Jakarta–Surabaya homecoming: car, train or plane, which is cheaper?

Surabaya has become one of the main mudik destinations for Lebaran this year. Mudik from Jakarta to Surabaya by private vehicle remains a popular option for many due to journey flexibility.

However, if calculated in detail, the land travel cost by private car can reach more than Rp1.5 million per one-way, depending on fuel consumption and additional expenses during the trip. The Jakarta–Surabaya trip via the Trans-Jawa Toll road covers about 780 km with travel time around 9-12 hours under normal traffic. This route passes through several major toll sections, from Jakarta-Cikampek, Cikopo-Palimanan, Batang-Semarang, Semarang-Solo, to Mojokerto-Surabaya.

Based on the latest tariffs for vehicles in Group I (private cars), total toll costs from Jakarta to Surabaya come to around Rp859,500. The tariff comprises 13 tolled sections, including Jakarta-Cikampek, Cikopo-Palimanan, Batang-Semarang, Semarang-Solo, and Mojokerto-Surabaya.

Besides tolls, the main expenditure is fuel. Assuming a car with a 1,500 cc engine has fuel efficiency of about 12 km per litre, a 780 km journey requires about 65 litres of petrol. If petrol costs around Rp13,000 per litre, then fuel expenses are estimated at around Rp845,000.

Thus, the total cost of travelling Jakarta–Surabaya by private car can reach around Rp1.7 million per one-way. This figure does not include meals, parking, or rest stops at the rest area during the trip. If travelling with a family or four passengers, the cost could be shared so the average expenditure per person is about Rp425,000.

By comparison, train travel prices vary considerably. For subsidised economy trains, ticket prices can be up to around Rp104,000 per person, while regular economy trains range from Rp310,000 to Rp430,000.

Executive class, meanwhile, is typically priced around Rp600,000 to Rp820,000 one-way. Travel times vary from the fastest at 8.5 hours to 10 hours.

Air travel offers a much shorter travel time, around 1 hour 35 minutes for direct Jakarta–Surabaya flights. However, air tickets usually range from Rp850,000 to Rp1.4 million per one-way, depending on the airline and booking time.

On cost, economy-class trains are the cheapest option for mudik travellers. Private cars can be more economical when used by several passengers. On the other hand, planes remain the fastest option albeit with relatively higher costs.

With these transport options, people can tailor their mudik trip to fit their budget, travel time, and comfort during the journey.