A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Jakarta vs. New Orleans for Food, Nightlife, Families, and Couples

Should you visit Jakarta or New Orleans?

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 New Orleans. 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.

Jakarta

Jakarta is a diverse, genuine, and sprawling city. It's an amazing and huge city with tons of activities and things to do. Other reasons to visit include food, shopping, and museums. See Jakarta travel costs.

New Orleans

New Orleans is a festive, vibrant, and energetic city. Since it's a large city, you'll find plenty of things to do. This is a quaint and attractive place to visit, too. Other reasons to visit include nightlife, live music, and food. See New Orleans travel costs.

Jakarta and New Orleans: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Jakarta or New Orleans?

Visitors will generally find more to do in New Orleans than Jakarta. While Jakarta is larger than New Orleans, New Orleans has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. New Orleans is more popular for its food, nightlife, music, historical sights, and quaint atmosphere, while Jakarta is known for its museums and attractions, shopping, and big city activities. New Orleans is more touristy than Jakarta and is known for its jazz festivals, local cuisine, quaint balconies, and world class Mardi Gras parties. It is also home to The French Quarter. Jakarta is popular for its diversity, culture, cuisine, and mega-malls.

The French Quarter

How is Jakarta different from New Orleans?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between New Orleans and Jakarta. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Jakarta or New Orleans?

Jakarta is an excellent place to visit for its museums and history. However, New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

You'll find a good number of museums and monuments packed into Jakarta. There's a huge number of museums around town like the National Museum, Museum Layang-Layang, and Museum MACAN. There's also Merdeka Square, which is one of the world's biggest public squares and Istiqlal Mosque, which is the largest mosque in Southeast Asia.

New Orleans does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Jakarta or New Orleans? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

New Orleans is terrific for its local flavors and cuisine. Also, Jakarta is not as popular, but is still a nice city for its local cuisine and restaurants.

Eat your way through New Orleans, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. It has rapidly grown into one of the United State's most well known foodie destinations. It's the birthplace of bananas foster and popular for it's gumbo, crawfish etouffee, jambalaya, and red beans and rice. While there are a number of celebrity chefs from New Orleans, you'll also find many local restaurants that aren't as well known but are equally worth visiting.

Eating is part of the travel experience when you visit Jakarta. There are so many different cultures represented in Indonesian cuisine, and you'll find them all in Jakarta. The food stalls, restaurants, and casual eateries all have their own flavor and style, which makes dining in this mega-city a true adventure.

Is Jakarta or New Orleans Better for Nightlife?

New Orleans is terrific for nightlife. Also, Jakarta is not as popular, but is still a nice city for nightlife and partying.

New Orleans is a must-see party destination. The nightlife scene is at its best during Mardi Gras. But year-round you'll find Bachelor and Bachelorette parties, spring breakers, and anyone who wants to enjoy a crazy time heads to New Orleans. New Orleans is a destination that attracts partiers any time of the year, and the French Quarter is the place to be if you're looking for a party.

There's a variety of activities in the evening in Jakarta. It's a huge city, so there's a very active nightlife scene, but it's mostly focused on locals and not tourists like you'll find elsewhere in Indonesia. For the best nightlife district, head to Kemang, which has many bars and clubs.

Is Jakarta or New Orleans Better for Music?

New Orleans is terrific for live music. However, Jakarta is not a live music destination.

New Orleans is known as a music capital around the world. The city is known for its music festivals that feature jazz, blues, and many other types of live music. The Jazz Festival is a great time to visit.

Jakarta is not a live music destination.

Is Jakarta or New Orleans Better for its Old Town?

New Orleans is a great city for its historic old town. However, Jakarta does not have a historic old town.

There are many historical things to see in the old town of New Orleans. The French Quarter is filled with old architecture and beautiful historic landmarks.

Jakarta does not have a historic old town.

Is the Shopping Better in Jakarta or New Orleans?

Jakarta is an excellent place to visit for shopping. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its shopping opportunities.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Jakarta. The city is filled with high end luxury malls where you can buy the latest fashions and many international brands. Around town you'll also find everything from local handicrafts to chic boutiques and grand international chains.

If you're looking to go shopping, New Orleans has some nice offerings. New Orleans shopping is mostly centered around shopping malls and chain stores.

Is Jakarta or New Orleans Better for Families?

Jakarta is a city with good options for its kid-friendly activities. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for its family-friendly activities.

Jakarta is a family-friendly city. Most visitors skip out on this huge city, and it's definitely not the first place that comes to mind when you think about family-friendly destinations, but there's actually a very fascinating culture that kids and adults alike can enjoy. There's the Kota area, which has colonial architecture. There's also a puppet museum and several history museums. But for most kids, the highlight is a visit to the Taman Impian Jaya Ancol area, which has amusement parks and even SeaWorld.

New Orleans doesn't usually come to mind when thinking about kid-friendly destinations. While there are some family-friendly activities in New Orleans like a zoo and several great parks, the city is more known for its parties and nightlife scene. Particularly during certain seasons, most people choose to visit New Orleans without kids.

Is Jakarta or New Orleans Better for Couples?

Jakarta and New Orleans both good destinations for a couple.

Jakarta is a nice destination for couples. Most travelers looking for a romantic destination will head to the many famous honeymoon spots in Indonesia. But for those who make their way to Jakarta, there is sure to be a lot of adventure and culture. The city has many great museums as well as nature parks and amusement parks.

New Orleans makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. Couples who enjoy a lively evening, fun festivals, and exploring absolutely amazing restaurants will enjoy a visit to New Orleans. It has a festive and unique atmosphere any time of the year. There are also nice hotels and beautiful parks.

Is Jakarta or New Orleans Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Jakarta is a city with good options for backpackers and budget travelers. However, New Orleans is lacking in options for backpackers.

Jakarta is a good city to visit for backpackers. Visitors often have strong feelings about this city, whether they love it or hate it. For those backpackers who spend some time here, they're sure to be treated to a look at true Indonesian culture, which is hard to find in the more touristy areas.

New Orleans is a challenging destination for budget travelers and backpackers due to the higher prices. There are a handful of hostels in New Orleans that are good options for backpackers who want to meet other travelers.

Is Jakarta or New Orleans Better for Students?

New Orleans is a good destination for its student-friendly activities. However, Jakarta is not popular with students.

It's common for students to visit New Orleans. Students head to New Orleans to enjoy spring break and Mardi Gras.

Jakarta is not popular with students.

Is Jakarta or New Orleans Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Jakarta and New Orleans both offer decent public transit to get you around.

Public transit is mostly limited in Jakarta. Public transportation has improved a lot recently. There's a commuter line as well as buses. The system can be a bit overwhelming and slow though, so tourists often avoid it.

Public transit is generally limited in New Orleans. The city has streetcar lines and bus lines that you can use, but you'll want to have a car if you want to venture outside of these main areas.

Is Jakarta or New Orleans a more walkable city?

New Orleans is a good destination for its walkability. However, Jakarta is not known for its high level of walkability.

New Orleans is somewhat walkable. If you stick to the French Quarter and downtown areas, most things are walkable in New Orleans.

Jakarta is generally not very walkable. Central Jakarta is more walkable than most of the city but, in general, the city has a lot of traffic and isn't the best for exploring on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Jakarta Worth Visiting? and Is New Orleans Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in New Orleans or Jakarta?

How long in Jakarta or New Orleans?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Jakarta and New Orleans. In our opinion, New Orleans has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in New Orleans than Jakarta. In general, 1-3 days is a good amount of time for Jakarta, and 2-3 days is enough time in New Orleans.

Families should spend more time in Jakarta than New Orleans. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Jakarta, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in New Orleans than Jakarta. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in New Orleans that are perfect for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

One day in Jakarta or New Orleans?

Jakarta is a friendly city where you can fill many days. One day should give you a good understanding of everything this city has to offer. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

In New Orleans, you'll find food and nightlife. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. This city offers something for everyone. One day is usually not enough time for a trip here as there is plenty to do.

A weekend in Jakarta or New Orleans?

Jakarta is a friendly big city where you can fill many days. This city offers something for everyone. Plenty of people spend a weekend in the area when traveling. If you enjoy all that's offered here, then a weekend is just the right amount of time to spend here.

In New Orleans, you'll find nightlife and live music. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. A weekend here is typical. Visiting the old town is also a must. A weekend is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that New Orleans has to offer.

Five days in Jakarta or New Orleans?

The genuine city of Jakarta offers shopping and museums. Five days may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel.

New Orleans is a great place to explore. The old town is one of the main draws for visitors. Five days is more than enough time to enjoy everything. Take some day trips to nearby places to fill the extra days. Anyone can find something fun to do here.

A week in Jakarta or New Orleans?

Many people enjoy the museums and nightlife when visiting Jakarta. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Most people find that one week is more than enough time to see everything.

It's hard to know how much time to spend in New Orleans. Many people enjoy the food and nightlife when visiting New Orleans. Exploring the old town is a popular activity. One week may feel like too much time unless you plan to do a lot of relaxing.

For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Cultural Tours in United States of America, and The Best Photography Tours in United States of America.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Jakarta and New Orleans, we can see that New Orleans is more expensive. And not only is Jakarta much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Jakarta is in Asia and New Orleans is in North America, 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 Jakarta would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Jakarta 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 New Orleans would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in New Orleans than you might in Jakarta.

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

Which is Bigger, Jakarta or New Orleans?

Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of New Orleans. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta and New Orleans, 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.