Which place is cheaper, Queenstown or Bandung?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bandung or Queenstown?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bandung or Queenstown? 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 Queenstown?
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.
Queenstown
Queenstown is a popular tourist destination on New Zealand's South Island. It is beautifully surrounded by the Southern Alps and sits on the banks of Lake Wakatipu. Across the lake you will find a stunning view of the Remarkables, a dramatic mountain range. The town itself is quite touristy, but prices still remain reasonable. There are options for all travel budgets, whether you're a backpacker hoping to save a few dollars or a family looking for some luxury accommodation. Despite its natural and tranquil setting, Queenstown is actually very much a party town, particularly during the peak seasons. Don't be surprised to find people out enjoying themselves until the early hours of the morning. If you're not into the party scene and are hoping to get a decent night's sleep, consider staying a little outside of town. About an hour outside of Queenstown you'll find Wanaka, which is a much smaller and peaceful town without the party scene.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Bicycle Tours in New Zealand, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBandung $40Queenstown $104
The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $40, while the average daily cost in Queenstown is $104. 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 Queenstown in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBandung $21Queenstown $55
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBandung $42Queenstown $110
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Queenstown
Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Queenstown? 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 Queenstown Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bandung $5.76Queenstown $10
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Queenstown
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Queenstown:
- Tasman Glacier Helihike with Flight Transfers: $890
- Milford Sound Cruise with Helicopter Transfer: $736
- Queenstown Airport: One-Way Private Transfer to Queenstown: $68
- Private Transfer from Wanaka to Queenstown Central: $179
- Private Transfer from Wanaka to Queenstown Airport: $179
- Private Transfer from Queenstown Central to Wanaka: $179
- Private Transfer from Queenstown Airport to Milford Sound Port: $166
- From Mount Cook Transfer w/ Guided Landmark Tour: $104
Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Queenstown?
Prices for flights to both Queenstown 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 $14Queenstown $36
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Queenstown
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Queenstown.
- Bar Crawl with 5 Free Shots and Pizza: $18
- Dinner at Walter Peak High Country Farm and Cruise from Queenstown: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bandung $5.67Queenstown $21
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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Queenstown
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Queenstown are as follows:
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Skyline Gondola (for 2)$30
Tours and Activities in Queenstown
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Queenstown are as follows:
- Arrowtown and Wanaka Platinum Tour from Queenstown: $157
- 5-Hour Wine and Food Sampler Tour from Queenstown: $137
- Arrowtown and Wanaka Highlights Tour from Queenstown: $127
- Boutique Winery Half-Day Tour & Vineyard Platter-Style Lunch: $142
- Cruise Milford Small Group Day Tour from Queenstown : $167
- Dart River Canoe and Jet Boat Experience from Queenstown: $267
- Dart River Jet Boat and Wilderness Experience: $186
- Doubtful Sound Wilderness Cruise from Queenstown: $260
- E-Bike Rental for Lake Dunstan Trail Experience : $112
- Escape Adventure AR Experience in Queenstown: $24
- Family Adventures Rafting and Sightseeing Trip in Queenstown: $182
- From Queenstown/Glenorchy: Dart River Jet Boat Tour: $178
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBandung $3.46Queenstown $8.90
Sample the Local Flavors in Queenstown
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Queenstown:
- Ice Bar Crawl: $24
- Queenstown & Gibbston Valley: Hop-On Hop-Off Wine Tours: $53
- Hop on Hop off Wine Tours Bannockburn - departing Queenstown: $60
- Afternoon brewery tour with lunch: $110
- Afternoon Wine Tasting Tour with 3 Wineries: $110
- Classic Wine Tour: $118
- Queenstown Classic Wine Tour: 3 Vineyards, Caves and Cheeseboard: $121
- Wine Tasting Tour: $130
- Afternoon Boutique Wine Tour: $133
- Central Otago Wine Tour from Queenstown Including Lunch: $145
- Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Lunch and Wine Tastings: $172
- Guided E-Bike Wine Tour Ride to the Vines: $175
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bandung and Queenstown, we can see that Queenstown 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 Queenstown 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 Queenstown would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Queenstown 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 Queenstown Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bandung or Queenstown?
Bandung has a larger population, and is about 160 times larger than the population of Queenstown. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Queenstown, 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.