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

Should you visit Yogyakarta or Pingyao?

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

Should I visit Yogyakarta or Pingyao? 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 Pingyao?

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.

Pingyao

Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Pingyao 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 Pingyao is $54. 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 Pingyao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Yogyakarta $37
    Pingyao $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Yogyakarta $74
    Pingyao $46
Compare Hotels in Yogyakarta and Pingyao

Looking for a hotel in Yogyakarta or Pingyao? 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 Pingyao


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
    Pingyao $13

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
  • Yogyakarta International Airport to Hotel - Arrival Transfer: $32
  • Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Yogyakarta City: $34
  • Private Transfer from Panembahan to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $34

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao

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


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $1.38

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Pingyao

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Pingyao:

  • Privater Transfer from Datong to Pingyao with driver: $115
  • Private Transfer Servcie to Mianshan (Mian Mountain) from Pingyao: $60
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Wutaishan from Pingyao: $190

Is it cheaper to fly into Yogyakarta or Pingyao?

Prices for flights to both Pingyao 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
    Pingyao $19

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
  • 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: $38
  • Yogyakarta Cooking Class and Market Tour : $40
  • Small-Group Walking and Food Tour by Night in Yogyakarta: $40
  • Javanese Cooking Class & Market Tour: $56
  • Yogyakarta Day Food Tour: $58
  • Yogyakarta Cooking Class: $71
  • Nusantara Cooking Course and Lokal Market Tour: $80

Typical Food Prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:


  • Casual Lunch (for 2)
    $4.97
  • Mango Juice
    $0.69

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Yogyakarta $16
    Pingyao $18

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
  • 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
  • Borobudur and Prambanan Temple Tour: $23

Typical Entertainment Prices in Pingyao

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:


  • All Day Bike Rental (for 2)
    $2.76
  • Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)
    $6.90
  • Bike Parking Fee (for 2)
    $0.55

Tours and Activities in Pingyao

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:

  • 1-Day Pingyao Ancient Town Sightseeing Walking Tour: $113
  • 1-Day Pingyao tour to Wang Family's Compound and Zhangbi Ancient Fortress : $206
  • 2-Hour Guided Private Bike Tour to see the Hidden Pingyao & Tea Break: $60
  • 3-Hour Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Highlights: $125
  • All Inclusive Pingyao Private Tour to Qiao Family Compound and Shuanglin Temple: $142
  • Day tour to Wang Family Compound shuanglin temple &zhangbi castle: $210
  • Half-Day Private Walking Tour of Pingyao Ancient City: $65
  • Mian Mountain Private Day Tour From Pingyao: $188
  • One Day Tour Exploration of Pingyao Old Town and Wang Family Mansion: $183
  • Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $129
  • Pingyao Day Tour: Wang Family Mansion and Zhangbi Ancient Castle: $132
  • Pingyao Food Walking Tour : $67

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Yogyakarta $4.93
    Pingyao $13


When comparing the travel costs between Yogyakarta and Pingyao, we can see that Yogyakarta is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Yogyakarta Expensive? and Is Pingyao Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Pingyao?

Yogyakarta has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Yogyakarta and Pingyao, 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.