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

Should you visit Kathmandu or Yogyakarta?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Kathmandu and Yogyakarta can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Kathmandu or Yogyakarta?

Kathmandu

Kathmandu is the capital and largest city in the country of Nepal. Its metropolitan area forms one large urban area that includes the area of Patan to the south. As of 2011 there were 2.5 million residents in the Kathmandu metropolis and over 3 million in the entire metropolitan area. Kathmandu is likely to be your entry point into Nepal and is a great place to pick up supplies and arrange the details for any treks you hope to do. Many travelers rush through Kathmandu, turned off by the pollution and crowds, but to skip Kathmandu is to miss a major cultural, financial, and influential part of what defines the country of Nepal. The city itself is quite fun to explore if you allow it enough time and an open mind.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Nepal, The Best 10-Day Tours in Nepal, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Yogyakarta or Kathmandu?

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 Kathmandu is $59, while the average daily cost in Yogyakarta is $64. 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 Kathmandu and Yogyakarta in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kathmandu $38
    Yogyakarta $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kathmandu $76
    Yogyakarta $70
Compare Hotels in Kathmandu and Yogyakarta

Looking for a hotel in Kathmandu or Yogyakarta? 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 Kathmandu


Hotels in Yogyakarta


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: Kathmandu Hotel Prices and Yogyakarta Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Kathmandu $6.56
    Yogyakarta $1.28
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kathmandu

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Kathmandu:


  • Taxi Ride
    $1.42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kathmandu

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kathmandu:

  • Yoga Experience Day Trip with Private Transfer From Kathmandu: $152
  • Rent a Private Car with Driver for Kathmandu City Transfer : $25
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu Hotels to Domestic Airport Vehicle: $20
  • Private Transfer: Kathmandu Domestic Airport to Hotel Vehicle : $20
  • Private Transfer to Syabrubesi from Kathmandu or Pokhara: $170
  • Private Sunrise or Sunset Tour of Dhulikhel with return transfers from Kathmandu: $124
  • Private Luxury Car Transfer all over Nepal: $88
  • Private Car Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara or To Chitwan or To Lumbini & V V: $145
  • Private Car Transfer from Kathmandu to Pokhara or Chitwan or Vv: $90
  • Private Arrival Transfer Kathmandu Airport to Kathmandu, Nepal: $45
  • Private Airport Transfers – TIA Kathmandu Arrival & Departure: $15
  • Pokhara:Paragliding & River Rafting Adventure with Transfers: $139

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Yogyakarta

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

  • Private Transfer Airport Yogyakarta (JOG) to All City Destination: $7.00
  • Yogyakarta Airport: Private Transfer To/ From The Hotels: $12
  • YIA Airport Private Transfer: $12
  • Indonesia: Yogyakarta Airport Transfer: $14
  • From Roundtrip Transfer to Borobudur Temple: $15
  • Private Airport Transfer YIA: $22
  • Private Transfer Airport Jogyakarta ( Adisucipto ): $25
  • Borobudur 5-hour Tour with Climb-up & Transfers: $25
  • Borobudur ClimbUP Afternoon Guided and transfer: $26
  • Yogyakarta Airport Transfer (For 1-4 person): $27
  • Yogyakarta Airport Transfer ( Private Service ): $28
  • Private Transfer from Yogyakarta Airport YIA To City Center: $28

Is it cheaper to fly into Kathmandu or Yogyakarta?

Prices for flights to both Yogyakarta and Kathmandu 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
    Kathmandu $14
    Yogyakarta $19
Typical Food Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Dessert
    $1.28
  • Dinner for Two
    $2.84

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kathmandu

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kathmandu.

  • Local Women Lead Nepali Cooking & Momo-Making Class: $8.00
  • Cultural Stay in Kathmandu and experience dinner with family: $18
  • Secret Food Tour - Food Bites and Sights in Kathmandu: $27
  • Private Nepali Cooking Class in Kathmandu in Peace & quiet place: $30
  • Best Nepali Cooking Class in Thamel with Local Market Trip: $30
  • Kathmandu Food Tour : $32
  • Cook and Eat: Cooking Class in Kathmandu near Thamel: $34
  • Walking Street Food Tour in Kathmandu: $48
  • Cooking Class with Vyas: $49
  • Half Day Nepal Cooking Class in Thamel: $60
  • Cooking Class with HSJ: $60
  • Local Cooking Class in Chitwan with Local Style Wood Fire: $65

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
  • Kotagede Night Food Tour: $27
  • Ramayana Ballet Performance with Optional Dinner: $28
  • Yogyakarta Historical Walking and Food Tour: $29
  • Yogyakarta Evening Walking and Food Tour: $30
  • Nighttime Walk and Food Tour: $32
  • Cooking Class with Market Visit and Hotel Pickup: $33
  • Prawirotaman Night Food Tour: $35
  • 3-hour Cooking Class with Market Tour: $35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kathmandu $7.58
    Yogyakarta $15
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kathmandu

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


  • Monkey Temple for Two
    $1.42
  • Patan Durbar Square Entrance for Two
    $3.54
  • Swayambhunath Stupa
    $1.42

Tours and Activities in Kathmandu

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

  • 4 Days Kathmandu Nagarkot Tour : $235
  • 4-Hour Private Car Sunrise tour over Mount Everest in Nagarkot: $129
  • Discover Kathmandu Valley: A Day Tour Through Time and Tradition: $96
  • Hire Tour Guide Nepal : $81
  • Manakamana Darshan- Day Tour: $180
  • Nagarkot & Bhaktapur Tour with Private Transport: $60
  • One Day Tour inside Chitwan National Park: $116
  • "Off-The-Beaten-Path" Tour around Kathmandu : $70
  • 1 Day Gay Tour Nepal: $155
  • 1 Day Valley Rim Biking Tour in Kathmandu: $160
  • 1 Night 2 Days Chitwan Jungle Safari Tour from Kathmandu: $155
  • 1 Night 2 Days Daman Tour: $215

Tours and Activities in Yogyakarta

For Yogyakarta, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Chicken Church at Karangrejo Village Admission Ticket: $1.84
  • Obelix Hills Entry Ticket: $2.18
  • Java Puppets Museum Admission Ticket: $2.50
  • YOGYAKARTA CITY TOUR,SULTAN PALACE,WATER CASTLE AND CRAFTS.: $6.23
  • Half Day Keraton and Taman Sari Tour: $10
  • Prambanan Temple Afternoon Tour: $12
  • Prambanan Temple: Half-Day Guided Tour From Yogyakarta: $14
  • Jomblang Cave & Pindul Cave Adventur Tour: $15
  • Borobudur(Guarantee Climb up) Shared Guide Tour: $15
  • Jomblang Cave and Pindul Cave Tour with Lunch: $15
  • Yogayakarta : Jomblang Cave and Pindul Cave Tour: $15
  • Borobudur and Prambanan Temple Tour: $16

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kathmandu $5.45
    Yogyakarta $4.74

Sample the Local Flavors in Kathmandu

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kathmandu:

  • Local Food and Wine Tasting in Kathmandu : $65


When comparing the travel costs between Kathmandu and Yogyakarta, 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 Kathmandu Expensive? and Is Yogyakarta Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kathmandu or Yogyakarta?

Kathmandu has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Yogyakarta. When comparing the sizes of Kathmandu and Yogyakarta, 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.