Which place is cheaper, Jakarta or Varanasi?
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 Varanasi or Jakarta?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Varanasi and Jakarta 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: Varanasi or Jakarta?
Varanasi
Known to be one of India's holiest cities, many come to Varanasi on a spiritual pilgrimage looking to bathe in the sacred waters of the Ganges River. Dating back to the 11th Century BC, it is also one of the oldest continuously inhabited cities in the world. Centuries old temples make up the backdrop, as many come and come again to perform their holy rights at the edge of the historic river.
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 Bicycle Tours in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in India, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, and The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia.
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Varanasi Prices
India PricesJakarta Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVaranasi $31Jakarta $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Varanasi is $31, while the average daily cost in Jakarta is $69. 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 Varanasi and Jakarta in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVaranasi $14Jakarta $30
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVaranasi $28Jakarta $60
Compare Hotels in Varanasi and Jakarta
Looking for a hotel in Varanasi 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: Varanasi Hotel Prices and Jakarta Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Varanasi $4.35Jakarta $18
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Varanasi
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Varanasi:
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Tuk Tuk Through Town$0.84
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Rickshaw Ride$0.53
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Varanasi
Also for Varanasi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Varanasi hotel to Bodhgaya hotel private transfer: $135
- Private Transfer Varanasi to Bodhgaya - One Way: $98
- Sunrise Boat Tour and Heritage Walk with transfers: $79
- Sarnath Tour with Guide & Car Including transfers: $77
- Sarnath Tour with Guide & Car Including Hotel transfers: $70
- Airport Pickup/Drop Transfer Service: $53
- Private Transfer from Lal Bahadur Shastri (VNS) Airport to Varanasi: $43
- Private Departure Transfer from Varanasi Hotel to Airport: $28
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer To Hotel / To Airport: $21
- Varanasi Airport : Transfer to Hotel / To Airport: $13
- Private Transfer: Varanasi Airport to Varanasi Hotel: $12
- Varanasi Hotels to Varanasi Airport drop: Private Transfers: $11
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:
- Soekarno Hatta Int. Airport To Bogor city ( Private Transfer ): $30
- Private Transfer from West Jakarta to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $33
- Private Transfer from Tebet to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $33
- Private Transfer from Tebet to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $33
- Private Transfer from Tanah Abang to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $33
- Private Transfer from Taman Sari to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $33
- Private Transfer from Taman Sari to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $33
- Private Transfer from Sunter to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $33
- Private Transfer from Sunter to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $33
- Private Transfer from Sumur Batu to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $40
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $176
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regenc to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $187
Is it cheaper to fly into Varanasi or Jakarta?
Prices for flights to both Jakarta and Varanasi 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 dayVaranasi $11Jakarta $26
Typical Food Prices in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner In Town$3.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food Tour: Highlights Tour with Tasting &Sunset in Varanasi: $14
- Cooking Class with Sona: $29
- Night Boat Ride, Aarti Ceremony and Dinner: $29
- Ganga Aarti with Street Food Tour of Varanasi: $40
- Half-Day Varanasi Village Tour with Cooking Class & Local Dining: $40
- Varanasi Cooking Classes with Shobha: $40
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $42
- Traditional Indian Cooking Class with Dinner: $42
- Private Street Food Tour with 8+ Tastings & Pickup: $44
- Private Food Tour with Ganga Aarti Ceremony: $44
- Varanasi Cooking Classes with Indu and Shobha: $50
- Dashashwamedh Ganga Arati from balcony with Street Food Tour: $50
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:
- Jakarta Nights Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $39
- Glodok Stories Jakarta Food Tour with 13+ Tastings: $39
- Jakarta Night Tour with Dinner at Café or Food street: $50
- Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
- Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
- Cultural Food Tour and Cooking Class at House of Tuggu: $84
- Halfday Batavia by Night with dinner at Cafe Batavia & souvenir: $120
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Varanasi $9.24Jakarta $11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Varanasi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Varanasi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Boat Ride$0.74
Tours and Activities in Varanasi
For Varanasi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 03 Day Spiritual Tour: Kashi Vishwanath,Ganga Aarti Sarnath”: $270
- 08 Hours : Private - Full Day City Tour Of Delhi: $53
- 08 Hours : Private Full Day City Tour of Jaipur: $90
- 2 Day Private Bodhgaya Tour From Varanasi: $189
- 2 Day Varanasi Day Tour with Boating and English Speaking Guide: $300
- 2 Days Enlightening Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi: $189
- 2 Days Enlightening Bodhgaya Tour from Varanasi: $180
- 2 Days Varanasi City Tour with Evening Aarti and Boat Ride: $100
- 2 Days Varanasi tour package for first timers: $135
- 2 Night 3 Days Spiritual Varanasi with Cruise Ride: $233
- 2-Day Varanasi Experience – Temples, Ghats & Ganga Aarti: $140
- 2-Day Varanasi Heritage & Tradition Guided Tour: $156
Tours and Activities in Jakarta
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.
- 1 Day Jakarta Historical Tour: $75
- 1 Day Motorcycle Adventure Tour West Java: $204
- 1 Day Motorcycle Tour To Citorek Banten West Of Java: $184
- 3 Hours Jakarta City Tour (Jakarta's Iconic Places): $45
- 6 Hours Jakarta Private City Tour - (Must Visit Places): $75
- 7 Hours Indonesia Cultural & Heritage Park Tour: $110
- 8 Hours Jakarta Private City Tour - (All Tourist Attractions): $109
- Baduy Tribal Tracker and Village in Private Tour Full Day & Lunch: $130
- Bandung City Tour with High-Speed Whoosh Rail: $200
- Batik Course & City Tour Jakarta: $60
- Bogor City Full-Day Private Tour from Jakarta with Pick Up: $160
- Botanical Garden And Miniature Park Of Indonesia Tour: $100
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayVaranasi $6.91Jakarta $3.81
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Varanasi and Jakarta, we can see that Jakarta is more expensive. And not only is Varanasi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Varanasi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Varanasi 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 Jakarta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Jakarta than you might in Varanasi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Varanasi Expensive? and Is Jakarta Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Varanasi or Jakarta?
Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Varanasi. When comparing the sizes of Varanasi 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.