Which place is cheaper, Surabaya 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 Surabaya?
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 Surabaya can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bagan or Surabaya?
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.
Surabaya
Surabaya, also known as the "city of heroes," is the capital of East Java and the second largest city in Indonesia, following Jakarta. While it doesn't highlight as many typical tourist monuments as other cities, Surabaya serves as a takeoff point or a landing base for travelers visiting Mount Bromo and Bali.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia.
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Bagan Prices
Myanmar PricesSurabaya Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBagan $34Surabaya $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $34, while the average daily cost in Surabaya is $71. 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 Surabaya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBagan $7.36Surabaya $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBagan $15Surabaya $66
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Surabaya
Looking for a hotel in Bagan or Surabaya? 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: Surabaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bagan $3.57Surabaya $2.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:
- From Bagan City To Mandalay Private Transfer: $180
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bagan Nyaung-U Airport (NYU): $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:
- From Private Transfer To or From Mount Bromo: $34
- Private Airport Transfer Surabaya: $22
- Private Transfer from Aloha to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
- Private Transfer from Bangkalan to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $140
- Private Transfer from Batu to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $175
- Private Transfer from Berbek Industri to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
- Private Transfer from Bungurasih to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
- Private Transfer from Cemoro Lawang to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $220
- Private Transfer from Delta sari to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
- Private Transfer from Gempol to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $53
- Private Transfer from Gendangan to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
- Private Transfer from Gresik to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Surabaya?
Prices for flights to both Surabaya 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 $10Surabaya $35
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 $57Surabaya $4.24
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
- Old Bagan Biking Tour - Half Day (Guide included): $45
- 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
- BAGAN TEMPLES FULL DAY GUIDED BY ELECTRIC BIKE ( Private Tour ): $64
- Tuk Tuk tour to Mt. Popa: $67
- Full day Adventure Trip in Bagan with Tuk Tuk: $72
- Bagan Antique Day Tour in Bagan: $86
Tours and Activities in Surabaya
Here are a few actual costs in Surabaya for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- From Probolinggo: Bromo Sunrise Guided Group Tour: $23
- From Mount Bromo Sunrise Guided Group Tour: $43
- Bromo Sunrise Tour: $45
- Mount Bromo Shared Sunrise Tour 1 day from Surabaya (sharing): $64
- Private Day Tour Surabaya Historiculture: $64
- From Malang: Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Private Tour: $68
- Car and Walking Private Tour of Surabaya: $68
- Mount Bromo Sunrise Shared Guided Tour from Surabaya: $70
- Day Tour - Surabaya Heritage Colonial Tour: $73
- Half-Day Private Majapahit Historical Tour from Surabaya: $74
- Day Tour Tumpak Sewu Waterfalls: $74
- From Surabaya 1 Day Mount Bromo Sunrise Tour: $77
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBagan -Surabaya -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Surabaya, we can see that Surabaya 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 Surabaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surabaya 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 Surabaya Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bagan or Surabaya?
Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 7920 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Bagan and Surabaya, 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.