Which place is cheaper, Katoomba or Bandung?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bandung or Katoomba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bandung or Katoomba? 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 Katoomba?
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.
Katoomba
Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.
This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.
The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.
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 in Australia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Australia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBandung $40Katoomba $134
The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $40, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $134. 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 Katoomba in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBandung $21Katoomba $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBandung $42Katoomba $154
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Katoomba
Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Katoomba? 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 and Katoomba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bandung $5.76Katoomba $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung
Also for Bandung, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Bandung or Lembang to Bandung Airport BDO Departure Transfer: $27
- Private Transfer from Villa Istana Bunga to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
- Private Transfer from Malabar to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
- Private Transfer from Cihanjuang Rahayu to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kec. Batununggal Kel. Kacapiring 40271: $35
- Private Transfer from Cikole to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Lembang: $35
- Private Transfer from Lembang to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Sukabungah: $35
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Sukahaji: $35
- Private Transfer from Jayagiri to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
- Private Transfer from Sukahaji to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Katoomba?
Prices for flights to both Katoomba 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 $14Katoomba $17
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bandung $5.67Katoomba $53
Tours and Activities in Bandung
For Bandung, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Private Walking Tour of Bandung with Guide: $33
- Stone Garden Western Tour From Bandung: $39
- Kawah Rengganis Private Hiking and Glamping Lakeside Tour from Bandung: $41
- Private Guided Sightseeing Day Tour of Bandung: $43
- Private Guided Sightseeing Day Tour of Bandung: $45
- Kawah Putih Private Tour and Angklung Performance: $45
- Kawah Putih tour - Day trip Ticket etc all including : $49
- Bogor ,west Java Tour: $50
- Bandung:Kawah Putih,Volcano,HotSpring,Mud Bathing,Lake Tour: $50
- Lembang Tour From Bandung: $51
- Kawah Putih Tour From Bandung City: $58
- Tangkuban Parahu Volcano North Bandung Private Tour : $62
Tours and Activities in Katoomba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:
- 4Hrs at Wolgan Valley Birdwatching Experience: $129
- Army Truck Adventures - 3 Hour Guided Tour: $98
- Army Truck Adventures - 90 Minute Guided Tour: $66
- Blue Labyrinth PRIVATE Tour: Sydney Blue Mountains by E-Bike : $248
- Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $107
- Blue Mountains 3 Hour Army Truck Adventures: $97
- Blue Mountains 90 Minute Army Truck Adventures: $65
- Blue Mountains BarNSW Local Produce Tasting Experience: $37
- Blue Mountains Full Day Guided Tour : $192
- Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Tour: $32
- Blue Mountains Private Tour From Sydney, & Featherdale Aussie Animal Park Option: $248
- Blue Mountains: Private Scenic Tour with Optional Stops: $245
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBandung $3.46Katoomba -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bandung and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba is more expensive. And not only is Bandung much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Bandung 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 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 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 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 Katoomba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bandung or Katoomba?
Bandung has a larger population, and is about 90 times larger than the population of Katoomba. When comparing the sizes of Bandung 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.
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.