Which place is cheaper, Rotorua or Bandung?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bandung or Rotorua?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bandung or Rotorua? 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 Rotorua?
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.
Rotorua
Located on the banks of Lake Rotorua, Rotorua is famous as the thermal wonderland of New Zealand. The area has a variety of geothermal sights, but it is also close to several lakes and has more traditional activities as well, including fishing, boating and white water rafting.
Rotorua is located in the Taupo Volcanic Zone, which is the largest volcano in the area. There are four major volcanic calderas that now have lakes, and several other volcanoes in the area. Rotorua sits on top of a thermal hot spring, and there are many vents and hot pools throughout the area. Many of the hot pools and sights are located within parks, with some of the best being Waimangu Volcanic Valley, Rainbow Springs Nature Park, and Wai-O-Tapu Thermal Wonderland.
Rotorua has a warm, temperate climate. Because of the area's inland location, it has less wind than many places in New Zealand. Temperatures during the winter months can fall to below freezing, but snow is incredibly rare.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand, and The Best Bicycle Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBandung $40Rotorua $93
The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $40, while the average daily cost in Rotorua is $93. 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 Rotorua in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBandung $21Rotorua $48
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBandung $42Rotorua $96
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Rotorua
Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Rotorua? 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 Rotorua Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bandung $5.76Rotorua $5.01
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Rotorua
Also for Rotorua, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rotorua to Auckland Afternoon Transfer with Waitomo Glow Worms: $182
Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Rotorua?
Prices for flights to both Rotorua 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 $14Rotorua $29
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Rotorua
For Rotorua, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Mitai Maori Village: Cultural Experience and Dinner Buffet: $92
- Te Pa Tu Māori Cultural Experience with Dinner: $154
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bandung $5.67Rotorua $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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Rotorua
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Rotorua's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Lunch Out for Two$27
Tours and Activities in Rotorua
For Rotorua, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Agrodome Farm Experience including Farm Show and Farm Tour - Rotorua: $30
- Cultural Experience & Seasonal Māori Cuisine at Te Pā Tū : $158
- From Hobbiton Movie Set Tour with Festive Lunch: $154
- From Wai O Tapu & Waimangu Eco Thermal Morning Tour: $86
- From Wai-O-Tapu, Waimangu and Te Puia Full-Day Tour: $193
- Geothermal Adults Only Mineral Bathing - Pavilion Pools Bathing Ticket: $27
- Geothermal Lakeside Bathing Experience - Deluxe Lake Spa: $46
- Geothermal Mineral Baths Experience: Pavilion Pools for 12+: $27
- Hells Gate Mud Bath and Sulphur Spa Experience: $50
- Hobbiton Day Tour from Rotorua with lunch at Hobbiton: $157
- Kaituna River: 3.5-Hour White Water Sledging Experience: $77
- Kaituna River: Whitewater Rafting Experience: $55
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBandung $3.46Rotorua $12
Typical Alcohol Prices in Rotorua
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Rotorua:
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Bottle of Wine$11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bandung and Rotorua, we can see that Rotorua 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 Rotorua 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 Rotorua would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Rotorua 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 Rotorua Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bandung or Rotorua?
Bandung has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Rotorua. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Rotorua, 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.