Which place is cheaper, Jakarta or Surabaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Surabaya or Jakarta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Surabaya or Jakarta? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Surabaya or Jakarta?
Surabaya
Surabaya, also known as the "city of heroes," is the capital of East Java and the second largest city in Indonesia, following Jakarta. While it doesn't highlight as many typical tourist monuments as other cities, Surabaya serves as a takeoff point or a landing base for travelers visiting Mount Bromo and Bali.
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 Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Indonesia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurabaya $63Jakarta $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Surabaya is $63, 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 Surabaya and Jakarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurabaya $37Jakarta $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurabaya $74Jakarta $66
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and Jakarta
Looking for a hotel in Surabaya 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: Surabaya Hotel Prices and Jakarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surabaya $2.76Jakarta $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Podokoyo: $210
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Samaan: $210
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Malang: $167
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Batu: $167
- Private Transfer from Bangkalan to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $134
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Bangkalan: $134
- Private Transfer from Gresik to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $92
- Surabaya & Malang: Private Transfer To The Hotels or Airport: $68
- Surabaya & Malang: Private Hotel or Airport Transfer: $67
- Private Transfer from Ngoro to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $50
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Gempol: $50
- Private Transfer from Gempol to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $50
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:
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Taxi to Station$1.09
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta
Also for Jakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Airport Jakarta Soekarno - Hatta ( Private Transfer ): $22
- Airport Jakarta, Private Transfer: $26
- Airport Private Transfer Jakarta, Best Price: $19
- Airport Transfer Jakarta ( Private Car ): $30
- Best Airport Private Transfer Jakarta To All Destination in Bogor: $35
- CGK - Private Airport Transfer Service: $20
- Easy & Simple Transfer Airport Jakarta: $17
- Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Bandung/Lembang Arrival Transfer: $63
- Jakarta Airport CGK to Bandung or Lembang Round Trip Transfer: $126
- Jakarta Airport Private Transfer To Bandung ( Private Service ): $90
- Jakarta Airport Transfer for Small/Big Group: $29
- Jakarta Airport Transfers : Jakarta Airport CGK to Jakarta City in Business Van: $91
Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or Jakarta?
Prices for flights to both Jakarta and Surabaya 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 daySurabaya $22Jakarta $17
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:
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Dinner$2.73
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Dinner$0.74
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
- Jakarta Night Life Tour with highlight and food tour: $55
- Jakarta Night Tour: Guided Sightseeing & Street food tour: $56
- Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
- Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
- 10-Tasting Private Food Tour with a Local Host: $96
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surabaya $4.74Jakarta $13
Tours and Activities in Surabaya
Here are a few actual costs in Surabaya for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Bromo Private Tour with Madakaripura Waterfall: $119
- 1 Day Private Malang / Surabaya Bromo Sunrise Tour: $98
- 1 Day Tour - Wonderful Sunrise Mount Bromo From Surabaya: $136
- 1 days Majapahit temple history tour: $100
- 1Day - Bromo Madakaripura Day Tour: $128
- 1Day - Bromo Sunrise Tour via Surabaya (Private Tour): $132
- 2Days - Bromo Family Tour via Surabaya: $163
- 2Days - Bromo Madakaripura Adventure via Surabaya or Malang: $243
- 2Days - Bromo Sunrise Ijen Tour via Surabaya: $199
- 2Days/1Night Bromo Private Tour with Hotel: $189
- 3 Days Bromo Ijen Tour From Surabaya: $170
- 3 Days Private Tour in Bromo and Ijen from Surabaya: $275
Tours and Activities in Jakarta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.
- Jakarta City Center: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
- Jakarta Walkingtour : Explore Jakarta as the locals do: $19
- Private custom tour with a local guide: $33
- Private Custom Walking Tour with a Local Guide in Jakarta: $34
- Like a Local Customized Guided Tour: $35
- Half-Day Highlights Tour: $38
- Highlight Noon Batavia Tour By Walk : $40
- guided tour of highlights in german language: $42
- 3 Hours Jakarta City Tour (Jakarta's Iconic Places): $45
- Highlights of Jakarta City: Half-Day Tour: $45
- Best Jakarta Tours, your best friend in travelling.: $47
- Private Half-Day Tour Highlight of Jakarta: $49
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurabaya -Jakarta $4.23
When comparing the travel costs between Surabaya and Jakarta, 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. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Surabaya Expensive? and Is Jakarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Jakarta?
Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Surabaya. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya 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.