A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bagan vs. Bali for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bagan or Bali?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bagan and Bali can help you decide which place is right for you.

Where Should I go: Bagan or Bali?

Bagan

Located in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), Bagan is an ancient city best known as the home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.

Bali

Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.

Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Bali or Bagan?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $34, while the average daily cost in Bali is $85. These costs include accommodation (assuming double occupancy, so the traveler is sharing the room), food, transportation, and entertainment. While every person is different, these costs are an average of past travelers in each destination. What follows is a categorical breakdown of travel costs for Bagan and Bali in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bagan $7.36
    Bali $40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bagan $15
    Bali $80
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Bali

Looking for a hotel in Bagan or Bali? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options and compare which is best for your budget and travel style.

Hotels in Bagan


Hotels in Bali


Kayak helps you find the best prices for hotels, flights, and rental cars for destinations around the world. Compare prices for multiple destinations when planning your next trip.


Our Analysis
We've analyzed the average and typical hotel prices based on guest reviews, star ratings, and hotel amenities here: Bali Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bagan $3.57
    Bali $8.68

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Bali

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:


  • Motorbike Rental
    $2.98

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:

  • All Inclusive Batur Sunrise Treking Guide Ticket And Transfer : $60
  • BALI PARAGLIDING Fly, Swing and Soaring above the sea with private transfer: $114
  • Bali DPS Airport Private Transfer from-to Uluwatu & South Kuta: $31
  • Bali Nusa Dua Combo Parasailing And Snorkeling Include Transfer: $35
  • Bali Parasailing Adventure with Including Hotel Transfer: $45
  • Bali Parasailing Adventure,Banana Boat,Jet Ski and Donut Boat with Transfers: $69
  • Bali Parasailing, Banana, Jet Ski, and Sea Walker with Transfer: $80
  • Bali Quad and Buggy Discovery Tour, Including Round-Trip Transfer: $76
  • Bali Sea Walker, Parasailing Adventure, Donut Boat with Transfer: $67
  • Bali Spiritual: Blessing Ceremony, Pristine Nature and Transfer: $115
  • Bali Water Sport : Sea Walker,Donut Boat and Banana Boat with Hotel Transfers: $72
  • White Water Rafting with transfers & lunch: $60

Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Bali?

Prices for flights to both Bali and Bagan change regularly based on dates and travel demand. We suggest you find the best prices for your next trip on Kayak, because you can compare the cost of flights across multiple airlines for your prefered dates.





Food
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bagan $10
    Bali $34

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bagan

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bagan.

  • Romantic Sunset Dinner At Bagan Viewing Tower: $91

Typical Food Prices in Bali

Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:


  • Coffee
    $1.19
  • Lunch for Two
    $13
  • Bali Cafe for Two
    $26
  • Lunch for Two
    $7.75
  • Lunch for 2
    $8.59
  • Dinner for 2
    $9.42

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.

  • Best Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran Beach Sunset : $29
  • Private Tour Rafting Uluwatu Kecak Dance Sunset and Dinner in Jimbaran Bay: $30
  • Bali Sunset and Dinner: Uluwatu, Tanah Lot and Jimbaran: $32
  • Amazing Private Tour-Uluwatu Kecak Dance and Romantic Seafood Dinner: $33
  • Romantic Seafood Dinner under sunset jimbaran Beach: $38
  • Romantic Seafood Dinner at Jimbaran: $40
  • Private Tour Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Dance and Dinner at Jimbaran: $41
  • South Bali Beach Tour, Uluwatu Sunset Kecak Fire Dance & Seafood Barbeque Dinner: $50
  • Kekeb Cooking Class at Nusa Dua: $55
  • Uluwatu Temple Sunset Tour & Dinner at Jimbaran Bay: $63
  • Highlights Padang - Padang, Melasti Beach & Jimbaran Dinner: $65
  • Exotic North Bedugul, Tanah Lot, and Jimbaran Seafood Dinner: $65

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bagan $57
    Bali $10

Tours and Activities in Bagan

Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Old Bagan Sightseeing Tour: $43
  • Visiting Mount Popa from Bagan - Private Tour: $48

Typical Entertainment Prices in Bali

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:


  • Spa for Two
    $52
  • Snorkelling Trip
    $12
  • Cooking School
    $27

Tours and Activities in Bali

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:

  • Bali Water Sports Adventure: $7.89
  • Kecak and Fire Dance Ticket at Uluwatu Temple: $14
  • Best of Ubud Full Day Private Guided Tour: $14
  • Tickets for the Kecak Dance Performance at Melasti Beach: $15
  • Tickets for the Kecak Dance Performance at Uluwatu Temple: $17
  • Uluwatu Kecak Tickets A Spectacular Show: $17
  • Bali Jetski Watersport Nusa Dua Beach Experience : $20
  • Besakih Mother Temple Tukad Cepung East Bali Private Guided Tour: $23
  • Bali Sea Walker Experience at Nusa Dua Beach: $23
  • Private Uluwatu Temple and Kecak Fire Dance Evening Tour in Jimbaran Bay: $27
  • Guide, Uluwatu Temple Entry, and Kecak Dance Ticket: $28
  • Bali Quad Bike ATV Rides in Uluwatu Experiences: $28

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bagan -
    Bali $3.07


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Bali, we can see that Bali is more expensive. And not only is Bagan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bagan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bagan and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Bali would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bali than you might in Bagan.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bagan Expensive? and Is Bali Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bagan or Bali?

Bali has a larger population, and is about 1350 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Bagan and Bali, keep in mind that a larger population does not always imply the destination has more attractions or better activities. So, always research the type of place that you want to visit along with the activities and attractions that interest you.