Which place is cheaper, Katoomba or Bagan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Bagan or Katoomba?
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 Katoomba can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bagan or Katoomba?
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.
Katoomba
Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.
This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.
The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.
For some great organized tour ideas, see Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia, and The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia.
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Bagan Prices
Myanmar PricesKatoomba Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBagan $34Katoomba $161
The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $34, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $161. 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 Katoomba in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBagan $7.36Katoomba $85
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBagan $15Katoomba $170
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Katoomba
Looking for a hotel in Bagan or Katoomba? 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.
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: Katoomba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bagan $3.57Katoomba $54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:
- From Bagan City To Mandalay Private Transfer: $180
Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Katoomba?
Prices for flights to both Katoomba 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
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Food Meals for one dayBagan $10Katoomba $33
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bagan $57Katoomba $58
Tours and Activities in Bagan
Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay: $31
- Old Bagan Sightseeing Tour: $43
- Private Bagan Cultural Tour: $46
- Best Bagan One Day Tour With Tour Guide: $48
- Private Day Tour to Mt Popa: $48
- Visiting Mount Popa from Bagan - Private Tour: $48
- Full Day tour In Bagan UNESCO World Heritage: $50
- Tuk Tuk tour to Mt. Popa: $67
- Private Day Adventure Trip in Bagan: $71
- Full day Adventure Trip in Bagan with Tuk Tuk: $72
- Bagan Antique Day Tour in Bagan: $86
- Mount Popa - Private Day Tour: $105
Tours and Activities in Katoomba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:
- Blue Mountains Eco Tour, 3 hour experience - close to Sydney: $54
- Blue Mountains 90 Minute Army Truck Adventures: $65
- Blue Mountains Day Tour + Zoo & Scenic World Options, Morning Tea: $66
- Blue Mountains Scenic World & Scenic Zoo Day Tour: $68
- Army Truck Adventures - 90 Minute Guided Tour: $71
- Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Tour: $78
- Blue Mountains 3 Hour Army Truck Adventures: $99
- Blue Mountains Tour with Scenic World, Zoo&Bilingual Driver: $100
- Army Truck Adventures - 3 Hour Guided Tour: $106
- Blue Mountains: Spectacular Half Day Abseiling Adventure: $116
- Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $116
- Blue Mountains Mercedes Tour: Cockatoos, Cascades & Scenic World: $127
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBagan -Katoomba -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. And not only is Bagan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bagan is in Asia and Katoomba is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba 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 Katoomba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bagan or Katoomba?
Katoomba has a larger population, and is about 60 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Bagan and Katoomba, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.