A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Yogyakarta vs. Wollongong for Attractions, Food, Nightlife, and Families

Should you visit Yogyakarta or Wollongong?

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

Should I visit Yogyakarta or Wollongong? 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.

Yogyakarta

Yogyakarta is a youthful, cultural, and historical city. It's also popular because of the museums, nightlife, and food. See Yogyakarta travel costs.

Wollongong

Wollongong is a vibrant, student-friendly, and trendy coastal city. It's a large city, so you'll find plenty of things to do around town. Visitors also love the food, beaches, and hiking. See Wollongong travel costs.

Yogyakarta and Wollongong: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Yogyakarta or Wollongong?

Visitors will generally find more to do in Wollongong than Yogyakarta. While Yogyakarta is larger than Wollongong, Wollongong has more sights, attractions, and activities for tourists. Wollongong is more popular for its beaches, hiking, and big city activities, while Yogyakarta is known for its museums and attractions, historical sights, and shopping. Yogyakarta is more touristy than Wollongong and is known for its beautiful temples, divine food, and lively dance shows. Wollongong is popular for its surrounding nature and urban beaches. It is also home to Grand Pacific Drive.

How is Yogyakarta different from Wollongong?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

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

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Yogyakarta or Wollongong?

Yogyakarta is an unbeatable place for its historical sights. Also, Wollongong is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for its sights and museums.

With plenty of landmarks, attractions, and museums, Yogyakarta has many famous sights for visitors. The city is known for it's cultural sights and temples. Kraton Yogyakarta is the palace where the Sultan lives. You should also visit Taman Sari Water Castle and Prambanan Temple. But for many visitors, Yogyakarta is seen as the gateway to the famed Borobudur Temple. This is the largest Buddhist temple in the world. It offers spectacular views and is best visited at sunrise.

Many visitors head to Wollongong specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. There are several museums like the Wollongong Science Centre and Wollongong Planetarium and the railway museum Trainworks. There's also the Illawarra Museum, which is housed in the former post and telegraph office.

Is the Food Better in Yogyakarta or Wollongong? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

There are opportunities to sample the local cuisine at high quality restaurants in both Yogyakarta and Wollongong.

Yogyakarta has a huge number of terrific restaurants. It's filled with street food stalls and cheap eateries where you can fill up on local Indonesian classics for a cheap price. Gudeg (stewed jackfruit), Satay, and Bakmi Jawa (Javanese noodles) are just some of the dishes that you must try.

Dining out in Wollongong is an experience not to be missed. In recent years a younger crowd of entrepreneurs and self-starters has moved into the city, and with them has come a growing food scene. You'll find local cafes, fine dining restaurants, and many great beachfront restaurants where you can dine.

Is Yogyakarta or Wollongong Better for Nightlife?

The high quality nightlife scene is relatively similar in Yogyakarta and Wollongong.

Yogyakarta has a large number of nightlife venues. With a large student population, you'll find many bars and live music venues around town. You'll also find night markets and plenty of theaters and live shows that you can enjoy.

Wollongong is a popular destination for visitors looking to party into the night. The nightlife scene has seen a revitalization in recent years, and in addition to the standard bars and pubs, you'll find local venues that range from quirky to lively.

Is Yogyakarta or Wollongong Better for Beaches?

Wollongong is a very popular place for the beach. However, Yogyakarta is not a beach destination.

Wollongong is considered a top beach destination. There are urban beaches, as well as more hidden coastal areas that attract locals and visitors alike. In the heart of the city you'll find North Wollongong Beach and Wollongong City Beach, both of which have picnic areas and are popular with locals.

Yogyakarta is not a beach destination.

Is Yogyakarta or Wollongong Better for its Old Town?

Yogyakarta is great for its historic old town charm. However, Wollongong does not have a historic old town.

Many visitors explore the old town while visiting Yogyakarta. Kota Gede is the city's old town. It's filled with silver shops, religious sites, and traditional architecture. You'll also find a traditional market in the heart of the old town where you can buy coconut, dry fish, and tofu, or simply browse the unique items.

Wollongong does not have a historic old town.

Is Yogyakarta or Wollongong Better for Hiking?

Wollongong is a popular place for its hiking trails. However, Yogyakarta is not a hiking destination.

Wollongong is a good destination for hiking. The surrounding area has many great hikes that can be done as a day trip or even a half day trip. There are waterfalls, city views, and forest walks. Some of the most popular trails include Brokers Nose and Clover Hill Trail.

Yogyakarta is not a hiking destination.

Is the Shopping Better in Yogyakarta or Wollongong?

Yogyakarta is an unbeatable place for its shopping areas. Also, Wollongong is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for shopping.

Many people travel to Yogyakarta specifically to go shopping. The city is filled with craftsmen and a local art scene that makes it a wonderful shopping destination. There are countless markets and shops where you can pick up local handicrafts that highlight the city's culture.

Wollongong is a great destination for shopping. The most popular shopping area is Wollongong Central Shopping Centre, which has international brands and all of the big fashion names.

Is Yogyakarta or Wollongong Better for Families?

Wollongong is a very popular place for its kid-friendly activities. Also, Yogyakarta is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its family-friendly activities.

Because of its large number of kid-friendly activities, Wollongong is very family-friendly. The beaches, nearby nature, and ubiquitous bike trails make this a fun coastal city to explore with kids. There are also interactive museums such as Discovery Space and plenty of playgrounds. Kid-friendly surf lessons as well as the Nan Tien Temple make this a fun and fascinating family destination.

You'll find plenty of kid-friendly things to do in Yogyakarta. It's often overlooked by families, but the temples, culture, art scene, and friendly people all make this a surprisingly fun destination for those traveling with kids. You'll also find a number of adventure activities in the area as well.

Is Yogyakarta or Wollongong Better for Couples?

Wollongong is a very popular place for its romantic activities. Also, Yogyakarta is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for couples.

Wollongong makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The scenic natural areas, including the Grand Pacific Drive or the many bush walks, make this a wonderful couples retreat. There are water sports like surfing as well as horseback riding and even helicopter rides. In the evening, enjoy a nice meal and a sunset view.

Yogyakarta is a good city for couples to visit. The city is filled with fun activities for couples such as a visit to Taman Pelangi at night, taking a walk along Jalan Malioboro, and taking in a traditional dance performance.

Is Yogyakarta or Wollongong Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Yogyakarta is great for backpackers and budget travelers. Also, Wollongong is not as popular, but is still a nice coastal city for backpackers.

Plenty of budget travelers and backpackers visit Yogyakarta. Backpackers who want to experience Indonesia's culture and friendly population will love a visit to this lively city. There are plenty of hostels and other travelers to meet, but there's also a uniquely Indonesian vibe to the city.

Wollongong is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a couple of hostels as well as many outdoor areas to explore, so backpackers who want to escape the traditional backpacker scene will appreciate some time here.

Is Yogyakarta or Wollongong Better for Students?

Both Yogyakarta and Wollongong are good destinations for students.

Plenty of students visit Yogyakarta. There's a large number of students in the city, which makes this a fun place to study abroad.

Wollongong is popular with students. It's not too far from Sydney and has a smaller, more laid back coastal vibe that appeals to many students.

Is Yogyakarta or Wollongong Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Wollongong is a very popular place for times when you don't have a car. However, Yogyakarta is lacking in good options for its public transit.

Wollongong has some very good public transit options. There's a free Gong shuttle bus that travels around the city center. It runs a loop from Wollongong Station to Wollongong University in both directions. There are also other bus services in town.

Public transit is generally limited in Yogyakarta. There's a public bus system known as Trans Jogja, which is used by both tourists and locals. You can also hire motorbikes, becak, or Ojek.

Is Yogyakarta or Wollongong a more walkable city?

Wollongong is a very popular place for its high level of walkability. Also, Yogyakarta is not quite as popular, but is fairly good for its ease of walking around.

Wollongong is a very walkable coastal city. There are walking paths in the city center so it's possible to walk to many tourist destinations.

Yogyakarta is a somewhat walkable city. Many of the main sights are accessible on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Yogyakarta Worth Visiting? and Is Wollongong Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Wollongong or Yogyakarta?

How long in Yogyakarta or Wollongong?

It's fun to spend time in either Yogyakarta or Wollongong. In our opinion, Wollongong has more to see and do, so we recommend spending more time in Wollongong than Yogyakarta. However, 2-4 days is a good amount of time to spend in either destination.

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

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

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Yogyakarta than Wollongong if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Yogyakarta.

One day in Yogyakarta or Wollongong?

With museums and nightlife around the colorful city of Yogyakarta, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. Make sure you visit the old town while you're here. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

With museums and nightlife around the vibrant coastal city of Wollongong, there's plenty to do. Anyone can find something fun to do here. People usually spend lots of time at the beach. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than one day exploring.

A weekend in Yogyakarta or Wollongong?

With nightlife and food around the destination of Yogyakarta, there's plenty to do. Most visitors spend time around the old town while in the area. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this city.

With nightlife and food around the destination of Wollongong, there's plenty to do. It's also a great beach destination, too. It offers something for everyone. Many people spend a weekend here. In a weekend, you should have a good grasp of this coastal city.

Five days in Yogyakarta or Wollongong?

Yogyakarta, a popular city, is full of activities for travelers. Visiting the old town is also a must. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

Wollongong, a popular coastal city, is full of activities for travelers. It's a great spot for a beach vacation. Most people find that five days is more than enough time to see everything. Your budget might influence how long you stay.

A week in Yogyakarta or Wollongong?

Yogyakarta is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

Wollongong is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. One week is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare. It has many unique tourist attractions and fascinating things to do.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Eco Tours in Indonesia, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Australia, and The Best Water Sports Tour Packages in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Yogyakarta and Wollongong, we can see that Wollongong 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 Wollongong is in Pacific, 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 Wollongong would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Wollongong 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 Wollongong Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Yogyakarta or Wollongong?

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