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

Should you visit Bali or Sado?

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 Sado 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 in Bali as well. It's also known for nightlife, food, and scuba diving and snorkeling. See Bali travel costs.

Sado

Sado is a cultural, off-the-beaten-path, and traditional island. And you can't forget about the hiking, museums, and food. See Sado travel costs.

Bali and Sado: Pros and Cons

Is there more to do in Bali or Sado?

Travelers will usually find more to do in Bali. Although Bali and Sado are popular destinations, Bali has more sights and attractions for tourists. Bali is very popular for its food, nightlife, resorts, scuba diving & snorkeling, beaches, shopping, and impressive beauty, while Sado attracts visitors for its museums and attractions. Bali is more touristy than Sado and is known for its many temples, beautiful beaches, world class scuba diving, and cultural retreats. It is also well known for Pura Lempuyang. Sado is famous for its beautiful scenery, traditional culture, and population of endangered crested ibis.

How is Bali different from Sado?

Which is Better for a Holiday?

Let's take a look at the differences and similarities between Sado 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 Sado?

Sado is a well-known place for its sights and museums. However, Bali does not have museums and landmarks.

Many visitors head to Sado specifically to visit some of its top-rated museums and other sights. The former gold mines are open to the public and fascinating to explore. For a traditional town, head to Shukunegi, which has narrow alleys and historic homes. Also worth a visit is the Sado History Museum.

Bali does not have museums and landmarks.

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

Bali is an unbeatable place for its local cuisine and restaurants. Also, Sado is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its restaurants.

For foodies, Bali is an obvious choice, as it is one of the food capitals of the world. 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).

Sado has a huge number of terrific restaurants. You'll find great seafood including crab, tuna, and prawns. There are also fresh vegetables, rice, and other typical Japanese ingredients in the area.

Is Bali or Sado Better for Nightlife?

Bali is an unbeatable place for nightlife. However, Sado is a mediocre island for nightlife and partying.

The nightlife in Bali is well established with world renowned clubs and venues. 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.

Sado doesn't offer many options. This is a quiet island and doesn't have much in the form of nightlife.

Is Bali or Sado Better for Resorts?

Bali is an unbeatable place for its resorts. However, Sado is not a resort destination.

For the ultimate resort vacation, Bali is a great choice. 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.

Sado is not a resort destination.

Is Bali or Sado Better for Scuba Diving and Snorkeling?

Bali is an unbeatable place for the nearby scuba diving and snorkeling. However, Sado is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

The clear water and abundant marine life make Bali a world-class scuba diving and snorkeling destination. 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.

Sado is not a scuba or snorkeling destination.

Is Bali or Sado Better for Beaches?

Bali is an unbeatable place for its beaches. However, Sado is not a beach destination.

Travelers come from around the world to visit the beaches in Bali. 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.

Sado is not a beach destination.

Is Bali or Sado Better for Hiking?

You'll find great hiking in both Bali and Sado.

Bali is a popular spot for hiking. 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.

Many visitors explore the nearby hiking trails while visiting Sado. There is wonderful hiking on the island. Head to the Osado Mountain Range for wildflowers and spectacular views and scenery.

Is the Shopping Better in Bali or Sado?

Bali is notable for shopping. However, Sado is a mediocre island 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.

If you're looking to go shopping, Sado has some nice offerings. You'll find shops where you can pick up any necessities that you may have forgotten. There are also souvenir shops where you can find local items to remember your trip.

Is Bali or Sado More Beautiful?

Bali is an unbeatable place for its scenery and beauty. However, Sado is not a destination known for its beauty.

You'll find world class beauty in Bali as well. The island is famous for its beautiful beaches and stunning countryside. It's also a very cultural island with a lot of spirituality.

Sado is not a destination known for its beauty.

Is Bali or Sado Better for Families?

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

Bali is a very family-friendly place to visit. 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.

Sado is a family-friendly island. The former gold mines are fascinating and open to the public. There are also parks and interesting wildlife such as the Japanese ibis that you can see.

Is Bali or Sado Better for Couples?

Bali is an unbeatable place for romance. Also, Sado is not as famous, but is still a good island to visit for its romantic activities.

Bali makes for a terrific place to visit as a couple. 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.

Sado makes for a fun place to visit for a couple. The area's history and nature make it a unique place for a couple's trip. There are museums, and outdoor spaces that you visit as well as the interesting mines.

Is Bali or Sado Better for Backpackers and Budget Travelers?

Bali is an unbeatable place for backpackers. Also, Sado is not as famous, but is still a good island 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.

Sado is popular with backpackers and budget travelers. There are a couple of hostels as well as guesthouses that backpackers can stay at while they're in town.

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

Bali is a popular place for its public transit. However, Sado is a mediocre island for times when you don't have a car.

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.

Public transit is quite limited in Sado. There are no trains on the island and the bus routes are infrequent and slow. You really must have a car to explore the area.

Is Bali or Sado a more walkable city?

Bali is a moderate island for its walkability. However, Sado is a mediocre island for its high level of walkability.

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

Sado is not a very walkable island. The island isn't particularly walkable, so you'll want to have a vehicle to explore.

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

Should I spend more time in Sado or Bali?

How long in Bali or Sado?

Visitors can find plenty of fun things to do in both Bali and Sado. With generally more activities and things to do, visitors tend to spend more time in Bali than in Sado. Usually, 7-14 days is a good amount of time for Bali, and 2-3 days is enough time in Sado.

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

Couples should spend more time in Bali than Sado. 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 Sado 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 Sado?

Visitors enjoy the food and scuba diving and snorkeling when visiting the destination of Bali. 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.

Visitors enjoy the museums and food when visiting the destination of Sado. 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 Sado?

Bali is a fun place to experience. You can also relax and pamper yourself at one of the resorts. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than a weekend exploring. The entire region has so many activities, and you'll want time to do everything.

Sado is a fun place to experience. 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 Sado?

Visitors enjoy the shopping and nightlife when visiting the spiritual destination of Bali. This island offers something for everyone. Many visitors also spend a good bit of time hiking. But since there are so many activities, you'll likely want to spend more than five days exploring.

You'll find museums and food around the cultural destination of Sado. This island 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 Sado?

Visitors enjoy the nightlife and food when visiting the tropical island of Bali. Make sure you spend some time hiking while you're in the area. Many people spend one week here. The length of your trip often depends on your style of travel. Because of this, one week is usually enough time for a trip here.

The off-the-beaten-path island of Sado offers food and museums. 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 Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.

When comparing the travel costs between Bali and Sado, we can see that Bali is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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

When is the best time to visit Bali or Sado?

Sado 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 Sado in the Summer?

Both Sado 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, the summer months attract visitors to Sado because of the hiking and the family-friendly experiences.

In July, Bali is generally a little warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 27°C (81°F), and Sado fluctuates around 23°C (74°F).

The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Bali. Bali usually receives more sunshine than Sado during summer. Bali gets 253 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 198 hours of full sun in the summer.

It rains a lot this time of the year in Sado. In July, Bali usually receives less rain than Sado. Bali gets 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain, while Sado receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the summer. The dry season in Bali is April to September.

Should I visit Bali or Sado in the Autumn?

Both Sado 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. Furthermore, the hiking trails and the shopping scene are the main draw to Sado this time of year.

Bali is much warmer than Sado in the autumn. The daily temperature in Bali averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Sado fluctuates around 16°C (60°F).

It's quite sunny in Bali. In the autumn, Bali often gets more sunshine than Sado. Bali gets 266 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 155 hours of full sun.

Sado gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Bali usually gets less rain in October than Sado. Bali gets 60 mm (2.4 in) of rain, while Sado receives 127 mm (5 in) of rain this time of the year. October to March is the rainy season in Bali.

Should I visit Bali or Sado in the Winter?

The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Bali and Sado. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Bali year-round. Furthermore, many travelers come to Sado for the museums, the shopping scene, and the cuisine.

Be prepared for some very cold days in Sado. In the winter, Bali is much warmer than Sado. Typically, the winter temperatures in Bali in January average around 26°C (79°F), and Sado averages at about 3°C (37°F).

Bali usually receives more sunshine than Sado during winter. Bali gets 170 hours of sunny skies, while Sado receives 65 hours of full sun in the winter.

Sado receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Bali usually receives less rain than Sado. Bali gets 90 mm (3.5 in) of rain, while Sado receives 138 mm (5.4 in) of rain each month for the winter. Also, October to March is the rainy season in Bali.

Should I visit Bali or Sado in the Spring?

The spring brings many poeple to Bali as well as Sado. Bali attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In April, Bali is generally much warmer than Sado. Daily temperatures in Bali average around 27°C (81°F), and Sado fluctuates around 10°C (51°F).

People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Bali this time of the year. In the spring, Bali often gets more sunshine than Sado. Bali gets 226 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Sado receives 194 hours of full sun.

It's quite rainy in Sado. Bali usually gets less rain in April than Sado. Bali gets 70 mm (2.8 in) of rain, while Sado receives 102 mm (4 in) of rain this time of the year. Also, April to September in Bali is the dry season.

Typical Weather for Sado and Bali