Which place is cheaper, Tauranga or Bagan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bagan or Tauranga?
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 Tauranga can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bagan or Tauranga?
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.
Tauranga
Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBagan $19Tauranga $110
The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $19, while the average daily cost in Tauranga is $110. 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 Tauranga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBagan $4.76Tauranga $79
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBagan $9.52Tauranga $158
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Tauranga
Looking for a hotel in Bagan or Tauranga? 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: Tauranga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bagan $2.31Tauranga $7.23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Bagan Nyaung-U Airport (NYU): $14
- From Bagan City To Mandalay Private Transfer: $150
Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Tauranga?
Prices for flights to both Tauranga 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 $3.85Tauranga $23
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 $37Tauranga $11
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
- Visiting Mount Popa from Bagan - Private Tour: $48
- Private Day Tour to Mt Popa: $48
- Full Day tour In Bagan UNESCO World Heritage: $50
- 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
- Private Day Adventure Trip in Bagan : $71
- Full day Adventure Trip in Bagan with Tuk Tuk : $72
- Half Day Sightseeing With Royal Horse: $76
Tours and Activities in Tauranga
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tauranga are as follows:
- Tauranga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Mount Maunganui Harbour Sightseeing Cruise: $25
- Tauranga Harbour Scenic One Hour Historical Boat Cruise : $25
- Waimarino Adventure Park Supreme Pass Entry Ticket: $30
- Waimarino Adventure Park: $31
- 2hr Tauranga City Scenic History Tour: $35
- 2-Hour Tauranga & Mount Maunganui City & Scenic Local Tour: $49
- Tauranga Harbour Cruise: $59
- 4hr Shore Excursion - History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Tasting: $59
- 4hr Tauranga Scenic History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Tasting: $59
- Tauranga Shore Excursion: Small-Group Bay of Plenty and Tauranga Tour: $61
- New Zealand Tauranga Tour with Transportation and Snacks: $68
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBagan -Tauranga $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Tauranga, we can see that Tauranga 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 Tauranga 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 Tauranga would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tauranga 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 Tauranga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bagan or Tauranga?
Tauranga has a larger population, and is about 370 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Bagan and Tauranga, 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.