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

Should you visit Bandung or Tianjin?

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

Should I visit Bandung or Tianjin? 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 Tianjin?

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.

Tianjin

Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.

Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Tianjin 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 Tianjin is $92. 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 Tianjin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bandung $20
    Tianjin $35
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bandung $40
    Tianjin $70
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Tianjin

Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Tianjin? 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 Tianjin


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
    Tianjin $37

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung

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

  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kertajati Intl. Airport Cirebon (KJT): $221
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Garut Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196
  • Private Transfer from Sukarasa Kuningan Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196
  • Private Transfer from Larangan to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
  • Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Pejambon: $184
  • Private Transfer from Karyamulya to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
  • Private Transfer from Sunyaragi to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
  • Private Transfer from Jagasatru to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
  • Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Larangan: $184
  • Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Jagasatru: $184
  • Private Transfer from Argasunya to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
  • Private Transfer from Situ Sumedang to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin

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

  • [Airport Transfer] Tianjin Airport ⇔ Tianjin City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service <Charter charter>: $13
  • Tianjin Railway Station Private Transfer to Cruise Port: $32
  • Tianjin Private Transfer to Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall: $196
  • Tianjin Private Transfer from Railway Station to Cruise Port: $80
  • Tianjin Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Railway Station: $80
  • Tianjin Private Round-Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $112
  • Tianjin Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Pass and Eastern Qing Tombs: $132
  • Tianjin International Cruise Port Private Transfer to City Hotels : $80
  • Tianjin Cruise Port to Hotels in Beijing Downtown Shared Transfer: $95
  • Tianjin Cruise Port Transfer To Tianjin Airport one way private transfer: $50
  • Tianjin Cruise Port Private Transfer to Binhai Railway Station: $32
  • Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29

Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Tianjin?

Prices for flights to both Tianjin 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
    Tianjin $36

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bandung $5.45
    Tianjin $10

Tours and Activities in Bandung

For Bandung, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 7 Hour Private Bandung City Tour : $148
  • BANDUNG : MAKE CUSTOMIZED TOUR WITH CAR CHARTER AND DRIVER: $78
  • Bandung : White Crater, Tea Plantation Tour Guide Bandung: $66
  • Bandung Crater Adventure Hotspring and Mud Bath: $70
  • Bandung One Day Tour Package: $160
  • Bandung Tour All In, White Crater, Volcano Mountain, Hot Spring : $52
  • Bandung Tour Volcano, Hotsprings, Mud, Tea, Lunch all Included: $60
  • Bandung Volcano Sightseeing and Hot Spring Private Tour: $43
  • Kawah Putih Day Tours: $59
  • Sanghyang Kenit Cave and Rainbow Waterfall Tour: $62
  • Tangkuban Parahu Volcano & Surrounding Areas Tour: $44
  • Batukaras Countryside & Canyon Tour: $74

Tours and Activities in Tianjin

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.

  • Private Tour to Uncover Tianjin’s Must-Visit Bucket-List Spots : $248
  • 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
  • 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Shijia Mansion with Bullet Train Experience: $210
  • 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
  • All-inclusive Day Tour: China House, Five Avenues, Ancient Street & Tianjin Eye: $224
  • All-inclusive Tianjin Day Tour to Qing Emperor's Tomb & Huangyaguan Great Wall : $278
  • Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
  • From Beijing: Tianjin Highlights Day Tour by High-Speed Rail: $289
  • Huangyaguan Great Wall Layover Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $265
  • Private Great Wall Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $248
  • Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
  • Private Tianjin City Night Tour with Haihe River Cruise: $176

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bandung $3.32
    Tianjin $11


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


Which is Bigger, Bandung or Tianjin?

Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Bandung. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Tianjin, 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.