Which place is cheaper, Guilin or Bandung?
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 Bandung or Guilin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bandung or Guilin? 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 Guilin?
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.
Guilin
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
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Bandung Prices
Indonesia PricesGuilin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBandung $48Guilin $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $48, while the average daily cost in Guilin is $84. 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 Guilin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBandung $20Guilin $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBandung $40Guilin $70
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Guilin
Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Guilin? 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: Bandung Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bandung $5.54Guilin $5.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung
Also for Bandung, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bandung Private Transfer to Jakarta (all area ) : $80
- Bandung or Lembang to Jakarta Airport CGK Departure Transfer: $72
- Cipanas to Jakarta Airport (CGK) - Departure Private Transfer: $54
- Private Rental Cars Bandung 10 Pax Free Airport Transfer: $139
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to 40294 Arcamanik, Bandung City: $37
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Ciater: $37
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Ciburial: $37
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Hegarmanah: $37
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kec. Batununggal Kel. Kacapiring 40271: $37
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kec. Batununggal Kel. Samoja 40273: $37
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kel. Samoja: $37
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kertajati Intl. Airport Cirebon (KJT): $221
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
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Taxi$2.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- [Airport Transfer] Haikou Airport ⇔ Haikou City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter> *: $23
- Transfer from Guilin Liangjiang Airport to Guilin City Center: $41
- Transfer from Guilin Hotels to Yangshuo Town: $37
- Private Transfer: Guilin to/from Zhangjiajie/Fenghuang: $256
- Private Transfer: Guilin Airport to Yangshuo Hotel: $115
- Private Transfer from/to Zhangjiajie to Guilin: $387
- Private Transfer from Haikou (HAK) airport to/from Sanya hotel: $120
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Zhaoxing and stops at Chengyang Dong Village: $197
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Chengyang Dong Village: $267
- Private Transfer from Guilin hotel to Longsheng hotel: $80
- Private One Way Transfer Service to Longsheng Hotel from Guilin City or Airport: $78
- Private Guilin Airport Transfer to Yangshuo: $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Guilin?
Prices for flights to both Guilin 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
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Food Meals for one dayBandung $24Guilin $39
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bandung
For Bandung, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Indonesian Cooking Class with Welcoming Exotic Fruits: $32
Typical Food Prices in Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
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Fresh Coconut Drink$1.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
- Wukong Guilin Neighborhood Food Tour: $65
- Countryside Cycling 1-day Tour with Cooking Class: $306
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bandung $5.45Guilin $28
Tours and Activities in Bandung
For Bandung, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Indonesia: Dago Dreampark Bandung Tickets: $9.93
- The heart of Bandung and Grand Mosque Guided Walking Tour: $15
- Bandung Volcano Sightseeing and Hot Spring Private Tour: $43
- Tangkuban Parahu Volcano & Surrounding Areas Tour: $44
- Private Guided to The White Crater & Surrounding Areas Tour: $45
- Private Guide Bandung Tour Car Charter: $49
- Bogor ,west Java Tour: $50
- Bandung Tour All In, White Crater, Volcano Mountain, Hot Spring : $52
- Private Tour to Bandung Volcano Hot Springs and Mud bathing: $55
- Kawah Putih tour - Day trip Ticket etc all including : $57
- Private: Kawah Putih,Volcano,HotSpring,Mud Bathing,Lake Tour: $58
- Kawah Putih Day Tours: $59
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Caves$17
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Full-Day Guilin Li-River Cruise with 4 star boat and Reed Flute Cave Tour: $262
- Full-Day Yangshuo Sunrise and Li-River cruise with the 4 Star Boat Private Tour: $272
- 1 Day Congjiang Ethnic Dong Village Private Tour from Guilin: $219
- 1 Day Guilin Tour: Village Visit, Waterfall Viewing, Hiking: $230
- 1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide: $209
- 1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver: $209
- 1 Day Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Village Tour: $202
- 1 Day Private Tour: Li River Cruise from Guilin & Yangshuo Biking: $172
- 1 Day Relaxing Li River Cruise With The 4 Star Luxury Boat lower Deck Seating: $225
- 1 Day Yangshuo Adventure Balloon Helicopter and Cave Experience: $208
- 1 Day Yangshuo Nature Explore Bamboo Rafting and Cave Adventure: $265
- 1 day Guilin Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Countryside with Scooter Private Tour: $204
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBandung $3.32Guilin $5.81
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bandung and Guilin, we can see that Guilin 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 Guilin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Guilin 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 Guilin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bandung or Guilin?
Bandung has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Guilin. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Guilin, 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.