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

Should you visit Bandung or Whitsundays?

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

Should I visit Bandung or Whitsundays? 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 Whitsundays?

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.

Whitsundays

Just off the coast of Queensland, Australia is a cluster of 74 different islands. These islands, the Whitsunday Islands, welcome over a half a million visitors every year to see one of the Seven Wonders of the World - the Great Barrier Reef.

As one of the most famous destinations in the world, it's not uncommon to see expensive yachts sailing around among the private ferries. Most of the islands are designated as national parks with access to snorkeling and diving in the coral reefs, or just to lay in the sand on the famous Whitehaven Beach.

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 Australia, and The Best Walking Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Whitsundays or Bandung?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $41, while the average daily cost in Whitsundays is $139. 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 Whitsundays in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bandung $22
    Whitsundays $72
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bandung $44
    Whitsundays $144
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Whitsundays

Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Whitsundays? 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 Whitsundays


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 $6.00
    Whitsundays $58

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung

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

  • Private Transfer from Sumber to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $172
  • Private Transfer from Kesenden to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $172
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Garut Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $172
  • Private Transfer from Pejambon to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $172
  • Private Transfer from Pekalangan to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $172
  • Private Transfer from Jagasatru to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $172
  • Private Transfer from Larangan to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $172
  • Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Kesenden: $172
  • Private Transfer from Kalijaga to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $172
  • Private Transfer from Cirebon City to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $172
  • Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Situ Sumedang: $172
  • Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Kotakulon Sumedang: $172

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Whitsundays

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

  • Whitsunday Islands: Whitehaven Beach Camping Transfer: $130

Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Whitsundays?

Prices for flights to both Whitsundays 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 $15
    Whitsundays $31

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 Whitsundays

For Whitsundays, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Hamilton Island: Whitsundays Sunset BBQ Dinner Cruise: $102

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bandung $5.90
    Whitsundays $26

Tours and Activities in Bandung

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

  • 3D 2N GOLDEN ROUTE TOUR PACKAGE [ Bandung - Garut - Pangandaran ] All include: $285
  • BANDUNG : MAKE CUSTOMIZED TOUR WITH CAR CHARTER AND DRIVER: $76
  • Backpacker Style of the Java-Madura-Bali Island Tour 12 Days: $1,600
  • Bandung One Day Tour Package: $160
  • Volcano, Hot Spring, Mud Bathing, & Lake Tour: $66
  • Bandung:Kawah Putih,Volcano,HotSpring,Mud Bathing,Lake Tour: $56
  • Day Trip White Crater Ciwidey Bandung All In - Tour Guide: $73
  • Daytrip Costum White Crater Volcano Mount Tour Guide Bandung: $49
  • From Jakarta: Bandung City Tour: $132
  • From Jakarta: Bandung Volcano Tour: $156
  • Full-Day Tour to Bandung White Crater,Lake and Tea Plantation: $82
  • Indonesia: Paragliding Experiences by Papatong Fly & Play: $41

Tours and Activities in Whitsundays

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

  • Airlie Beach: Private Guided 2-Night Yacht Sailing Cruise: $5,159
  • Airlie Beach: Whitsundays Full-Day Camira Sailing Adventure: $163

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bandung $3.60
    Whitsundays $13


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