Which place is cheaper, Ubud 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 Ubud?
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 Ubud can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bagan or Ubud?
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.
Ubud
Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.
Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.
Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.
Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, and The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia.
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Bagan Prices
Myanmar PricesUbud Prices
Indonesia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBagan $34Ubud $142
The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $34, while the average daily cost in Ubud is $142. 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 Ubud in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBagan $7.36Ubud $119
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBagan $15Ubud $238
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Ubud
Looking for a hotel in Bagan or Ubud? 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: Ubud Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bagan $3.57Ubud $1.63
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:
- From Bagan City To Mandalay Private Transfer: $180
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:
- 1-Day Private Bali Car Transfer With Experienced Driver: $17
- 2 Hour Traditional Balinese Spa with free hotel transfer: $50
- 2 hours Bali Lulur Massage & Spa Treatment Including Hotel Transfers: $58
- 2 hours Bali Lulur Massage & Spa Treatment Including Transfers: $52
- A1 Airport Transfer Service Kuta/Seminyak Area: $14
- A1 Airport Transfer Service Nusadua/Sanur/Canggu Area: $19
- ATV Ride Adventure with Private Transfer: $89
- Airport Transfer: $40
- Airport Transfer Bali from (DPS) Ngurah Rai Airport to Jimbaran Area: $8.00
- Airport Transfer to Nusa Dua: $40
- Airport Transfer to Seminyak: $40
- Airport Transfer to Ubud: $25
Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Ubud?
Prices for flights to both Ubud 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 $10Ubud $18
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.
- Canggu: Drag Show with Dinner: $14
- Ubud Cooking Class with Optional Market Visit Pickup Included: $18
- Balinese Ubud Cooking Class with Market Visit and Transfer: $18
- Uluwatu Sunset & Romantic Dinner: $20
- Magical Village Tour & Private Dinner with Fireflies in Bali: $20
- Full Day Ubud Waterfall Visit and Cooking Experience: $22
- From Farm to Table: Balinese Cooking Class at Paon Escape Ubud: $24
- Ubud Balinese Cooking Class & Market Tour with Rice Field View: $25
- Cooking Class and Dinner in Traditional House by Food Lover Tour: $25
- Bali Cooking Class at Balinese Traditional House: $26
- Private Traditional Bali Cooking Class in Sidemen: $28
- 8 Hours Private Balinese Cooking Class with Tirta Empul Temple: $28
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bagan $57Ubud $9.15
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 Ubud
Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bali Jatiluwih ATV Ride Jungle Tour: $4.57
- Mangrove Tour at Nusa Lembongan : Kayak, Paddle and Boat: $8.00
- Private Bali Watersport Adventure: $8.00
- Bali Mount Batur Sunrise Trekking Adventure: $9.00
- Bali Private Car Charter Tour with English Speaking Driver: $9.00
- Full-Day Private North Bali Tour with Free WiFi: $9.32
- 1 Hour Mangrove Tour From Lembongan with Kayak, Paddle, or Boat: $10
- Batur Natural Hot Spring Admission Ticket: $11
- Nusa Penida Private Tour Package All Inclusive: $12
- Tanah Lot Bali Temple Sunset Small Group Tour – Half Day: $13
- One-way Ticket Fast Boat from Sanur Bali or Nusa Lembongan: $13
- Ubud Bliss: Village Cycling and Jungle Swing Adventure: $14
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBagan -Ubud $6.15
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Ubud, we can see that Ubud 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 Ubud would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ubud 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 Ubud Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bagan or Ubud?
Ubud has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Bagan and Ubud, 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.