Which place is cheaper, Malang or Bagan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bagan or Malang?
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 Malang can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bagan or Malang?
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.
Malang
Malang is a city in East Java, Indonesia. It's a cultured city with several important universities, and is home to a large student population. Prized by the Dutch for its mild highland climate, the city retains much of its colonial architecture. Established by the Dutch in the closing decades of the 18th century, Malang earned its first fortunes from coffee, which flourished on the surrounding hillsides. Today, the city's colonial grandeur is quickly disappearing behind the homogenous facades of more modern developments, but there's still much to admire. The Balai Kota building blends Indonesian and Dutch styles, and grand mansions line the main boulevard, Jalan Besar Ijen. To the east is Mt. Bromo, a volcano with hiking trails. The central area is not too large and quite walkable. And with a number of Hindu temples and sights outside the city, Malang makes an ideal base to explore this intriguing corner of east Java.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBagan $30Malang $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $30, while the average daily cost in Malang is $66. 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 Malang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBagan $7.36Malang $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBagan $15Malang $90
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Malang
Looking for a hotel in Bagan or Malang? 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: Malang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bagan $3.57Malang $1.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:
- From Bagan City To Mandalay Private Transfer: $150
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malang:
- South Beaches Tour with Private Transfer: $115
- Mount Bromo: Sunrise Guided Tour with Optional Transfer: $145
- One Way Transfer from/to Yogyakarta-Surabaya-Malang-Bromo: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Malang?
Prices for flights to both Malang 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 $5.95Malang $17
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 $57Malang $8.88
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
- Mount Popa Tour: $42
- Old Bagan Sightseeing Tour: $43
- Old Bagan Biking Tour - Half Day (Guide included): $45
- Private Bagan Cultural Tour : $46
- Best Bagan One Day Tour With Tour Guide: $48
- Visiting Mount Popa from Bagan - Private Tour: $48
- Full Day tour In Bagan UNESCO World Heritage: $50
- BAGAN TEMPLES FULL DAY GUIDED BY ELECTRIC BIKE ( Private Tour ): $64
- Full day Adventure Trip to Mt. Popa & Salay: $65
- Tuk Tuk tour to Mt. Popa : $67
- Private Bagan day tour by car with horse cart: $70
Tours and Activities in Malang
Here are a few actual costs in Malang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Malang local life kampong walking tour - city highlights in between // 4 - 6 hrs: $42
- 1 Day - Amazing Bromo Sunrise tour with 7 spots // 00.30 -13.00: $43
- 1Day - Bromo Sunrise Tour via Malang (Sharing Trip): $45
- Day Tour - Golden Sunrise Mount Bromo via Malang (Sharing Tour): $47
- 1 Day - ULTIMATE TOUR Tumpak Sewu Waterfall and Goa Tetes cave // 07:30 - 17:30: $54
- East Java Dirt Bike Tours: $59
- Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Experience from Malang or Surabaya: $61
- Waterfalls Tour: $63
- Private Full Day Tour of Tumpak Sewu Waterfall: $63
- From Malang city: 1 Day Mount Bromo Private Tour: $67
- From Malang or Surabaya: Private Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Tour: $68
- 1 Day - Tumpak Sewu, Kapas Biru Waterfall, Goa Tetes cave* Tour // 07:30 - 17:00: $70
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBagan -Malang -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Malang, we can see that Malang 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 Malang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Malang 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 Malang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bagan or Malang?
Malang has a larger population, and is about 2490 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Bagan and Malang, 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.