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

Should you visit Yogyakarta or Melbourne?

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

Should I visit Yogyakarta or Melbourne? 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 Melbourne?

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.

Melbourne

Melbourne is the second largest city in Australia, after Sydney. It is also the capital city of the state of Victoria, in southeastern Australia. Melbourne is arguably the best city to experience culture and the arts in Australia. There is a friendly rivalry between Melbourne and Sydney over livability and popularity and Melbourne is definitely the city to visit for its parks, shopping, restaurants, galleries and theaters. Like Sydney, it is situated on the water, at the head of Port Phillip Bay. It's a beautiful city, and although it lacks the major sights that you'll find in Sydney such as the Sydney Opera House or the Harbour Bridge, you will never find yourself lacking for entertainment. It is also a wonderful base for exploring many of the nearby highlights, including Grampians National Park, The Great Ocean Road, and Phillip Island where you can view the penguin parade.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia, The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia, and The Best Food and Culinary Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Melbourne 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 Melbourne is $176. 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 Melbourne in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yogyakarta $37
    Melbourne $118
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yogyakarta $74
    Melbourne $236
Compare Hotels in Yogyakarta and Melbourne

Looking for a hotel in Yogyakarta or Melbourne? 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 Melbourne


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 Melbourne Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Yogyakarta $1.33
    Melbourne $19

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yogyakarta

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

  • Ramayana Ballet Dance Show with Transfers: $25
  • Layover Tour w/ Entry Tickets & Airport Transfer: $94
  • Jomblang Cave Day Trip with Hotel Transfer: $30
  • Yogyakarta Private Departure Transfer- Yogyakarta Hotel to Airport: $20
  • Yogyakarta International Airport to Hotel - Arrival Transfer: $32
  • Yogyakarta Airport : for pick up or transfer service: $28
  • Transfer In or Out Airport Yogyakarta: $9.61
  • Semarang & Transfer To The Hotel or Airport: $93
  • Private Yogyakarta Airport Transfer Service with English Speaking Driver: $48
  • Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport YIA To City Center: $29
  • Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Yogyakarta City: $34
  • Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Tridadi: $93

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melbourne

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Melbourne:


  • Airport Bus
    $10
  • Tram Ride
    $2.47

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melbourne

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

  • Yarra Valley: Hot Air Balloon with Breakfast & CBD Transfers: $372
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Melbourne HTL-APT (MEL): $99
  • Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer service Melbourne APT-HTL (MEL): $99
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne hotels to Melbourne Cruise Port: $38
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne Port to Melbourne Airport (MEL): $52
  • Private Transfer from Melbourne Airport (MEL) to Melbourne Port: $52
  • Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Melbourne Airports: $86
  • Private Car Transfer Melbourne Airport To CBD: $79
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Melbourne Airports to Hotel: $86
  • Private Airport Transfer in Melbourne: $99
  • Mt Buller 1 Day Snow Tour (Direct Transfer To Mt Buller Village From Melbourne): $89
  • Mornington Peninsula - Melbourne Airport Transfers: $198

Is it cheaper to fly into Yogyakarta or Melbourne?

Prices for flights to both Melbourne 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
    Melbourne $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

Typical Food Prices in Melbourne

For Melbourne, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Coffee
    $2.60
  • Pizza
    $4.54

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melbourne

For Melbourne, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Queen Victoria Market: 'Flavours of Australia' Food Tour: $52
  • Eynesbury Homestead Dinner and Ghost Tour: $53
  • Sunset Kayak Tour with Dinner: $78
  • Melbourne Sunset Kayaking Experience with Dinner: $79
  • Melbourne Private Multicultural Markets Food Tour: $86
  • Pizza Making Party: $89
  • Chinese Dumpling Cooking Class with a Drink: $97
  • Secret Food Tour: $109
  • Chinese Cooking Class Master: $118
  • Spirit of Melbourne Dinner Cruise: $122
  • Choose Your Asian Cuisine Cooking Masterclass: $129
  • Street Food of Asia Cooking Class: $130

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yogyakarta $16
    Melbourne $27

Tours and Activities in Yogyakarta

For Yogyakarta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Tour Borobudur Sunrise – Merapi Volcano – Prambanan (Transport Only): $80
  • Sunrise : Punthuk Setumbu, Borobudur And Prambanan Temples Tour (PRIVATE TOUR): $121
  • Yogyakarta Jomblang Cave Day Tour (PRIVATE TOUR): $88
  • 1 day Yogyakarta Tour Jomblang cave and Pindul Cave tubing: $72
  • 1 day tour Borobudur and Prambanan Temples : $69
  • 1 day tour borobudur temple,prambanan temple,plaosan temple: $72
  • 1-Day Yogyakarta Borobudur and City Tour - PRIVATE Tour with GUIDE: $188
  • 1-Day Yogyakarta City Tour Prangtritis Beach - PRIVATE Tour with GUIDE: $139
  • 1-Day Yogyakarta Javanese Culture - PRIVATE TOUR with GUIDE: $198
  • 1-Day Yogyakarta Merapi Borobudur - PRIVATE Tour with GUIDE: $183
  • 1-Day Yogyakarta Merapi Pengger Heha - PRIVATE Tour with GUIDE: $139
  • 1-Day Yogyakarta Prambanan Breksi Ijo Temple - PRIVATE Tour with Guide: $183

Tours and Activities in Melbourne

For Melbourne, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 1 Day Penguin Island Tour from Melbourne Penguins express: $79
  • 1 day Puffing Billy Steam Train and Wildlife Tour from Melbourne: $125
  • 12 Apostles Great Ocean Road Eco Tour with lunch from Melbourne: $109
  • 2 Day Great Ocean Road Small Group Tour: $800
  • 2-Hour Farm Experience in Gateway Yarra Valley: $66
  • 2024 Mt Buller, Melbourne Snow and Sightseeing Day Tour: $92
  • 3 Hour Rainforest Walking Tour in Badger Creek: $40
  • 3-Day Great Ocean Road and Grampians Small-Group Tour: $1,486
  • 3.5 Hours Group tour Melbourne trouble-makers tour: $44
  • 3/4 Day Sports Lovers Bus Tour of Melbourne with Tour Options: $178
  • 4 Hours Sightseeing Small Group Tour in Melbourne City: $40
  • African Cat Experience at Werribee Open Range Zoo - excl. entry: $60

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yogyakarta $4.93
    Melbourne $17

Typical Alcohol Prices in Melbourne

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Melbourne from other travelers:


  • Bottle of Wine
    $5.03

Sample the Local Flavors in Melbourne

Also in Melbourne, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Melbourne Pub Crawl: $17
  • Weekly Bar Crawl: 5 Free shots, Club Entry: $19
  • Spirits and Ales Haunted Pub Walking Tour: $25
  • Melbourne Halloween Bar Crawl: $33
  • Laid back,Small-Group Yarra Valley Wine Tour :Wine,Gin,Cider+more: $86
  • Yarra Valley Day Trip with Local Wine Tastings from Melbourne: $102
  • Yarra Valley Wine Tour inc lunch with a glass of wine, tastings and chocolate: $116
  • Yarra Valley Gourmet Food & Wine Tasting Tour: $127
  • Southern Gippsland boutique Wine Tour with Tapas from Melbourne : $139
  • Wine Tour Yarra Valley, Vic - inc. 2 course lunch + glass of wine: $165
  • Mornington Peninsula Premium Tour with Wine Tasting at Yabby Lake : $172
  • Yarra Valley Premium Tour Lunch and Sparkling Wine Tasting at Domaine Chandon: $178


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yogyakarta and Melbourne, we can see that Melbourne 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 Melbourne is in Pacific, 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 Melbourne would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Melbourne 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 Melbourne Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Melbourne?

Melbourne has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Yogyakarta. When comparing the sizes of Yogyakarta and Melbourne, 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.