A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bandung vs. Benxi for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bandung or Benxi?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Bandung or Benxi? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.

Where Should I go: Bandung or Benxi?

Bandung

Bandung is the capital city of West Java, and the third largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta and Surabaya. Nicknamed Parijs van Java (Paris of Java) by the Dutch for its resemblance to Paris and European atmosphere back in colonial times, Bandung also earned another nickname as Kota Kembang, literally meaning the Flower City since Bandung used to have a lot of flowers. Nowadays, Bandung has become a very popular weekend escape for Jakartans, who crowd the city on weekends and national holidays. It's known for colonial and art deco architecture, a lively, university-town feel and relatively cool tropical weather. Bandung is also a shopping destination, with fashion outlets clustered along Jalan Setiabudi and Jalan Riau in the Dago district. The city also make a good base for day trips to the surrounding countryside - high volcanic peaks, hot springs, and tea plantations are all within reach.

Benxi

Benxi, China is a city in the south east of the Liaoning Province in northeast China. The city itself is a major industrial hub, but is best known for the Benxi Shuidong National Park where you'll find the famous five million year old water cave. Benxi experiences cold winters, with weather being less enjoyable for touring from November through March. May through August see much warmer weather, getting up to the high 80's Fahrenheit in late summer. September and October are also good times to visit as temperatures cool to 60-70 degrees.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.


Which place is cheaper, Benxi or Bandung?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $41, while the average daily cost in Benxi is $97. 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 Bandung and Benxi in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bandung $22
    Benxi $48
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bandung $44
    Benxi $96
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Benxi

Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Benxi? 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.

Hotels in Bandung


Hotels in Benxi


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: Bandung Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bandung $6.00
    Benxi $32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung

Also for Bandung, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Pagerwangi to Bandung Airport (BDO): $36
  • Private Transfer from Lembang to Bandung Airport (BDO): $36
  • Private Transfer from Villa Istana Bunga to Bandung Airport (BDO): $36
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Villa Istana Bunga: $36
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Pajajaran: $36
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kel. Sekejati: $36
  • Private Transfer from Kel. Samoja to Bandung Airport (BDO): $36
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kel. Samoja: $36
  • Private Transfer from Bandung airport (BDO) to Citeureup: $36
  • Private Transfer from Cihideung to Bandung Airport (BDO): $36
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Dusun Mulya Bhakti: $36
  • Private Transfer from Lebak Gede to Bandung Airport (BDO): $36

Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Benxi?

Prices for flights to both Benxi and Bandung 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Bandung $15
    Benxi $31

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bandung

For Bandung, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Bandung Food Tour: $67

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bandung $5.90
    Benxi $7.50

Tours and Activities in Bandung

For Bandung, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Ali's Batukaras Surf & Countryside Eco Tours : $27
  • Indonesia: Paragliding Experiences by Papatong Fly & Play: $42
  • Private Guided Sightseeing Day Tour of Bandung: $43
  • Kawah Putih tour - Day trip Ticket etc all including : $51
  • Daytrip Costum White Crater Volcano Mount Tour Guide Bandung: $51
  • Lembang Tour From Bandung: $51
  • Private Guided Sightseeing Day Tour of Bandung: $52
  • Kawah Putih Tour From Bandung City: $58
  • Bandung:Kawah Putih,Volcano,HotSpring,Mud Bathing,Lake Tour: $58
  • Private Tour to Bandung Volcano Hot Springs and Mud bathing: $61
  • Tangkuban Parahu Volcano North Bandung Private Tour : $66
  • White Crater Day Trip Private Tour Bandung Kawah Putih All In: $68

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bandung $3.60
    Benxi $7.90


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bandung and Benxi, we can see that Benxi is more expensive. And not only is Bandung much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bandung would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bandung 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 Benxi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Benxi than you might in Bandung.

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


Which is Bigger, Bandung or Benxi?

Bandung has a larger population, and is about 72% larger than the population of Benxi. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Benxi, 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.