Which place is cheaper, Nanjing or Yogyakarta?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Yogyakarta or Nanjing?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Yogyakarta or Nanjing? 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 Nanjing?
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.
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayYogyakarta $58Nanjing $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Yogyakarta is $58, while the average daily cost in Nanjing is $96. 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 Nanjing in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYogyakarta $37Nanjing $46
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYogyakarta $74Nanjing $92
Compare Hotels in Yogyakarta and Nanjing
Looking for a hotel in Yogyakarta or Nanjing? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Yogyakarta $1.33Nanjing $38
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: $48
- Canoeing Experience in Yogyakarta with Hotel Transfer: $50
- Jepara & One Way Private Transfer: $110
- Prambanan Cycling and Temple Tour with Transfer: $48
- Private Transfer Airport Yogyakarta (JOG) to All City Destination: $11
- Private Transfer From or To Yogyakarta Airport: $24
- Private Transfer From or To: Yogyakarta,Bromo,Ijen,Ketapang,Bali: $253
- Private Transfer From/To Yogyakarta Airport: $26
- Private Transfer from Banguntapan to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $68
- Private Transfer from Banyuraden to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $93
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Zhenjiang Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $78
- Yangzhou Private Transfer Service from Nanjing City or Lukou Airport : $80
- Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts Private Transfer from Nanjing Railway Station: $44
- Private Transfer to Yangzhou City from Nanjing Lukou Airport : $109
- Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from Lukou Airport : $45
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing Lukou Airport: $88
- Private Transfer to Gaochun City from Nanjing : $88
- Private Transfer between Nanjing Olympic Stadium and City Hotel: $33
- Private Transfer between Nanjing Jinniuhu Wild Animal Park and City Hotels: $62
- Private Transfer Between Tangshan Hot Spring Resort and Nanjing Lukou Airport: $49
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Zhenjiang from Nanjing: $94
- Private Round Trip Transfer to Yangzhou Attractions from Nanjing: $89
Is it cheaper to fly into Yogyakarta or Nanjing?
Prices for flights to both Nanjing 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 dayYogyakarta $12Nanjing $28
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
- 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
- Nanjing City Private Night Tour with Qinghuai River Cruise and Dinner Option: $114
- Nanjing Tangshan Mountain Hot Spring Experience and Hot Pot Dinner: $175
- Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Yogyakarta $16Nanjing $9.27
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
Tours and Activities in Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- 2-Day Unlimited Nanjing Private Flexible Tour with Lunch Option : $295
- 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way : $109
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Xiaoling Tomb, Ming City Wall and Memorial Hall : $115
- All Inclusive Amazing Nanjing City Highlights Private Day Tour: $193
- All Inclusive Nanjing City Private Day Tour with Tailor-Made Highlights: $213
- All-inclusive Customized Nanjing Layover Tour: $201
- Beijing Great Wall Tour from Nanjing by Bullet Train with Private Car Service: $282
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Highlights Day Tour: $164
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
- Flexible Zhenjiang Private Day Tour from Nanjing: $197
- Half Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour with Night River Cruise: $165
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayYogyakarta $4.93Nanjing $9.46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yogyakarta and Nanjing, we can see that Nanjing 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 Nanjing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nanjing 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 Nanjing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Nanjing?
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Yogyakarta. When comparing the sizes of Yogyakarta and Nanjing, 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.