A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Jakarta vs. Kunming for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Jakarta or Kunming?

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

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Jakarta and Kunming. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Jakarta or Kunming?

Jakarta

As Indonesia's capital and largest city, Jakarta rests on the northwest coast of the island of Java. It is the country's economic, cultural, and political center with plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, nightlife, shopping, and entertainment.

Kunming

Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Kunming or Jakarta?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Jakarta is $73, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $85. 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 Jakarta and Kunming in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jakarta $32
    Kunming $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jakarta $64
    Kunming $66
Compare Hotels in Jakarta and Kunming

Looking for a hotel in Jakarta or Kunming? 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 Jakarta


Hotels in Kunming


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: Jakarta Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jakarta $20
    Kunming $14
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:


  • Taxi to Station
    $1.04

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta

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

  • Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Ujung Genteng Sukabumi: $245
  • Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Ujung Genteng Sukabumi: $230
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regenc to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196
  • Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Sukarasa Kuningan Regency: $196
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $184
  • Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Sukaresmi Pandeglang Regency: $184
  • Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Sukaresmi Garut Regency: $184
  • Private Transfer from Jakarta Airport (CGK) to Sukarasa Kuningan Regency: $184
  • Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Sukaresmi Bandung: $175
  • Private Airport Transfer Jakarta VIP Sedan : $153
  • Private Airport Transfer Jakarta VIP Luxury Van: $141
  • Private Transfer from Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP) to Sukarasa Bandung: $128

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming

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


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming

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

  • Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
  • Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pickup: $83
  • Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
  • [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36

Is it cheaper to fly into Jakarta or Kunming?

Prices for flights to both Kunming and Jakarta 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
    Jakarta $28
    Kunming $39
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:


  • Dinner
    $2.62
  • Dinner
    $0.72

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta

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

  • Mangga Besar Food Tour: $49
  • Jakarta Night Tour with Dinner at Café or Food street: $55
  • Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
  • Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
  • Halfday Batavia by Night with dinner at Cafe Batavia & souvenir: $120
  • Jakarta Private Cooking Class and Experience Tour: $120

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming

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

  • Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $88

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jakarta $12
    Kunming $18

Tours and Activities in Jakarta

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.

  • 1 Day Jakarta Historical Tour : $75
  • 1 Day Motorcycle Tour To Citorek Banten West Of Java: $177
  • 4 Hours Jakarta Private City Tour - (Most Tourist Attractions): $55
  • 7 Hours Indonesia Cultural & Heritage Park Tour: $110
  • Afternoon city tour Jakarta: $82
  • Bandung City Tour Mountain Volcano and Hotspring ( Start From Jakarta): $154
  • Batik Course & City Tour Jakarta: $60
  • Beautiful Indonesia Miniature Park Tourism ( TMII ): $135
  • Bogor City Full-Day Private Tour from Jakarta with Pick Up: $160
  • Bogor City Tour Nature waterfall with Local Food ( Start From Jakarta ): $130
  • Bogor City Tour With a guide and lunch: $136
  • City Tour Jakarta: $75

Tours and Activities in Kunming

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.

  • 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
  • Kunming Private Day Tour to Jiuxiang Cave with Boat Ride : $209
  • 1 Day Stone Forest & Jiuxiang Cave Tour: $290
  • 1-Day Dongchuan Red Land Photography Private Tour from Kunming: $269
  • 1-Day Kunming Scenery Tour: $122
  • 1-Day Kunming tour with the Green Lake,Bird & Flower market and Yuantong Temple: $201
  • 1-Day Private Tour:Stone Forest and Western Hill(Dragon Gate) from Kunming: $245
  • 2 Days Kunming City Tour with Professional Private Tour Guide: $226
  • All inclusive Dongchuan red earth tour start from Kunming: $150
  • Dongchuan Red Land Private Tour: $123
  • Essences of Kunming Downtown Day Tour: $189
  • From 15-Day Private Tour to Guilin and Yangshuo: $3,149

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Jakarta $4.06
    Kunming $18


When comparing the travel costs between Jakarta and Kunming, we can see that Kunming 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 Jakarta Expensive? and Is Kunming Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Kunming?

Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Kunming. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta and Kunming, 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.