Indonesia on budget

--- the ultimate backpacking travel guide ---

Indonesia is a huge country and it is quite hard to make a budget for the whole country. The prices vary wildly on where you are. Sumatra is more adventurous and difficult to move around, so you need a private jeep to get to some places that can make your trip quite expensive. On the contrary Java and Bali are more touristy and there are plenty of options how to move around and the prices can compare to the countries in the rest of Southeast Asia. That is why we have decided to divide this budget guide as well.

The local currency in Indonesia is Indonesian Rupiah (IDR). The exchange rate in 2017 is 1 USD = 13.300 IDR. Like everywhere else it is best to bring US dollars and exchange them. Otherwise you can withdraw money from ATM.

Average cost per person:
27 USD per day for Java/Bali/Lombok
34 USD per day for Sumatra
including accommodation, food, transport, entrance fees, souvenirs
excluding visa and flight tickets

Check also top things to see in Indonesia in our photo journey.

The main thing you can save money on are the flight tickets. Read our tips how to find cheap flights.
Moving around in Sumatra is quite expensive as there is no public transport in the jungle, so you will need to hire a private jeep with a driver. In Java and Bali it is a much easier. You can pay as ittle as 4 USD for 8 hour train ride in Java. On Bali, especially if you travel with more people, you can rent a car with a driver for the whole day that picks you up, go to any attraction you wish and get you to the place you need, so you save money for moving around.

Prices example per person (2015)

bus Medan - Bukit Lawang - 90,000 IDR (6.75 USD)
jeep (4 pers in) Bukit Lawang - Tangkahan - 175,000 IDR (13 USD)
jeep (4 pers in) Tangkahan - Lake Toba - 250,000 IDR (18.75 USD)
boat Lake Toba - 15,000 IDR (1 USD)

8 hour train Yogyakarta - Probolinggo -54,000 IDR (4 USD)
boat and minibus Java (Banjuwangi) - Bali (Menjangan Island) - 40,000 IDR (3 USD)
Menjangan - Lovina beach - 75,000 IDR (5.5 USD)
Amed - Sanur - 150,000 IDR (11 USD)
boat Sanur - Nusa Lembongan - 150,000 IDR (11 USD)
boat Nusa Lembongan - Gili Trawangan - 325,000 IDR (24 USD)
boat Gili Trawangan - Gili Meno - 35,000 IDR (2.5 USD)
boat Gili Meno - Lombok - 15,000 IDR (1 USD)
renting a motorbike - 50,000 IDR (4 USD)
renting a bike - 25,000 IDR (2 USD)

It is easy to find all ranges of accommodation in Indonesia and the standard depends on the location as there is a huge difference between a room in the midddle of the jungle in Sumatra and on a beach in Bali. We travel usually as a couple, so we stay in cheap double rooms.
In average you can get a cheap double room for around 100,000 IDR (7.5 USD) per person.

If you eat at cheap local restaurants, you will pay as low as 35,000 IDR (2.5 USD) . If you prefer restaurants for tourists, get ready for paying 55,000 IDR (4 USD) and up. The cheapest common meal is nasi goreng (fried rice) that is served everywhere in better or worse quality.

Prices example per person (2015)

Bukit Lawang jungle trekking to see orangutans (guide, lunch included) - 435,000 IDR (32.5 USD)
Elephant washing + tour - Tangkahan - 650,000 IDR (49 USD)
museum Lake Toba - 50,000 IDR (3.75 USD)

Prambanan + Borobudur entrance fees (all day transport included) - 562,500 IDR (42 USD)
Tirta Gangga - 20,000 IDR (1.5 USD)
Taman Ayun - 30,000 IDR (2.25 USD)
Pura Besakih - 15,000 IDR (1 USD)
Ubud Monkey Forest - 30,000 IDR (2.25 USD)
Sade traditional village with a guide - 50,000 IDR (3.75 USD)