Which place is cheaper, Surabaya or Chennai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Chennai or Surabaya?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Chennai or Surabaya? 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 Surabaya?
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.
Surabaya
Surabaya, also known as the "city of heroes," is the capital of East Java and the second largest city in Indonesia, following Jakarta. While it doesn't highlight as many typical tourist monuments as other cities, Surabaya serves as a takeoff point or a landing base for travelers visiting Mount Bromo and Bali.
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 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChennai $29Surabaya $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Chennai is $29, while the average daily cost in Surabaya is $66. 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 Surabaya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChennai $15Surabaya $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChennai $30Surabaya $78
Compare Hotels in Chennai and Surabaya
Looking for a hotel in Chennai or Surabaya? 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 Surabaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chennai $2.60Surabaya $2.88
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 Airport Transfers : Budget Sedan and SUV Cabs: $15
- Chennai Airport to Hotel Transfer: $13
- Chennai City Hotel to Chennai Airport Private Transfer: $30
- Chennai International Airport to Hotel-Private Arrival transfer: $25
- 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
- From One-Way Transfer to Kodaikanal Car & Driver: $191
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Samaan: $218
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Podokoyo: $218
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Batu: $174
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Bangkalan: $139
- Private Transfer from Bangkalan to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $139
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Gresik: $96
- Private Transfer from Gresik to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $96
- Surabaya & Malang: Private Hotel or Airport Transfer: $71
- Surabaya & Malang: Private Transfer To The Hotels or Airport: $68
- Private Transfer from Sidoarjo to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $52
- Private Transfer from Ngoro to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $52
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Ngoro: $52
Is it cheaper to fly into Chennai or Surabaya?
Prices for flights to both Surabaya 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 $6.37Surabaya $23
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
- Traditional Tamil Brahmin Vegetarian Cooking Lesson with a Local in Her Home: $74
- Private 3-Hour Cooking Lesson and Meal in Chennai: $100
- 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
- Food Trail In Sowcarpet With Transport And Dinner - Chennai: $216
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chennai $2.75Surabaya $4.94
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 Walking Tour ( 2 hours guided tour): $17
- Chennai Night Walk Tour ( 2 hours guided walking 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
- The Georgetown Bazaar Walking tour : $29
- Private Ayurvedic Meal Experience with a Local Cookbook Author: $30
- George Town Origins Guided Walking Tour: $33
- Food trail in Sowcarpet Market by Wonder tours: $33
Tours and Activities in Surabaya
Here are a few actual costs in Surabaya for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Bromo Private Day Tour with Madakaripura Waterfall: $126
- 1 Day Private Malang / Surabaya Bromo Sunrise Tour: $100
- 1 Day Tour - Wonderful Sunrise Mount Bromo From Surabaya: $136
- 1 days Majapahit temple history tour: $100
- 1Day - Bromo Madakaripura Day Tour: $128
- 1Day - Bromo Sunrise Tour via Surabaya (Private Tour): $132
- 2Days - Bromo Madakaripura Adventure via Surabaya or Malang: $243
- 2Days - Bromo Sunrise Ijen Tour via Surabaya: $199
- 2Days/1Night Bromo Private Tour with Hotel: $189
- 3 Days Private Tour in Bromo and Ijen from Surabaya: $275
- 3-Day Tour: Mount Bromo & Tumpak Sewu Waterfall from Surabaya: $292
- 3D 2N Tour : Tumpak Sewu waterfall Bromo and Ijen Crater: $380
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChennai $3.06Surabaya -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Chennai and Surabaya, we can see that Surabaya 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 Surabaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Surabaya 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 Surabaya Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chennai or Surabaya?
Chennai has a larger population, and is about 82% larger than the population of Surabaya. When comparing the sizes of Chennai and Surabaya, 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.