Which place is cheaper, Bandung or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Bandung?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling or Bandung? 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: Darjiling or Bandung?
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Religious Tours in India, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats 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 dayDarjiling $35Bandung $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, while the average daily cost in Bandung is $41. 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 Darjiling and Bandung in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $13Bandung $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $26Bandung $44
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Bandung
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling or Bandung? 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices and Bandung Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.45Bandung $6.01
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $182
- Private Transfer from Gangtok to Bagdogra: $55
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $73
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung
Also for Bandung, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Ujung Genteng Sukabumi to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $218
- Private Transfer from Pulasaren to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $174
- Private Transfer from Sukarasa Kuningan Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $174
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Garut Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $174
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Garut Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $174
- Private Transfer from Karyamulya to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $174
- Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Sunyaragi: $174
- Private Transfer from Sunyaragi to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $174
- Private Transfer from Pekalangan to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $174
- Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Larangan: $174
- Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Kesenden: $174
- Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Kalijaga: $174
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Bandung?
Prices for flights to both Bandung and Darjiling 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 dayDarjiling $14Bandung $15
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $12Bandung $5.91
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- A Full Day Tour Of Darjeeling: $232
- Best of Darjeeling (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $82
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
- Cultural & Nature Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $40
- Darjeeling City Tour with Uber: $65
- Darjeeling Exquisite Estate Tour: $156
- Darjeeling Full-Day Sightseeing Tour with Guide & Transports: $98
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $55
- Day Trip to Buddha Park (Guided Private Sightseeing Tour from Gangtok): $147
- Day Trip to Darjeeling (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Gangtok): $146
- Day Trip to Gangtok (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $147
- Day Trip to Kalimpong (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $146
Tours and Activities in Bandung
For Bandung, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Ali's Batukaras Surf & Countryside Eco Tours : $27
- BANDUNG : MAKE CUSTOMIZED TOUR WITH CAR CHARTER AND DRIVER: $78
- Backpacker Style of the Java-Madura-Bali Island Tour 12 Days: $1,627
- Bandung , West Java Tour: $120
- Bandung One Day Tour Package: $160
- Volcano, Hot Spring, Mud Bathing, & Lake Tour: $67
- Bandung:Kawah Putih,Volcano,HotSpring,Mud Bathing,Lake Tour: $53
- Day Trip White Crater Ciwidey Bandung All In - Tour Guide: $74
- Daytrip Costum White Crater Volcano Mount Tour Guide Bandung: $50
- From Jakarta: Bandung City Tour: $132
- From Jakarta: Bandung Volcano Tour: $156
- Full-Day Tour to Bandung White Crater,Lake and Tea Plantation: $82
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.73Bandung $3.60
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Bandung, we can see that Bandung is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Bandung would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bandung than you might in Darjiling.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling Expensive? and Is Bandung Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Bandung?
Bandung has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling and Bandung, 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.