Which place is cheaper, Paihia or Bandung?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Bandung or Paihia?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bandung or Paihia? 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 Paihia?
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.
Paihia
Paihia is a town on the North Island of New Zealand in the Bay of Islands region. It is about a three hours north of Auckland by car. For those visiting the Bay of Islands, it is the main town in the area and is located near the town of Russell and Kerikeri. There is a wharf in town where most ships depart from if you are planning on going out to explore the Bay of Islands. Paihia is a very small town with a population of about 1800 people. There is a fair climate all year round with temperatures ranging from sixty to seventy degrees Fahrenheit.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in New Zealand, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBandung $40Paihia $80
The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $40, while the average daily cost in Paihia is $80. 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 Paihia in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBandung $21Paihia $33
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBandung $42Paihia $66
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Paihia
Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Paihia? 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 Paihia Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bandung $5.76Paihia $12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung
Also for Bandung, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Kec. Batununggal Kel. Kacapiring 40271 to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
- Private Transfer from ciwidey to Bandung Airport (BDO): $57
- Private Transfer from Villa Istana Bunga to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
- 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 Tamansari to Bandung Airport (BDO): $35
- Private Transfer from Sukatani permai to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $68
- Private Transfer from Sukatani Purwakarta Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $109
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi, Sukamakmur, Bogor to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $93
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Sukamakmur Bogor to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $93
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Garut Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $168
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Cianjur Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $109
Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Paihia?
Prices for flights to both Paihia 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 dayBandung $14Paihia $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paihia
For Paihia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Modern Vegetarian Cooking Class with Anna in Northland: $195
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bandung $5.67Paihia $34
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 Paihia
For Paihia, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Adrenalin Junkie Tour - 60 mins (min 2): $108
- *Popular Cruise Ship Tour* Bay of Islands and Glow Worm Caves Shore Excursion: $127
- 3 Hours // Hole in the Rock Cruise & Bay of Islands Tour: $75
- 3 Hours // Hole in the Rock Cruise & Island Stopover: $75
- Bay Combo Tour - 60 mins (min 2): $108
- Bay of Islands 2-Hour Sundowner Evening Sailing Cruise: $48
- Bay of Islands Cruise & Island Tour - Snorkel, Hike,Swim,Wildlife: $90
- Bay of Islands Discover the Bay cruise including Dolphins: $90
- Bay of Islands Half-Day Private Tour: $196
- Bay of Islands Waterfall Explorer Kayaking Tour: $59
- Bay of Islands and Hole in the Rock Scenic Helicopter Tour: $173
- Bay of Islands: 4.5 Hour Day Cruise and Island Getaway Tour: $74
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBandung $3.46Paihia $22
Sample the Local Flavors in Paihia
Also in Paihia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Bay of Islands Wine Tour with Lunch: $106
- Private Tour: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $287
- Private Shore Excursion: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $287
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bandung and Paihia, we can see that Paihia 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 Paihia 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 Paihia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paihia 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 Paihia Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bandung or Paihia?
Bandung has a larger population, and is about 870 times larger than the population of Paihia. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Paihia, 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.