Which place is cheaper, Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Yogyakarta or Saint Thomas? 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 Saint Thomas?
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.
Saint Thomas
Saint Thomas is a beautiful island in the U.S. Virgin Islands. Together with St. John, St. Croix, and Water Island, it forms the unincorporated territory of the United States. The island is also home to the territorial capital and port of Charlotte Amalie. The island's population is just over 50,000, which is slightly less than half of the territory's total population.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia.
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Yogyakarta Prices
Indonesia PricesSaint Thomas Prices
USVI Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayYogyakarta $59Saint Thomas $258
The average daily cost (per person) in Yogyakarta is $59, while the average daily cost in Saint Thomas is $258. 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 Saint Thomas in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personYogyakarta $33Saint Thomas $131
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomYogyakarta $66Saint Thomas $262
Compare Hotels in Yogyakarta and Saint Thomas
Looking for a hotel in Yogyakarta or Saint Thomas? 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 Saint Thomas Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Yogyakarta $1.19Saint Thomas $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yogyakarta
Also for Yogyakarta, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Jepara & One Way Private Transfer: $110
- Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Sendangadi: $94
- Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Maguwoharjo: $94
- Private Layover Tour with Airport Transfers: $94
- Semarang & Transfer To The Hotel or Airport: $93
- Private Transfer from Kembanglimus to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $85
- Yogyakarta Hidden Gems Tour with Private Guided Transfer: $84
- Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Borobudur Temple: $83
- Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Kembanglimus: $80
- Private Transfer from Borobudur to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $78
- Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport (JOG) to Borobudur: $73
- Private Transfer from Banguntapan to Yogyakarta Airport (JOG): $72
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saint Thomas
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Saint Thomas are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$65
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Taxi Ride$5.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Saint Thomas
Also for Saint Thomas, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Vi Top Taxi -St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Marriott Frenchman Cove: $110
- Vi Top Taxi - St. Thomas Airport Transfer to Wyndham Margaritaville: $180
- Vi Top Taxi &Tours -Airport Transfer Bluebeard's/Yacht Haven: $110
- Vi Top Taxi &Tours - Airport Transfer to the Ritz Carlton: $180
- Vi Top Taxi & Tours -Airport Transfer to Bolongo Bay/ Limetree: $110
- Transfer from Cyril E. King Airport(STT) to Charlotte Amalie Port: $80
- St.Thomas to St.Thomas Airport (STT) - Departure Private Transfer: $94
- St.Thomas to St.Thomas Airport (STT) - Departure Private Transfer: $132
- St.Thomas Airport Transfer to Redhook Ferry: $180
- St. Thomas USVI Airport Transfer to the Westin/Buoy Haus/Marriott: $134
- Secret Harbour Beach Transfer from CruiseShip-Snorkeling Optional: $52
- ST.Thomas Private Airport One-Way Transfers: $200
Is it cheaper to fly into Yogyakarta or Saint Thomas?
Prices for flights to both Saint Thomas 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 $18Saint Thomas $94
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
- Ramayana Ballet Performance with Optional Dinner: $28
- Yogyakarta Historical and Food Tour: $29
- Yogyakarta Evening Walking and Food Tour: $30
- Yogyakarta Cooking Class and Market Tour: $32
- Nighttime Walk and Food Tour: $32
- Small-Group Walking and Food Tour by Night in Yogyakarta: $33
- Cooking Class with Market Visit and Hotel Pickup: $33
- 3-hour Cooking Class with Market Tour: $35
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Saint Thomas
For Saint Thomas, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- St. James Snorkel & Pizza Pi Lunch: $90
- St. John Sail with Bar and Hors d'Oeuvres to Lovango Dinner: $109
- St. John PiZZA Pi Snorkel Sail with Beach Stop, Lunch & Open Bar - Westin: $119
- Sunset & Harbor Lights Dinner Sail from the Marriott's Frenchman's Cove: $119
- Afternoon Snorkel, Pizza & Sunset Tour departing from St. Thomas & St. John: $120
- Local Experience, St. John U.S. Virgin Islands Food Tour: $125
- St. Thomas Dinner Sail to St. John with Open Bar & Hors D'oeuvres - Ritz-Carlton: $129
- Pizza Pi Shuttle (Official) - Jet Ski Trip St Thomas: $148
- Pizza Pi Party- Snorkel & Sunset Cruise: $180
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Yogyakarta $14Saint Thomas $60
Tours and Activities in Yogyakarta
For Yogyakarta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Java's Cultural Heritage: Borobudur and Prambanan Tour": $16
- 1 day Yogyakarta Tour Jomblang cave and Pindul Cave tubing: $69
- 1 day tour borobudur temple,prambanan temple,plaosan temple: $40
- 1-Day Yogyakarta Merapi Pengger Heha - PRIVATE Tour with GUIDE: $140
- 1-Day Yogyakarta Prambanan Breksi Ijo Temple - PRIVATE Tour with Guide: $184
- 1-Day Yogyakarta Timang Pengger - PRIVATE Tour with GUIDE: $184
- 2 Days Tour to Mount Merbabu from Yogyakarta: $280
- 2-Day Borobudur Tour with Merbabu Camping and Hiking: $332
- 2-Hour City Introduction on Walking Tour: $18
- 3 Days 2 Nights A Tour of Culture and Nature: $115
- 3-Hour Prambanan Temple Guided Tour All Inclusive: $55
- 3-Hour Yogyakarta Hidden Food Walking or Cycling Guided Tour: $70
Tours and Activities in Saint Thomas
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Saint Thomas.
- #1 St. Thomas Ghost Tour – Virgin Island's Original Haunted Tour: $41
- 1 Hour Jet Ski Tour in the Virgin Islands from Westin St. John: $169
- 1-Hour Guided Jet Ski Tour in St. Thomas from Frenchman's Reef: $159
- 3 Hour Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $139
- Book Your Private Two and a Half Hour Island Tour today!: $150
- Cas Cay - Kayak Hike and Snorkel Adventure: $99
- Children's Treasure Hunt Walking Tour: $25
- Cocktail Sunset Cruise from Sapphire Beach Resort: $130
- Coral Reef and Turtle Discovery Kayak and Snorkel Tour: $169
- Coral Reef and Turtle Discovery Tour: $159
- Coral World Ocean Park General Admission Ticket: $29
- Cruise Ship Port Shuttle to St John Ferry: $34
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayYogyakarta $4.43Saint Thomas $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Saint Thomas
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Saint Thomas:
- Da Conch Crawl- Walking Tour and Bar Crawl Downtown St. Thomas: $148
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yogyakarta and Saint Thomas, we can see that Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Saint Thomas would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saint Thomas 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 Saint Thomas Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Saint Thomas?
Yogyakarta has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Saint Thomas. When comparing the sizes of Yogyakarta and Saint Thomas, 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.