Yogyakarta Travel Money Guide

Yogyakarta — Jogja to everyone who knows it — is Java's cultural capital: temples, batik, gamelan and becak. It's also the friendliest on your wallet of Indonesia's big destinations, and the most cash-first, so keep a stack of small notes handy.

How much cash to bring to Yogyakarta

A rough daily budget for a comfortable mid-range trip:

• Food — Rp80,000–200,000/day (gudeg and street food are very cheap)
• Getting around — Rp50,000–150,000/day on becak, Grab/Gojek and the odd andong
• Temples & culture — Rp150,000–400,000/day (the foreigner temple tickets are the big line item)

Paying your way around Yogyakarta

• Becak and andong are cash — agree the fare with the pedicab or horse-cart driver before you climb in; it's part of the ritual.
• Grab and Gojek work too — handy for longer hops and to the airport; cheap and cashless in-app.
• Cash for Malioboro and the markets — the street stalls, Beringharjo market and batik shops are cash, and bargaining is expected.
• Cards at hotels and nicer restaurants — but much of Jogja runs on rupiah.

Neighbourhood cash notes

• Malioboro — the main drag's stalls, buskers and street food are all cash.
• Beringharjo Market — batik and snacks, cash and haggling.
• Borobudur & Prambanan — budget separately for the foreigner tickets, which cost far more than the local rate (cards usually accepted at the gate).
• Kraton & Taman Sari — small cash entry fees and guides.

One Yogyakarta habit

• Keep a wad of small notes — for becak rides, Malioboro snacks and market batik, and set aside a bigger chunk for the temple tickets. A small tip is appreciated.