Which place is cheaper, Cuenca or Yogyakarta?
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 Yogyakarta or Cuenca?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Yogyakarta or Cuenca? 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 Cuenca?
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.
Cuenca
Cuenca is a vibrant colonial city in southern Ecuador, the third largest in the country, and the capital of Azuay Province. Cuenca is considered as Ecuador's most important and beautiful colonial city after Quito. Dating from the 16th century, Cuenca's historic center, a Unesco World Heritage Site with its trademark skyline of massive rotundas and soaring steeples, is a magical sight in which you will feel like you are moving back in time. Cuenca is the center of many craft traditions, including ceramics, metalwork and the internationally famous panama hat. The nearby villages also offer many other handicrafts. Tourists enjoy wandering the ancient streets discovering picturesque alleys and hidden corners, where nuns march along cobblestone streets and kids in Catholic-school uniforms skip past historic churches. Fascinating historic monuments and fabulous views are found at every turn. Cuenca also has outstanding art museums and festivals. For a rewarding cultural experience, visit during Easter to attend the Festival of Religious Music.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia, The Best Wildlife Tours to Ecuador, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Ecuador.
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Yogyakarta Prices
Indonesia PricesCuenca Prices
Ecuador Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayYogyakarta $64Cuenca $53
The average daily cost (per person) in Yogyakarta is $64, while the average daily cost in Cuenca is $53. 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 Cuenca in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYogyakarta $35Cuenca $13
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYogyakarta $70Cuenca $26
Compare Hotels in Yogyakarta and Cuenca
Looking for a hotel in Yogyakarta or Cuenca? 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: Yogyakarta Hotel Prices and Cuenca Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Yogyakarta $1.28Cuenca $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yogyakarta
Also for Yogyakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Borobudur Half Day All Inclusive Guided Tour With Hotel Transfer: $60
- From Roundtrip Transfer to Borobudur Temple: $15
- From/To Yogyakarta Airport Private Transfer: $36
- Indonesia: Yogyakarta Airport Transfer: $14
- Jepara & One Way Private Transfer: $110
- Private Transfer Airport Jogyakarta ( Adisucipto ): $25
- Private Transfer Airport Yogyakarta (JOG) to All City Destination: $7.00
- Private Transfer from Banyuraden to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $71
- Private Transfer from Borobudur to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $80
- Private Transfer from Donoharjo to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $71
- Private Transfer from Kembanglimus to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $87
- Private Transfer from Kricak to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $35
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cuenca:
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Taxi Ride$2.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cuenca
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cuenca:
- Cuenca to/from Guayaquil Private Transfer: $80
- Cuenca Airport Transfer: $13
Is it cheaper to fly into Yogyakarta or Cuenca?
Prices for flights to both Cuenca 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
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Food Meals for one dayYogyakarta $19Cuenca $26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Yogyakarta
For Yogyakarta, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Ramayana Show with Transfer, Entry Fee & Dinner: $13
- Night Walking & Street Food Tour: $21
- Guided City Walk and Food Tour: $23
- Morning Walk and Food Tour: $23
- Kotagede Night Food Tour: $27
- Ramayana Ballet Performance with Optional Dinner: $28
- Yogyakarta Historical Walking and Food Tour: $29
- Yogyakarta Evening Walking and Food Tour: $30
- Nighttime Walk and Food Tour: $32
- Cooking Class with Market Visit and Hotel Pickup: $33
- Prawirotaman Night Food Tour: $35
- 3-hour Cooking Class with Market Tour: $35
Typical Food Prices in Cuenca
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Cuenca:
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Lunch$10
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Snacks$5.00
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Empanada$1.50
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Hot Dog$1.00
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cuenca
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cuenca.
- Street food Tour in Cuenca,Ecuador: $33
- Cooking Class & Market Tour in Cuenca: $55
- Experience Ecuador: Join an Andean Cooking Class in Cuenca: $85
- Private Cooking Class: $125
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Yogyakarta $15Cuenca $16
Tours and Activities in Yogyakarta
For Yogyakarta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Chicken Church at Karangrejo Village Admission Ticket: $1.85
- Obelix Hills Entry Ticket: $2.18
- Java Puppets Museum Admission Ticket: $2.50
- YOGYAKARTA CITY TOUR,SULTAN PALACE,WATER CASTLE AND CRAFTS.: $6.23
- Half Day Keraton and Taman Sari Tour: $10
- Prambanan Temple Afternoon Tour: $12
- Prambanan Temple: Half-Day Guided Tour From Yogyakarta: $14
- Borobudur(Guarantee Climb up) Shared Guide Tour: $15
- Jomblang Cave & Pindul Cave Adventur Tour: $15
- Yogayakarta : Jomblang Cave and Pindul Cave Tour: $15
- Jomblang Cave and Pindul Cave Tour with Lunch: $15
- "Java's Cultural Heritage: Borobudur and Prambanan Tour": $16
Tours and Activities in Cuenca
Here are a few actual costs in Cuenca for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cuenca-Ec- Highlights City Tour : $16
- Amazing Cajas National Park Tour from Cuenca: $47
- Azuay Cuenca Ecuador Tour: $1,300
- Biking Cuenca City Tour: $50
- Birdwatching Tour Cajas Park and Tamarindo Tropical Forest area from Cuenca: $130
- Birdwatching Tour in Cajas National Park from Cuenca: $100
- Birdwatching Tour, Via Gualaceo to the Eastern slope from Cuenca: $130
- Cajas National Park FULL-DAY Tour from Cuenca: $55
- Cajas National Park Half Day Tour from Cuenca: $39
- Cajas National Park Small-Group tour from Cuenca: $48
- Cajas National Park and Cuenca City private Tour: $110
- Complete excursion Ingapirca & Gualaceo Chordeleg Tour Archaeological Artisanal: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayYogyakarta $4.74Cuenca $14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yogyakarta and Cuenca, we can see that Yogyakarta is more expensive. And not only is Cuenca much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Yogyakarta is in Asia and Cuenca is in South America, 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 Cuenca would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Cuenca 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 Yogyakarta would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yogyakarta than you might in Cuenca.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Yogyakarta Expensive? and Is Cuenca Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Cuenca?
Yogyakarta has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Cuenca. When comparing the sizes of Yogyakarta and Cuenca, 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.