta $4.98

Sample the Local Flavors in Johannesburg

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Johannesburg:

  • Wine Tasting Experience in Johannesburg: $8.23
  • Wine Tasting and Cableway Half Day Tour: $115
  • Experience Johannesburg Wine Tour Views and Luxury: $226


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johannesburg and Yogyakarta, we can see that Johannesburg is more expensive. And not only is Yogyakarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Johannesburg is in Africa and Yogyakarta is in Asia, 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 Yogyakarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Yogyakarta 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 Johannesburg would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Johannesburg than you might in Yogyakarta.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Johannesburg Expensive? and Is Yogyakarta Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Johannesburg or Yogyakarta?

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