Which place is cheaper, Sandakan or Bandung?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Bandung or Sandakan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Bandung or Sandakan? 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 Sandakan?
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.
Sandakan
Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBandung $41Sandakan $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $41, while the average daily cost in Sandakan is $67. 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 Sandakan in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBandung $22Sandakan $23
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBandung $44Sandakan $46
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Sandakan
Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Sandakan? 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 Sandakan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bandung $6.00Sandakan $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung
Also for Bandung, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Cipanas Thermal to Jakarta Airport CGK Departure Transfer: $28
- Bandung or Lembang to Bandung Airport BDO Departure Transfer: $28
- Private Transfer from Mampang to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $32
- Private Transfer from Sukabumi to Bandung Airport (BDO): $36
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Sukahaji: $36
- Private Transfer from Sadang Serang to Bandung Airport (BDO): $36
- Private Transfer from Kec. Cibeunying Kidul Kel. 40124 to Bandung Airport (BDO): $36
- Private Transfer from Lembang to Bandung Airport (BDO): $36
- Private Transfer from Paledang to Bandung Airport (BDO): $36
- Private Transfer from Malabar to Bandung Airport (BDO): $36
- Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Lebak Gede: $36
- Private Transfer from Sukahaji to Bandung Airport (BDO): $36
Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Sandakan?
Prices for flights to both Sandakan 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 $15Sandakan $21
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bandung
For Bandung, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Bandung Food Tour: $67
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sandakan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
- Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan: $64
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bandung $5.90Sandakan $8.31
Tours and Activities in Bandung
For Bandung, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Stone Garden Western Tour From Bandung: $39
- Indonesia: Paragliding Experiences by Papatong Fly & Play: $41
- Kawah Rengganis Private Hiking and Glamping Lakeside Tour from Bandung: $41
- Private Guided Sightseeing Day Tour of Bandung: $43
- Daytrip Costum White Crater Volcano Mount Tour Guide Bandung: $49
- Private Guided Sightseeing Day Tour of Bandung: $50
- Kawah Putih tour - Day trip Ticket etc all including : $50
- Lembang Tour From Bandung: $51
- Private Tour to Patuhan Volcanic Crater and Angklung Show: $54
- Bandung:Kawah Putih,Volcano,HotSpring,Mud Bathing,Lake Tour: $56
- Kawah Putih Tour From Bandung City: $58
- Private Tour to Bandung Volcano Hot Springs and Mud bathing: $59
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $112
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $78
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $205
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $256
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $147
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch: $51
- Kinabatangan River Wildlife Cruise with Lunch: $192
- Orangutan Sanctuary Shared Day Trip Tour: $340
- Sepilok Orang Utan & Bornean Sun Bear Centre with Sandakan City Tour with Lunch: $191
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayBandung $3.60Sandakan $7.62
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bandung and Sandakan, we can see that Sandakan 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 Sandakan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sandakan 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 Sandakan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bandung or Sandakan?
Bandung has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Sandakan, 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.