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

Should you visit Bandung or Pingyao?

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

Should I visit Bandung or Pingyao? 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 Pingyao?

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.

Pingyao

Pingyao is a small city in the Shanxi Province of China, dating back over 2700 years. The city is most famous for their old town, which is listed as a UNESCO World Heritage Site. The old town is one of the best preserved ancient walled cities in the world dating back to the Ming and Qing Dynasties.

The climate in Pingyao is influenced by monsoons, and therefore gets hot and humid summers and chillier springs. Autumn is a great time to visit as temperatures are fairly mild-in the 50-60's Fahrenheit- and you can avoid the heavy rains of summer. Winter is also a pleasant time to visit, especially since temperatures tend not to dip below 30 and there is not much snow or bad weather.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Pingyao or Bandung?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $48, while the average daily cost in Pingyao is $69. 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 Pingyao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bandung $20
    Pingyao $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bandung $40
    Pingyao $46
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Pingyao

Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Pingyao? 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 Pingyao


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 $5.54
    Pingyao $13

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung

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

  • Private Transfer from Mampang to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $35
  • Private Transfer from Sadang Serang to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer from Kel. Sekejati to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer from Kel. Samoja to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kel. Samoja: $37
  • Private Transfer from Pagerwangi to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer from Cihideung to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer from Dusun Mulya Bhakti to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to 40294 Arcamanik, Bandung City: $37
  • Private Transfer from Citeureup City to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer from Malabar to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Paledang: $37

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Pingyao

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Pingyao:


  • Taxi to Train Station
    $1.40

Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Pingyao?

Prices for flights to both Pingyao 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 $24
    Pingyao $34

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 Pingyao

Some typical examples of dining costs in Pingyao are as follows:


  • Casual Lunch (for 2)
    $5.05
  • Mango Juice
    $0.70

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bandung $5.45
    Pingyao $19

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 Pingyao

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Pingyao are as follows:


  • All Day Bike Rental (for 2)
    $2.80
  • Temple Entrance Fee (for 2)
    $7.01
  • Bike Parking Fee (for 2)
    $0.56

Tours and Activities in Pingyao

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Pingyao are as follows:

  • Pingyao Ancient City Full-Day Walking Tour: $145
  • Shuanglin Temple Tour or Entry Ticket Only Option: $18

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bandung $3.32
    Pingyao $14


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


Which is Bigger, Bandung or Pingyao?

Bandung has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Pingyao. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Pingyao, 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.