Comparison · Siem Reap vs Yogyakarta · Cambodia / Indonesia
Siem Reap 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: Willuconquer, CC BY-SA 4.0
Quick answer
Choose Siem Reap for Angkor Wat and Bayon faces; choose Yogyakarta for Borobudur, Prambanan and lower day-to-day costs. Yogyakarta is generally less expensive, and the two are about 2,460 km apart.
Key facts
- Distance apart
- 2,460 km
- Less expensive
- Yogyakarta
- Best time for Siem Reap
- November–February
- Best time for Yogyakarta
- May–September
Side by side
| Siem Reap | Yogyakarta | |
|---|---|---|
| Country | Cambodia | Indonesia |
| Known for | Angkor Wat, Bayon faces and Ta Prohm tree roots | Borobudur, Prambanan and Kraton |
| Best time to visit | November–February | May–September |
| Ideal stay | 3 days | 4 days |
| Mid-range budget per day | $60–$130 | $50–$110 |
| Cost level | Very affordable | Very affordable |
| Warmest month | April, 36°C (97°F) | September, 32°C (90°F) |
| Coldest month | December, 30°C (86°F) | January, 30°C (86°F) |
| Free sights in our guide | 4 | 4 |
| Day trips in our guide | 6 | 5 |
| Beaches | — | — |
| Airports | SAI | YIA, JOG |
Which one is right for you?
Choose Siem Reap for…
Angkor Wat and Bayon faces. Siem Reap is the small riverside town that serves the Angkor Archaeological Park, whose temples — Angkor Wat, the faces of the Bayon, the tree-gripped Ta Prohm — begin about 6 km north of the centre. Most visitors spend two to four days touring the temples…
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Choose Yogyakarta for…
Borobudur, Prambanan and lower day-to-day costs. 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
| # | Siem Reap | Yogyakarta |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Angkor Wat | Borobudur |
| 2 | Bayon and Angkor Thom | Prambanan |
| 3 | Ta Prohm | Kraton (Sultan's Palace) |
| 4 | Terrace of the Elephants and Terrace of the Leper King | Taman Sari Water Castle |
| 5 | Baphuon | Malioboro Street |
Food compared
| Siem Reap | Yogyakarta |
|---|---|
| Fish amok | Gudeg |
| Lok lak | Bakpia |
| Khmer noodles | Kopi joss |
| Pork and rice | 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 $60–$130 in Siem Reap (AMZBooking estimates, excluding flights). Yogyakarta on a budget.
Can you visit both?
They are about 2,460 km apart, so combining them means a flight. With 8 days or more it works; otherwise pick one.
Questions travellers ask
+Is Siem Reap or Yogyakarta cheaper?
Yogyakarta is usually less expensive: about $50–$110 a day mid-range against $60–$130 (estimates).
+Is Siem Reap or Yogyakarta better for a first trip?
Pick Siem Reap for Angkor Wat and Bayon faces, or Yogyakarta for Borobudur, Prambanan and lower day-to-day costs.
+How far is Siem Reap from Yogyakarta?
About 2,460 km in a straight line.