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

Should you visit Yogyakarta or Benxi?

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

Should I visit Yogyakarta or Benxi? 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: Yogyakarta or Benxi?

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.

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Benxi or Yogyakarta?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Yogyakarta is $58, while the average daily cost in Benxi is $94. 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 Yogyakarta and Benxi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yogyakarta $37
    Benxi $47
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yogyakarta $74
    Benxi $94
Compare Hotels in Yogyakarta and Benxi

Looking for a hotel in Yogyakarta or Benxi? 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 Yogyakarta


Hotels in Benxi


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: Yogyakarta Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yogyakarta $1.33
    Benxi $31

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yogyakarta

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

  • Transfer In or Out Airport Yogyakarta: $9.61
  • Private Transfer Airport Yogyakarta (JOG) to All City Destination: $11
  • Yogyakarta Private Departure Transfer- Yogyakarta Hotel to Airport: $20
  • Private Transfer From or To Yogyakarta Airport: $24
  • Ramayana Ballet Dance Show with Transfers: $25
  • Private Transfer From/To Yogyakarta Airport: $26
  • Yogyakarta Airport : for pick up or transfer service: $28
  • Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport YIA To City Center: $29
  • Borobudur 5-Hour Guided Tour with Climb-up Access & Transfer: $29
  • Jomblang Cave Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $30
  • Yogyakarta International Airport to Hotel - Arrival Transfer: $32
  • Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Yogyakarta City: $34

Is it cheaper to fly into Yogyakarta or Benxi?

Prices for flights to both Benxi and Yogyakarta 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
    Yogyakarta $12
    Benxi $30

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: $22
  • Kotagede Night Food Tour: $27
  • Yogyakarta Evening Walking and Food Tour: $30
  • Yogyakarta : Guided City Walk and Food Tour: $32
  • Prambanan temple afternoon tour and dinner: $34
  • Prawirotaman Night Food Tour: $35
  • Prawirotaman Night Food Tour: $35
  • Night Walking and Food Tour: $37
  • Ramayana Ballet Performance with Dinner: $38
  • Yogyakarta Cooking Class and Market Tour : $40
  • Small-Group Walking and Food Tour by Night in Yogyakarta: $40
  • Yogyakarta Day Food Tour: $48

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yogyakarta $16
    Benxi $7.29

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: $1.52
  • Chicken Church at Karangrejo Village Admission Ticket: $1.89
  • Java Puppets Museum Admission Ticket: $2.50
  • 6 hours Borobudur temple climb up tour only.: $19
  • Jomblang cave Tour only.: $19
  • Prambanan Afternoon Tour Discover Magic sunset: $19
  • Yogyakarta : Jomblang Cave tour with local Guide: $20
  • Walking Tour of Yogyakarta's Oldest Neighbourhood: $21
  • Yogyakarta City Tour: $21
  • Authentic Yogya Bicycle Tour: $22
  • Jomblang Cave Tour: $22
  • Guided Tour to Borobudur with Full Access: $23

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yogyakarta $4.93
    Benxi $7.69


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yogyakarta and Benxi, we can see that Benxi is more expensive. And not only is Yogyakarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Benxi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Benxi 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 Yogyakarta Expensive? and Is Benxi Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Benxi?

Benxi has a larger population, and is about 55% larger than the population of Yogyakarta. When comparing the sizes of Yogyakarta and Benxi, 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.