With over 13,000 islands, Indonesia has something unique to offer everyone. From the cool white sands and raucous volcanoes of Bali to the vibrant capital city of Jakarta to the untouched lands of Sumatra, you can always find something different here. Indonesia is home to a vast array of indigenous animals, too (including the Komodo dragon!). With extremely inexpensive local food and reasonably-priced accommodation, it’s no wonder Indonesia is a popular destination among so many travelers. I hope you use this guide to plan an excellent trip there (though one visit is certainly not enough!). Be sure to visit some of the lesser known areas in the country and just not stick to Bali and Lombok! Indonesia is really diverse!
Accommodation – Hostels usually cost around 120,000 IDR for a dorm. For a private double, prices start around 200,000 IDR. Free WiFi and free breakfast are quite common. Generally, prices will be significantly lower outside of the major cities. Since hostels and homestays are so cheap, camping is not very common unless you’re on a trek. Most budget htels begin at 200,000 IDR per night for a double room. This will usually include free WiFi and breakfast. For a chain hotel, prices begin around 400,000 IDR per night. Airbnb is widespread ,with shared accommodation averaging around 400,000 IDR per night and entire apartments, expect to pay at least 400,000 IDR per night.
Food – Local food is extremely cheap, with street food costing under 10,000 IDR. For an inexpensive meal at a local restaurant, prices start around 14,000 IDR. For a meal at a mid-range restaurant for a nicer meal, drinks, and table service, expect to pay as much as 80,000 IDR. Western food is much more expensive but is still relatively affordable at around 125,000 IDR for a meal and drink. Fast food will cost around 45,000 IDR. A beer at the bar will cost around 30,000 IDR while a week’s worth of groceries will cost between 300,000-400,000 IDR. (However, food in the country is very cheap and I would encourage you to eat out as often as possible as kitchens are hard to come by!
Transportation – For traveling between islands, ferries cost around 7,000 IDR (and up) for a ticket from East Java to West Bali, and the rates go up from there for other routes. An eight-hour journey on a bus costs around 70,000 IDR. Overnight buses will start at around 130,000 IDR. Flights to and from the country are incredibly cheap, with one-way tickets to Singapore costing as little as 250,000 IDR. A one-way ticket to Australia starts at 500,000 IDR.
Activities – Attractions are not hugely expensive. You’ll pay around 220,000 IDR for entrance into Bromo-Tengger-Semeru National Park and the same for Bunaken. Borobudur costs 275,000 IDR. The famous Mt. Batur hike is between 500,000-900,000 IDR.
source: https://www.nomadicmatt.com/travel-guides/indonesia-travel-tips/
