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

Should you visit Bandung or Zhangjiajie?

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

Should I visit Bandung or Zhangjiajie? 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 Zhangjiajie?

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.

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie is $79. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bandung $20
    Zhangjiajie $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bandung $40
    Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Zhangjiajie

Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Zhangjiajie? 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 Zhangjiajie


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
    Zhangjiajie $15

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 Zhangjiajie

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

  • 4-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $710
  • Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $15
  • Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport private transfer service: $20
  • Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
  • Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
  • Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $321
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
  • Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
  • Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $52
  • 1 Day Fenghuang and Furong Town Day Tour with Hotel Transfers: $192

Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Zhangjiajie?

Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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
    Zhangjiajie $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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie

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

  • 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bandung $5.45
    Zhangjiajie $23

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 Zhangjiajie

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

  • 2-Day Private Combo Tour: Avatar Mountain & Tianmen Mountain: $251
  • 2-Days Private tour to Avatar mount & Have's Gate & Glass bridge: $250
  • (Private Day Tour) Zhangjiajie National Park + Tianzi Mountain: $195
  • 1 Day Dragon Sitting Gorge & Red Stone Forest Geo-park TOUR!: $272
  • 1 Day Private Expedition Tour to Binlang Valley: $142
  • 1 Day VIP Tour: Avatar Mountain&72 Odd Towers (Free Ticket): $203
  • 1 day tour Avatar Mountain and Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge: $215
  • 1-Day Private Tour to Glass Bridge & Yellow Dragon Cave: $102
  • 1-Day Private Tour to Tianmen Mountain & Glass Walk & Night Light: $146
  • 1-Day Private Tour to ZJJ National Forest Park & Avatar Mountain: $98
  • 1-Day Private Tour to Zhangjiajie Forest Park & AVATAR Mountain: $98
  • 1-Day Private Tour to Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountain: $195

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bandung $3.32
    Zhangjiajie $16


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


Which is Bigger, Bandung or Zhangjiajie?

Bandung has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Zhangjiajie, 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.