Which place is cheaper, Jakarta or Sofia?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Sofia or Jakarta?
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 Sofia and Jakarta. 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: Sofia or Jakarta?
Sofia
Sofia is the capital of Bulgaria and also its largest city. Some people have tried to compare it to Budapest, but the cities are actually quite different. In Sofia you will find wonderful European style architecture intertwined with Communist style buildings. It's fascinating to see the two dramatically different building styles immediately next to each other. There are also many Orthodox Churches around town, with their beautiful domes and intricate details.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Bulgaria, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Bulgaria, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySofia $65Jakarta $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Sofia is $65, while the average daily cost in Jakarta is $64. 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 Sofia and Jakarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSofia $41Jakarta $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSofia $82Jakarta $66
Compare Hotels in Sofia and Jakarta
Looking for a hotel in Sofia or Jakarta? 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: Sofia Hotel Prices and Jakarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Sofia $8.47Jakarta $21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sofia
Also for Sofia, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sofia to Bucharest - Private Transfer: $692
- From Private Transfer to Bucharest: $451
- Private Transfer from Sofia to Burgas (BOJ) Airport: $293
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Sunny Beach: $293
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Sveti Vlas: $293
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Burgas: $283
- Transfer from Sofia to Burgas: $269
- Bansko Transfer From/to Sofia Airport and Hotels: $263
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Thessaloniki: $256
- Private Transfer from Sofia (SOF) Airport to Kavala: $238
- Private Transfer Bucharest to/from Sofia: $226
- Transfer from Sofia Airport to Bansko: $196
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:
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Taxi to Station$1.10
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: $211
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regenc: $169
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Sukaresmi Garut Regency: $169
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $169
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regency: $168
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Sukaresmi Garut Regency: $168
- Private Airport Transfer Jakarta VIP Luxury Van: $141
- Jakarta Airport CGK to Bandung or Lembang Round Trip Transfer: $127
- Private Transfer between Jakarta and Bandung: $120
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Sukatani Purwakarta Regency: $110
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Sukaresmi Cianjur Regency: $110
- Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Benda Sukamulya: $110
Is it cheaper to fly into Sofia or Jakarta?
Prices for flights to both Jakarta and Sofia 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 daySofia $18Jakarta $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sofia
For Sofia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Market Food Tour: $47
- Half-Day Sofia Evening Walking Tour with Vegetarian Dinner: $49
- Sofia by Night Panoramic Tour with Dinner and Folklore Show: $98
- Sofia by Night: Panoramic City Tour and Folklore Dinner: $107
- Private Sofia Night Tour with Bulgarian Folklore & Dinner: $109
- Guided Night Tour & Folklore Performance with Dinner: $118
- Sofia by Night: Private Tour with Dinner: $118
- Evening City Tour with Folklore Dinner: $118
- Sofia by Night Panoramic Private Tour with Dinner, Folklore Show: $132
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:
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Dinner$2.76
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Dinner$0.75
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta
For Jakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Fun Food Tour Jakarta: $30
- Mangga Besar Food Tour: $49
- Cikini Heritage Food Tour: $49
- Jakarta Night Life Tour with highlight and food tour: $55
- Jakarta Night Tour: Guided Sightseeing & Street food tour: $57
- Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
- Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
- Private Jakarta Guided City Tour with Batavia Café and Dinner: $80
- 10-Tasting Private Food Tour with a Local Host: $98
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Sofia $5.98Jakarta $13
Tours and Activities in Sofia
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sofia.
- Belogradchik Rocks & Venetsa cave/Small group bigger experience: $120
- Mount Verila Cultural Tour in Bulgaria: $93
- Private Tour from Sofia to the Rila monatsery: $110
- 3 Caves tour - Saeva dupka , Eyes of God cave & Devetashka Cave: $87
- 3-Hour Private Bulgarian Food Tasting Tour of Sofia: $82
- 7 Rila Lakes and Rila Monastery Small Group Day tour from Sofia: $93
- 7 Rila lakes and Rila monastery day tour from Sofia: $99
- Admission Ticket to the Museum of Illusions in Sofia: $15
- Adventure Tour to Plovdiv and Rhodope Mountain: $109
- Adventure bike tours in Sofia: $59
- Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $60
- Art Gallery Sightseeing Tour in Sofia: $59
Tours and Activities in Jakarta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.
- 3 Hours Jakarta City Tour (Jakarta's Iconic Places): $45
- 4 Hours Jakarta Private City Tour - (Most Tourist Attractions): $55
- 5 Hours Jakarta Private City Tour - (Most Highlights): $65
- 6 Hours Jakarta Private City Tour - (Must Visit Places): $75
- 8 Hours Jakarta Private City Tour - (All Tourist Attractions): $109
- Afternoon Guided Chinatown Tour in Jakarta : $53
- Baduy Tribal Tracker and Village in Private Tour Full Day & Lunch: $130
- Bandung City Tour Mountain Volcano and Hotspring ( Start From Jakarta): $154
- Bandung Private Tour Mountain Volcano and Hotspring ( Overland ): $175
- Bandung Tour : Volcano, Coffee Fields, Hot Springs Water: $121
- Batik Course & City Tour Jakarta: $60
- Best Jakarta Private Tour: $66
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySofia $8.48Jakarta $4.27
Sample the Local Flavors in Sofia
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Sofia:
- Sofia Pub Crawl - Party Tour of Sofia's Best Bars & Clubs: $16
- Sofia's Hidden Bars: 4-Hour Pub Crawl: $19
- Sofia Pub Crawl Tour of The Hidden Unique Bars: $20
- Wine Tasting in Heart of Sofia: $33
- Sofia Bar Crawl: $54
- Special Selection Bulgarian Wine Tasting: $59
- Sofia Exquisite Wine Tasting: $76
- 1-Hour Private Cheese and Wine Tasting in Sofia : $87
- Private Sofia Tour with Wine Tasting: $108
- Hisarya, Starosel, and Wine Tasting Tour from Sofia: $115
- Private Cheese and Wine Tasting Experience in Sofia: $120
- Koprivshtitsa and Starosel Day Trip with Wine Tasting: $140
When comparing the travel costs between Sofia and Jakarta, we can see that Sofia 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 Sofia is in Europe and Jakarta is in Asia, 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 Sofia Expensive? and Is Jakarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Sofia or Jakarta?
Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Sofia. When comparing the sizes of Sofia and Jakarta, 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.