A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bali vs. Katoomba for Food, Nightlife, Hiking, and Families

Should you visit Bali 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 Bali and Katoomba can help you decide which place is right for you.

Bali

Bali is a spiritual, cultural, and stunning island. You'll find world class beauty here as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling.

Katoomba

Katoomba is a relaxing, breathtaking , and stunning town. This is a great small town that is just waiting to be explored. You'll find world class beauty here as well. And you can't forget about the shopping, museums, and nightlife.

Bali and Katoomba: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bali or Katoomba?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bali. Although Bali and Katoomba are popular destinations, Bali has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bali is very popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, and shopping, while Katoomba attracts visitors for its museums & sights, hiking, and small town charm. Bali is more touristy than Katoomba and is known for its many temples, beautiful beaches, world class scuba diving, and cultural retreats. It is also well known for Pura Lempuyang. Katoomba is famous for its natural scenery, beautiful hikes, and its location in the Blue Mountains.

How is Bali different from Katoomba?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Katoomba and Bali. Then, you can decide for yourself which place is better for your next trip.

Are the Museums and Historical Sights Better in Bali or Katoomba?

Katoomba is very good for its sights and museums. However, Bali does not have museums and landmarks.

Katoomba offers a variety of museums and landmarks to choose from. For many, the town is used as a base for exploring the Blue Mountains. Scenic World is a great way to take in the highlights. It's also fun to check out the local street art.

Bali does not have museums and landmarks.

Is the Food Better in Bali or Katoomba? Which Destination has the Best Restaurants?

Bali is a world-class destination for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Katoomba is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its restaurants.

Eat your way through Bali, as it has many local or world renowned restaurants to choose from. The food is rich and diverse with a lot of spices and complex flavors. Turmeric is a common spice and many dishes use coconut milk. Popular local dishes include Nasi Ayam (a chicken dish), Satay (grilled chicken), and Babi Guling (a pork dish).

Katoomba has a delicious restaurant scene that relies on local flavors. Many of the restaurants work hard to support local farmers and suppliers. You'll find local ingredients and homemade meals. The restaurant scene is growing, but many restaurants are still affiliated with hotels and tourist attractions.

Is Bali or Katoomba Better for Nightlife?

Bali is a world-class destination for nightlife. Also, Katoomba is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for nightlife and partying.

People head to Bali just to party. The island is known for its crazy raves and all night pool parties. There are multi-story dance clubs as well as upscale bars and beach clubs that host parties late into the night. The best nightlife areas are around Kuta, Seminyak, and Canggu.

With a handful of venues, visitors can find a fairly lively vibe in Katoomba. It's not known for its nightlife scene, but there are some relaxed places where you can enjoy craft beer or see a show. Katoomba is the hub of nightlife in the Blue Mountains.

Is Bali or Katoomba Better for Resorts?

Bali is a world-class destination for its resorts. However, Katoomba is not a resort destination.

Vacationers flock to Bali for its luxury resorts. The island has resorts as well as private villas that cater to everyone from celebrities to families or even budget travelers. Private villas offer a more secluded vacation while resorts usually have more amenities and the opportunity to socialize with other guests. There are also many family-friendly resorts around the island.

Katoomba is not a resort destination.

Is Bali or Katoomba Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Bali is a world-class destination for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Katoomba is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

People travel from around the world to go scuba diving and snorkeling in Bali. The waters are crystal clear and the marine life is abundant making scuba diving and snorkeling popular around the island. There are many snorkeling day trips that you can arrange and there are also dive shops that will take you out on the water.

Katoomba is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Bali or Katoomba Better for Beaches?

Bali is a world-class destination for its beaches. However, Katoomba is not a beach destination.

Bali offers stunning beaches that attract visitors from around the world. The island is large enough that it has a diversity of beach styles. There are popular beaches with water sports as well as secluded bays where you can enjoy a more peaceful setting. Some beaches are dramatic with limestone cliffs while others are lined with palm trees.

Katoomba is not a beach destination.

Is Bali or Katoomba Better for Hiking?

Katoomba is a must-visit destination for the nearby hiking options. Also, Bali is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its hiking trails.

Many people visit Katoomba specifically for its hiking. Surrounded by the Blue Mountains, this town offers access to some of the area's best hikes. You'll see waterfalls, scenic viewpoints, and lush landscapes.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Bali. Walking on the island is beautiful and with its varied landscapes you can explore scenic rice paddies or pristine rainforests. You'll find the most challenging hikes in West Bali National Park, where a guide is recommended, but there are many other shorter hikes on the island that can be explored independently.

Is the Shopping Better in Bali or Katoomba?

Bali is a well-known place for shopping. Also, Katoomba is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its shopping opportunities.

Bali is an extremely popular place for shoppers. A big appeal of shopping on the island is the affordability. There are many local items that are fun to bring home including jewelry, handicrafts, furniture, and clothing.

Shopping is a popular activity when visiting Katoomba. There are local markets and boutiques where you can pick up local items and handicrafts.

Is Bali or Katoomba Better for Families?

Katoomba is a must-visit destination for its family-friendly activities. Also, Bali is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its kid-friendly activities.

Katoomba is one of the most popular family destinations. The surrounding Blue Mountains are filled with activities for the whole family. Scenic World is a highlight with its cable cars and skyway. There are also gardens, hiking trails, and cultural centers. Kids who love trains will enjoy Valley Heights Locomotive Depot Heritage Museum.

You'll find plenty of family-friendly things to do in Bali. The island has countless activities that kids can enjoy. There are watersports, snorkeling, surfing lessons and beautiful beaches. You can also expose your kids to the spiritual side of the island with kid-friendly yoga classes. Animals lovers will enjoy getting to see the monkeys up close and for a unique culinary experience, you can take a family cooking class.

Is Bali or Katoomba Better for Couples?

Bali is a world-class destination for romance. Also, Katoomba is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for its romantic activities.

Bali is fantastic couple's destination with fun and romantic activities. This beautiful island offers stunning beaches, adventure sports, and world class snorkeling. There are beautiful resorts with spas as well as couples yoga classes impressive natural areas.

Katoomba makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. There are world class gardens like the Everglades Gardens, restaurants where you can enjoy high tea with a view, as well as hikes that will take your breath away. For the truly adventurous, there are also helicopter tours.

Is Bali or Katoomba Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bali is a world-class destination for backpackers. Also, Katoomba is not as famous, but is still a good town to visit for backpackers and budget travelers.

Bali is a mecca for backpackers and budget travelers. Backpackers flock to this beautiful island for its stunning setting and affordable accommodation. There are many nice places where backpackers can hang out and get to know other travelers. If you want to get off the beaten path, it's best to head into the countryside and away from the main tourist hubs.

Many backpackers visit Katoomba. There are hostels in the area, as well as camping opportunities. Backpackers will appreciate the scenic beauty and natural setting.

Is Bali or Katoomba Better for Public Transit? Which Is Easier to Get Around Without a Car?

Both Bali and Katoomba offer nice public transit options.

Bali has a few public transit options. There are minibuses and tourist shuttle buses around the island. You can also hire a taxi or rent a car, scooter, or bicycle.

Katoomba has some public transit options. There are public buses through the Blue Mountains but it's easier to explore in depth if you have your own car.

Is Bali or Katoomba a more walkable city?

Katoomba is very good for its high level of walkability. However, Bali is not a good island for its ease of walking around.

Katoomba is a somewhat walkable place. The town itself is relatively walkable.

Bali is generally not a very walkable island. There are some walkable towns and cities on the island, but many areas can be challenging to navigate on foot.

For even more information, also check out Is Bali Worth Visiting? and Is Katoomba Worth Visiting?.

Should I spend more time in Katoomba or Bali?

How long in Bali or Katoomba?

It's fun to spend time in either Bali or Katoomba. Generally, people tend to spend more time in Bali due to the larger number of activities and things to do. Usually, 7-14 days is a good amount of time for Bali, and 2-4 days is enough time in Katoomba.

Families should spend more time in Katoomba than Bali. Because of the many family-friendly attractions and fun things to do for kids in Katoomba, it's a great place to visit with the whole family.

Couples should spend more time in Bali than Katoomba. You'll find plenty of romantic sights and fun activities in Bali that are great for a weekend getaway or a longer couple's trip.

Backpackers and budget travelers should spend more time in Bali than Katoomba if your budget allows for it. With a larger number of budget-friendly sights, good nightlife, and active things to do, anyone traveling on a budget would have a good time in Bali.

One day in Bali or Katoomba?

The beautiful island of Bali offers food and scuba diving and snorkeling. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything. It will give you the chance to have new experiences.

Katoomba is a small town where visitors enjoy the food and shopping. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. Take your pick from the many activities offered here. With so much to do, one day is probably not enough time to see everything.

A weekend in Bali or Katoomba?

Bali is a popular place that is full of things to see and experience. People enjoy relaxing at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. Take your pick from the many activities offered here.

Katoomba is a fun place to experience. Most people visit for the hiking. If you have a weekend, this is a great place to go. Hikers are also drawn to this area. A weekend is often enough time to do most activities. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Five days in Bali or Katoomba?

Bali is a popular choice for travelers. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than five days exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Katoomba is a small town, so you can explore the area with less time. This town offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. Five days is plenty of time to see everything, even with extra days to spare.

A week in Bali or Katoomba?

Bali is a great place to explore. It is common to spend one week here. Hiking can easily take up a good amount of your time here, too. One week is a great amount of time to relax and see the many things that Bali has to offer. This island offers something for everyone.

Because Katoomba is a small town, it's easy to explore in a short amount of time. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. One week is usually plenty of time to spend here with extra days to spare. With this much time, visitors often visit nearby destinations or take day trips.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia, The Best Eco Tours in Australia, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Australia.

When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. And not only is Bali much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bali 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 Bali would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bali 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 Bali.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bali Expensive? and Is Katoomba Expensive?.

Which is Bigger, Bali or Katoomba?

Bali has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Katoomba. When comparing the sizes of Bali 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.

When is the best time to visit Bali or Katoomba?

Katoomba has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Bali experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.

Should I visit Bali or Katoomba in the Summer?

Both Katoomba and Bali are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Bali throughout the year. Also, most visitors come to Katoomba for the hiking, the small town charm, and the family-friendly experiences during these months.

In July, Bali is generally a little warmer than Katoombain January. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 27°C (81°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 24°C (74°F).

It's quite sunny in Katoomba. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bali. Bali usually receives around the same amount of sunshine as Katoomba during summer. Bali gets 253 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 236 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. In July, Bali usually receives less rain than Katoombain January. Bali gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 105 mm (4.1 in) of rain each month for the summer. The dry season in Bali is April to September.

Should I visit Bali or Katoomba in the Autumn?

Both Katoomba and Bali during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Bali because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Also, the autumn months attract visitors to Katoomba because of the hiking trails, the shopping scene, the small town atmosphere, and the natural beauty of the area.

Bali is a little warmer than Katoomba in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (65°F)in April.

It's quite sunny in Bali. In the autumn, Bali often gets more sunshine than Katoombain April. Bali gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 195 hours of full sun.

Bali usually gets less rain in October than Katoombain April. Bali gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 79 mm (3.1 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March is the rainy season in Bali.

Should I visit Bali or Katoomba in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bali and Katoomba. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bali year-round. Also, the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine are the main draw to Katoomba this time of year.

In the winter, Bali is much warmer than Katoomba. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bali in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Katoomba averages at about 11°C (51°F)in July.

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Katoomba this time of the year. Bali usually receives less sunshine than Katoomba during winter. Bali gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Katoomba receives 208 hours of full sun in the winter.

In January, Bali usually receives more rain than Katoombain July. Bali gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 34 mm (1.3 in) of rain each month for the winter. Also, October to March is the rainy season in Bali.

Should I visit Bali or Katoomba in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bali as well as Katoomba. Bali attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. Also, many travelers come to Katoomba for the small town charm and the natural beauty.

In April, Bali is generally much warmer than Katoombain October. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 27°C (81°F), and Katoomba fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Katoomba. People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bali this time of the year. In the spring, Bali often gets around the same amount of sunshine as Katoombain October. Bali gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Katoomba receives 240 hours of full sun.

Bali usually gets around the same amount of rain in April as Katoombain October. Bali gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Katoomba receives 66 mm (2.6 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, April to September in Bali is the dry season.

Typical Weather for Katoomba and Bali