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

Should you visit Yogyakarta or Cologne?

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

Should I visit Yogyakarta or Cologne? 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 Cologne?

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.

Cologne

Spanning the Rhine River in western Germany, the city of Cologne dates back 2,000 years, once existing as the largest city of the Holy Roman Empire in medieval times. Today, it is the region's cultural hub - a center of museums, galleries, and towering Gothic cathedrals.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia, The Best Luxury Tours to Germany, and The Best Budget Tours to Germany.


Which place is cheaper, Cologne 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 Cologne is $172. 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 Cologne in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yogyakarta $37
    Cologne $97
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yogyakarta $74
    Cologne $194
Compare Hotels in Yogyakarta and Cologne

Looking for a hotel in Yogyakarta or Cologne? 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 Cologne


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 and Cologne Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yogyakarta $1.34
    Cologne $20

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yogyakarta

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

  • Borobudur 5-Hour Guided Tour with Climb-up Access & Transfer: $29
  • Borobudur Sunrise, Merapi Volcano & Prambanan Day Tour with Guide & Transfer: $85
  • Borobudur Village Cycling and Temple Tour with Transfer: $49
  • Canoeing Experience in Yogyakarta with Hotel Transfer: $51
  • Jepara & One Way Private Transfer: $110
  • Prambanan Cycling and Temple Tour with Transfer: $49
  • Private Transfer From/To Yogyakarta Airport: $28
  • Private Transfer from Banguntapan to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $68
  • Private Transfer from Banyuraden to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $93
  • Private Transfer from Borobudur Temple to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $93
  • Private Transfer from Borobudur to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $93
  • Private Transfer from Bumijo to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $34

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cologne

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cologne:

  • Transfer from Cologne Airport CGN to Cologne City by Luxury Car: $83
  • Superior Private Transfer from Cologne City to Dortmund City: $64
  • Cologne hotels to Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) - Departure Private Transfer: $49
  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Cologne hotels - Round-trip Private Transfer : $98
  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $110
  • Cologne Bonn Airport (CGN) to Bonn hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $55

Is it cheaper to fly into Yogyakarta or Cologne?

Prices for flights to both Cologne 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
    Cologne $54

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

Typical Food Prices in Cologne

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cologne:


  • Dinner
    $15
  • Donner Kebab
    $4.29

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cologne

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

  • Hard Rock Café with Set Menu for Lunch or Dinner: $27
  • Hard Rock Cafe Cologne With Set Lunch or Dinner: $29
  • Köln Südstadt kulinarisch – Die Food Tour: $48
  • 3-Hour Südstadt Food Tour: $484

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yogyakarta $16
    Cologne $22

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: $1.92
  • 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

Tours and Activities in Cologne

Here are a few actual costs in Cologne for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 120min - Cologne City Tour: $158
  • 3-Hour Cologne Street Art Bike Tour in Small Group with Guide: $44
  • 3-Hour Murder Mystery Interactive City Walking Tour in Köln: $75
  • 5 Hours Cologne to Aachen Train Tour in Germany: $63
  • Aachen City Hall tour (public): $20
  • Aachen Private Walking Tour With A Professional Guide: $231
  • Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Best Landmarks Self-Guided Tour: $6.55
  • Aachen Scavenger Hunt and Self Guided Walking Tour on your Phone: $7.63
  • Aachen old town tour - GERMAN (public): $13
  • Amusing Stories of Cologne Walking Tour: $13
  • Ancient Echoes: A Self-Guided Audio Tour of Roman Cologne: $11
  • Awesome Sites of Cologne – Private Family Walking Tour: $397

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yogyakarta $4.98
    Cologne $24

Sample the Local Flavors in Cologne

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

  • Public brewery tour in German in Cologne: $18
  • Old Town Walking Tour with Brewery and Kölsch Beer: $18
  • Guided tour of the old town with a visit to the brewery in Cologne: $19
  • Old Town Walking Tour inkl Brewery Visit: $24
  • Entertaining Brewery Tour: Feel Good Package including local beer: $27
  • South Cologne Walking Tour with brewery visit: $27
  • Pub Crawl Cologne Including Admission Fee for Bars and Shots: $27
  • Brewery Tour with 3 Kölsch Beer Tastings: $30
  • Brewery Tour with Beer Tasting and Halven Hahn: $31
  • The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $32
  • The Legendary Kölsch Brewery Tour: $33
  • Cologne-Nippes: Gourmet wine tasting with cheese platter: $64


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


Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Cologne?

Cologne has a larger population, and is about 51% larger than the population of Yogyakarta. When comparing the sizes of Yogyakarta and Cologne, 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.