Comparison · Bali vs Yogyakarta · Indonesia
Bali vs Yogyakarta
Two great trips, different strengths. Here is how they compare on the things that decide it.
Updated By the AMZBooking editorial team
Photo: Paskuu, CC BY-SA 4.0
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Quick answer
Choose Bali for Hindu temples, Rice terraces and beaches; choose Yogyakarta for Borobudur, Prambanan, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Yogyakarta is generally less expensive, and the two are about 535 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 535 km
- Less expensive
- Yogyakarta
- Best time for Bali
- April–June and September–October
- Best time for Yogyakarta
- May–September
Side by side
| Bali | Yogyakarta | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Indonesia | Indonesia |
| Known for | Hindu temples, Rice terraces and Surfing | Borobudur, Prambanan and Kraton |
| Best time to visit | April–June and September–October | May–September |
| Ideal stay | 10 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $80–$180 | $50–$110 |
| Cost level | Affordable | Very affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 32°C (90°F) | September, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | June, 30°C (86°F) | January, 30°C (86°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 1 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | Seminyak and Double Six Beach | — |
| Airports | DPS | YIA, JOG |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Bali for…
Hindu temples, Rice terraces and beaches. Bali is a Hindu island in mostly Muslim Indonesia, about 140 km across, where daily offerings sit on doorsteps and temple ceremonies close roads. The south — Seminyak, Canggu, Kuta, Uluwatu and Nusa Dua — has the beaches, surf breaks and beach clubs, while…
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Choose Yogyakarta for…
Borobudur, Prambanan, lower day-to-day costs and free sights. Yogyakarta, known as Jogja, is the cultural capital of Java and still has a reigning sultan, whose 18th-century palace sits at the centre of the old city. It is the base for two UNESCO World Heritage temple compounds: Buddhist Borobudur about 40 km northwest…
Top sights compared
| # | Bali | Yogyakarta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Uluwatu Temple and Kecak dance | Borobudur |
| 2 | Tanah Lot | Prambanan |
| 3 | Tegallalang Rice Terraces | Kraton (Sultan's Palace) |
| 4 | Sacred Monkey Forest Sanctuary | Taman Sari Water Castle |
| 5 | Tirta Empul | Malioboro Street |
Food compared
| Bali | Yogyakarta |
|---|---|
| Babi guling | Gudeg |
| Bebek betutu | Bakpia |
| Nasi campur Bali | Kopi joss |
| Sate lilit | Nasi kucing |
Which is cheaper?
Yogyakarta is usually the less expensive of the two: a mid-range day costs about $50–$110 per person there, against $80–$180 in Bali (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Yogyakarta on a budget.
Can you visit both?
Yes. Bali and Yogyakarta are about 535 km apart, so they combine well in one trip: allow 10 days in Bali and 4 in Yogyakarta.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Bali or Yogyakarta cheaper?
Yogyakarta is usually less expensive: about $50–$110 a day mid-range against $80–$180 (estimates).
+Is Bali or Yogyakarta better for a first trip?
Pick Bali for Hindu temples, Rice terraces and beaches, or Yogyakarta for Borobudur, Prambanan, lower day-to-day costs and free sights.
+How far is Bali from Yogyakarta?
About 535 km in a straight line.