Which place is cheaper, Bandung or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dubai or Bandung?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Dubai and Bandung can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Bandung?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
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 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $248Bandung $40
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $248, while the average daily cost in Bandung is $40. 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 Dubai and Bandung in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Bandung $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Bandung $42
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Bandung
Looking for a hotel in Dubai 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: Dubai Hotel Prices and Bandung Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Bandung $5.76
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yellow Boat Tour Dubai with Private Transfers: $95
- Yellow Boat Tour Dubai With Private Transfers: $102
- Yellow Boat Ride in Dubai with Private Transfers: $110
- Xline Dubai Marina Zipline Experience With Transfers Option: $243
- Xline Dubai Marina Zipline Experience Dubai with Transfers Option: $247
- Wild Wadi tickets with Transfers: $100
- Wild Wadi Waterpark tickets with Private transfer: $154
- Wild Wadi Waterpark Entrance Ticket -Dubai with Transfers Option: $99
- Wild Wadi Waterpark Dubai Ticket With Private Transfer: $125
- Wild Wadi WaterPark Ticket with Optional Transfers and Meal: $78
- Wild Wadi Water Park Ticket with Transfer from Dubai: $131
- Wild Wadi Dubai water park Ticket with 1 way transfer in Dubai: $110
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): $210
- Private Transfer from Ujung Genteng Sukabumi to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $210
- Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Kesenden: $168
- Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Garut Regency to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $168
- Private Transfer from Pejambon to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $168
- Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Sunyaragi: $168
- Private Transfer from Pekalangan to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $168
- Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Jagasatru: $168
- Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Larangan: $168
- Private Transfer from Larangan to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $168
- Private Transfer from Kesenden to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $168
- Private Transfer from Kertajati Airport (KJT) to Kalijaga: $168
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Bandung?
Prices for flights to both Bandung and Dubai 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 dayDubai $56Bandung $14
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.54
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Dubai Creek with Buffet Dinner: $14
- Dubai:Desert Safari BBQ dinner, Dune bashing,Camel&Sandboarding: $14
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet in Dubai: $14
- Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $14
- 2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner: $15
- Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner in Dubai Creek: $17
- Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise Dinner: $18
- Desert Safari with Dinner and Live Show: $18
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet: $18
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner: $19
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Creek: $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Bandung $5.67
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- 60 Minutes Dubai Yellow Boat Marina Tour: $78
- Abu Dhabi City Tour Including Ferrari World Ticket : $170
- Bur Dubai Abra Tour and Boat Ride with Museum of Illusions : $135
- Burj Khalifa Observation deck Dubai Admission Ticket : $71
- Classical Dubai Highlights City Tour : $44
- DXB Tour and Aquaventure water park & lost Chambers PRIVATE tour: $215
- Dubai (Marina Luxury Yacht) Tour with BF : $95
- Dubai (Marina Luxury Yacht) Tour with Breakfast: $105
- Dubai Aquarium and Underwater Zoo Explorer Tickets: $95
- Dubai City Tour : Half Day: $45
- Dubai City Tour(Full Day) with Burj Khalifa Ticket 'At the Top' : $225
- Dubai Frame Entry Ticket: $22
Tours and Activities in Bandung
For Bandung, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Backpacker Style of the Java-Madura-Bali Island Tour 12 Days: $1,544
- Bandung One Day Tour Package: $160
- Kawah Putih Private Tour and Angklung Performance: $45
- Volcano Tour with Hot Springs Swim: $135
- Volcano, Hot Spring, Mud Bathing, & Lake Tour: $64
- Bandung:Kawah Putih,Volcano,HotSpring,Mud Bathing,Lake Tour: $50
- Bogor ,west Java Tour: $50
- Day Trip White Crater Ciwidey Bandung All In - Tour Guide: $70
- Full-Day Tour to Bandung White Crater,Lake and Tea Plantation: $82
- Innova Reborn Tour driver car rental in Bandung: $64
- Java Bali Private Tour Package with Driver as Guide: $468
- Java Classic Overland Tour: $1,332
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Bandung $3.46
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tours: $66
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour: $67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Bandung, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Bandung much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Bandung is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai 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 Dubai Expensive? and Is Bandung Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Bandung?
Bandung has a larger population, and is about 49% larger than the population of Dubai. When comparing the sizes of Dubai 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.