How Much Money Do I Need To Travel Indonesia?

Much more than just Bali, Indonesia is an outdoor mecca with thousands of volcanic islands, surf beaches, volcanoes, Komodo dragons and jungles sheltering elephants, orangutans and tigers. Whether you’ve come to Indonesia to relax or explore, you’re going to need to budget, because all those activities can stack up quickly.

Are you one of those people that loves sitting down with a piece of paper and a calculator to come up with your travel budget? Or, is the word budget akin to someone dragging their nails down a chalkboard?

Either way, unless you’ve got a wallet full of unlimited Indonesian Rupiah I suggest you take the time to work out costs and come up with a budget.

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What goes into a travel budget?

A good travel budget is like a good Nasi Goreng; it takes a bit of practice and a lot of research to get right, but the end result is worth it – Not having to sell a kidney for your airfare home is a positive too. But where to start?

Transport costs

Luckily for us Kiwis, we drew a pretty close lot to Indonesia which means we’re not facing the prospect of a whole 24 hours on a plane a $2000 down the gurgler on a single flight. Your flight is still likely going to be the biggest single cost of your trip but don’t forget public transport and the odd taxi ride.

Accommodation

Now you get to decide whether you want to live in luxury, or stick to budget accommodation. Luckily, the cost of living in Indonesia is considerably less than here at home so your value for money is going to be much better. There’s not many places in the world you can crash at a 4 Star pad for less than $50 per night!

Food

Chances are you’re not going to be living off baked beans and spam, but good luck to you if your budget has you saving as much as you can on food. Street food and cheap eats galore fill the streets of Indonesia and your food expenses are going to get you good bang for your buck too.

Activities

I can think of plenty of free activities in Indonesia but if you’re looking at doing some diving lessons, island hopping, cultural tours or adventure treks, now is the time to add that all in to your budget.

Pre-departure expenses

This is where you tally up the cost of things like your travel insurance, visas and immunisations you may need.

How much does a trip to Indonesia cost?

So, just how many Rupees do you need for that Indonesian getaway? Strap yourself in and let our magic Holiday Budget Planning robot do all the hard stuff while you sip on a cup of tea. Using a super complex algorithm combining Numbeo data and our exchange rates, we can translate your budget into any currency with the click of a button.

How does the Holiday Budget Calculator work?

First we’re going to start with you putting in:

• Where you’re jetsetting off to
• Your travel style
• How long you’re travelling for
• Choose your currency NZD/IDR

Easy?

Part 2

is where you let the budget planning tool know your eating habits. Not whether you like to get up at midnight and enjoy a nice piece of chocolate cake from the fridge, but how often you plan on eating and drinking out on your trip. Food and drinks are much cheaper in Indonesia than in New Zealand so your money is going to go further, but that beer or 2 a day can stack up pretty quickly if you haven’t budgeted for it.

Part 3

is delving into your shopping habits and gives you some room to add in extra money for souvenirs and shopping. Taking account of everything is the best way to avoid the surprise of getting to your last day in Indo and realising you’ve just got enough Rupees for some Nasi Goreng.

Part 4

lets you lay out your transport plans. You’ve factored in your flights already so this is where you get to look at taxis and public transport costs.

Step 5

is for you to relax and cast your eyes on your brand new holiday budget! The holiday budget planner has done its magic and added everything up, keeping in mind that these are the most basic expenses. Don’t forget to add in travel insurance, other daily expenses like food and drinks, sightseeing, activities and leave some extra room in the kitty for any shopping sprees and emergencies too!

Indonesia holiday budget examples

After a little bit of study, a rough budget for the big ticket items for you Japan trip could look like one of these bad boys:

The lovey dovey couple’s retreat

The family getaway

Budgeting an exact amount for family trips is notoriously difficult and your exact budget will likely look very different to the below.

The solo traveller’s trip

With a little bit more flexibility to choose the cheapest flights, the solo traveller can save a bit of money initially, but accommodation expenses rack up pretty quickly when you’re solo.

DON’T FORGET

Budgeting doesn’t have to be a dirty word. It might not be the most fun part of your holiday, but it is one of the most important parts.

• Research your ‘per day’ budget and include the things you really want to do. Once you know the costs, you have a goal to save for and some flexibility to work with
• Most things are cheaper to book in advance (especially if you’re going near peak times) but some things can be cheaper to purchase in Indonesia
• Don’t forget to factor in your pre-travel costs (e.g. travel insurance, immunisations and visas).
• Budget for cheap eats some days so you can treat yourself on others.
• Don’t forget other cheeky costs like airport transfers, tours and tipping

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Flight costs based on search from www.flightcentre.co.nz and are indicative costs only, based on prices available on 03 September 2019. ^Accommodation costs are based on an average per night price for budget, moderate or luxury hotels, as indicated in the table. ~Food based on the average cost of 1 coffee, 1 fast food meal and 1restaurant meal per person, per day. 

COST COMPARISON TABLE: All costs are based on estimated approximate costs from major metropolitan cities. “From” costs indicate costs that start from the indicated price and may be higher than shown. Average prices indicate a typical estimated cost you would pay for the indicated item. Prices may vary from time to time, and in different cities and towns within Indonesia.

This blog is provided for information only and does not take into consideration your objectives, financial situation or needs.  You should consider whether the information and suggestions contained in any blog entry are appropriate for you, having regard to your own objectives, financial situation and needs.  While we take reasonable care in providing the blog, we give no warranties or representations that it is complete or accurate, or is appropriate for you.  We are not liable for any loss caused, whether due to negligence or otherwise, arising from use of, or reliance on, the information and/or suggestions contained in this blog.