Which place is cheaper, Malang or Chennai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chennai or Malang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chennai or Malang? 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: Chennai or Malang?
Chennai
Formerly known as Madras from its colonial history, Chennai today is one of India's largest cities and capital of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu. It is located on the Bay of Bengal in southeastern India with an extensive stretch of sandy beaches, plenty of dining and shopping, a number of historic temples, monuments, and churches, plus amusement parks and more.
Malang
Malang is a city in East Java, Indonesia. It's a cultured city with several important universities, and is home to a large student population. Prized by the Dutch for its mild highland climate, the city retains much of its colonial architecture. Established by the Dutch in the closing decades of the 18th century, Malang earned its first fortunes from coffee, which flourished on the surrounding hillsides. Today, the city's colonial grandeur is quickly disappearing behind the homogenous facades of more modern developments, but there's still much to admire. The Balai Kota building blends Indonesian and Dutch styles, and grand mansions line the main boulevard, Jalan Besar Ijen. To the east is Mt. Bromo, a volcano with hiking trails. The central area is not too large and quite walkable. And with a number of Hindu temples and sights outside the city, Malang makes an ideal base to explore this intriguing corner of east Java.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in India, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in India, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChennai $29Malang $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $29, while the average daily cost in Malang is $69. 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 Chennai and Malang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChennai $15Malang $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChennai $30Malang $94
Compare Hotels in Chennai and Malang
Looking for a hotel in Chennai or Malang? 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: Chennai Hotel Prices and Malang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chennai $2.60Malang $1.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chennai
Also for Chennai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- A Private Transfer: From Chennai to Kanchipuram Car & Driver: $83
- A Private Transfer:From Chennai Airport To Chennai city: $24
- Affordable Chennai Airport Transfer: $24
- Chennai - Private Arrival Transfer - From Airport to Hotel: $20
- Chennai - Private Departure Transfer from Hotel to Airport : $19
- Chennai Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $15
- Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
- Chennai City Hotel to Chennai Airport Private Transfer: $30
- Chennai Private City and Airport Transfer : $31
- Chennai to Vellore Transfer by Private Vehicle: $94
- Departure Transfer from Chennai Hotels to Chennai airport: $20
- Departure transfer: Chennai hotels to Chennai International Airport: $19
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malang:
- Private Transfer from Malang to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $173
- Mount Bromo: Sunrise Guided Tour with Optional Transfer: $153
- South Beaches Tour with Private Transfer: $121
Is it cheaper to fly into Chennai or Malang?
Prices for flights to both Malang and Chennai 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 dayChennai $6.37Malang $18
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chennai
For Chennai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- 2 Hour Street Food Tour in Sowcarpet Chennai : $37
- Private In-Home Vegetarian Cooking Class and Meal in Chennai: $46
- Private Vegetarian South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai : $48
- South Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Passionate Baker: $48
- South Indian Vegetarian Cooking Class Near the Chennai airport: $62
- Traditional Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Cooking Lesson with a Local in Her Home: $74
- Private Authentic Indian Cooking Class in Chennai with a Local: $76
- Authentic South Indian Cooking Class and Vegetarian Meal with a Local in Chennai: $122
- Private South Indian Cooking Class and Market Visit in Chennai: $152
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chennai $2.75Malang $9.26
Tours and Activities in Chennai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chennai.
- 3-Day Private Tour to Mahabalipuram and Pondicherry: $3.37
- Chennai Night Walk Tour ( 2 hours guided walking tour): $17
- Chennai Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour): $17
- Magical Chennai Markets Tour (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $18
- Chennai Walk of Divinity (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $18
- Night Walking Tour of Chennai: $19
- 2 Hour Street Food Walking Tour: $22
- Chennai Cultural Walking Tour: $26
- Village Tour around Mahabalipuram: $27
- The Georgetown Bazaar Walking tour : $29
- Private Ayurvedic Meal Experience with a Local Cookbook Author: $30
- Food trail in Sowcarpet Market by Wonder tours: $33
Tours and Activities in Malang
Here are a few actual costs in Malang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day - Amazing Bromo Sunrise tour with 7 spots // 00.30 -13.00: $45
- 1 Day - Bromo Afternoon Siesta Tour start MALANG or SURABAYA // 11:00 - 18:00: $88
- 1 Day - Bromo Morning Tour start MALANG or SURABAYA // 7.30-16:00: $88
- 1 Day - Tumpak Sewu, Kapas Biru Waterfall, Goa Tetes cave* Tour // 07:30 - 17:00: $74
- 1 Day - ULTIMATE TOUR Tumpak Sewu Waterfall and Goa Tetes cave // 07:30 - 17:30: $57
- 1 Day Mount Bromo Sharing Tour Package from Malang: $43
- 1Day - Bromo Non Sunrise Tour via Malang (to avoid crowd): $75
- 1Day - Bromo Sunrise Tour via Malang (Sharing or Private Jeep): $45
- 1Day - Malang Cycling Village Tour: $60
- 2 Day Adventure Tumpak Sewu Waterfall & Bromo Sunrise Tour: $3.04
- 2 Days - Bromo Ijen Bali Ultimate Tour // D1 01.00 - D2 14.00: $183
- 2 Days Tour of Mount Bromo Ijen Crater: $230
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChennai $3.06Malang -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chennai and Malang, we can see that Malang is more expensive. And not only is Chennai much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Chennai would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Chennai 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 Malang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Malang than you might in Chennai.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chennai Expensive? and Is Malang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chennai or Malang?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Malang. When comparing the sizes of Chennai and Malang, 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.