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

Should you visit Bandung or Datong?

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

Should I visit Bandung or Datong? 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 Datong?

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.

Datong

If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Datong or Bandung?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $40, while the average daily cost in Datong is $56. 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 Datong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bandung $21
    Datong $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bandung $42
    Datong $46
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Datong

Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Datong? 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 Datong


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 $5.76
    Datong $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung

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

  • Private Transfer from Ujung Genteng Sukabumi to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $210
  • Private Transfer from Ujung Genteng Sukabumi to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $210
  • Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Kesenden: $168
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Garut Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $168
  • Private Transfer from Pejambon to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $168
  • Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Sunyaragi: $168
  • Private Transfer from Pekalangan to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $168
  • Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Jagasatru: $168
  • Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Larangan: $168
  • Private Transfer from Larangan to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $168
  • Private Transfer from Kesenden to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $168
  • Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Kalijaga: $168

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong

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

  • Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
  • Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
  • Private One Way Transfer from Datong to Beijing : $211
  • Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer to Hanging Temple: $98
  • Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $12
  • Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
  • Chengdu: Private Round-Trip Transfer to Leshan Budda: $128

Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Datong?

Prices for flights to both Datong 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 $14
    Datong $20

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bandung $5.67
    Datong $25

Tours and Activities in Bandung

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

  • Backpacker Style of the Java-Madura-Bali Island Tour 12 Days: $1,544
  • Bandung One Day Tour Package: $160
  • Kawah Putih Private Tour and Angklung Performance: $45
  • Volcano Tour with Hot Springs Swim: $135
  • Volcano, Hot Spring, Mud Bathing, & Lake Tour: $64
  • Bandung:Kawah Putih,Volcano,HotSpring,Mud Bathing,Lake Tour: $50
  • Bogor ,west Java Tour: $50
  • Day Trip White Crater Ciwidey Bandung All In - Tour Guide: $70
  • Full-Day Tour to Bandung White Crater,Lake and Tea Plantation: $82
  • Innova Reborn Tour driver car rental in Bandung: $64
  • Java Bali Private Tour Package with Driver as Guide: $468
  • Java Classic Overland Tour: $1,332

Tours and Activities in Datong

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Datong.

  • 1-Day Pingyao tour from Datong and ends of Beijing or Xi'an by Bullet Train: $267
  • 1-Day Private Tour: Datong Highlights with the Lunch: $215
  • 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
  • All Inclusive Datong Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes : $268
  • All Inclusive Datong Private Tour to Hanging Temple and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda: $238
  • All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple at Hengshan from Datong : $188
  • All-Inclusive Private Day Tour to Wooden Pagoda and Hanging Temple from Datong: $220
  • All-Inclusive Private Tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple from Datong: $220
  • Datong Classic Day Tour: $135
  • Datong Day Tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple: $203
  • Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
  • Datong Private Day Tour to Deshengbu and Zhenchuankou Great Wall with Lunch: $190

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bandung $3.46
    Datong $12


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bandung and Datong, we can see that Datong 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 Datong would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Datong 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 Datong Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bandung or Datong?

Bandung has a larger population, and is about 61% larger than the population of Datong. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Datong, 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.