Which place is cheaper, Malang or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Malang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling 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: Darjiling or Malang?
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.
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 Religious Tours in India, The Best Yoga Tours and Retreats in India, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, and The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $35Malang $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, 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 Darjiling and Malang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $13Malang $47
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $26Malang $94
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Malang
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices and Malang Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.45Malang $1.48
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $73
- Private Transfer from Gangtok to Bagdogra: $55
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $182
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 Darjiling or Malang?
Prices for flights to both Malang 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 $14Malang $18
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $12Malang $9.26
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $25
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
- Cultural & Nature Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $40
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $55
- Private Morning Excursion Tour To Tiger Hill (3 Points) With Pickup and Drop: $61
- Excursion to Tea Estate Tour With Tea Processing Tour with Transportation: $61
- Gangtok Monastery Tour (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $81
- Darjeeling Full-Day Sightseeing Tour with Guide & Transports: $98
- The Land Mark Tour (Nautical Day Darjeeling To Mirik crusade): $122
- Day_Trippers (Darjeeling Full Day Tour).: $122
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 - 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 Trip): $45
- 2 Day Adventure Tumpak Sewu Waterfall & Bromo Sunrise Tour: $3.03
- 2 Days - Bromo Ijen Bali Ultimate Tour // D1 01.00 - D2 14.00: $182
- 2-Day Tour: Mount Bromo & Tumpak Sewu Waterfall from Malang: $165
- 2Days - Bromo Sunrise Ijen Adventure via Malang: $190
- 3Days - Tumpaksewu Bromo Ijen Adventure via Malang: $267
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.73Malang -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Malang, we can see that Malang 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 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 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 Malang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Malang?
Malang has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling 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.