Which place is cheaper, Surabaya or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Dubai or Surabaya?
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 Surabaya can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Surabaya?
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.
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 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $248Surabaya $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $248, while the average daily cost in Surabaya is $63. 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 Surabaya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Surabaya $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Surabaya $74
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Surabaya
Looking for a hotel in Dubai 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: Dubai Hotel Prices and Surabaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Surabaya $2.76
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:
- Banana Boat Ride Dubai With Transfer: $190
- Burj Al Arab Tour - Gold Cappuccino With Private Transfers: $147
- Dubai Frame & La Perle Dragon Dubai (Bronze) With Transfer: $210
- Ekart Zabeel Dubai With Transfer: $150
- Inside Burj Al Arab Tour with Gold Cappuccino and Transfer: $190
- 1 Day 1 Park (Motiongate or Legoland) with Private Transfer: $185
- 12 Minute Helicopter Ride in Dubai with Optional Transfer: $255
- 2 Dives for Certified Divers in Fujairah with lunch & transfer: $167
- 2 Hour View at The Palm Ticket and One Way Monorail with Transfer: $65
- 5 Hours Dubai Frame and Global Village Tour with Private Transfer: $135
- 6 Emirates in a Day Tour with Lunch & Private Transfer Dubai: $195
- 60 Minute Speed Boat Ride in Dubai with Private Transfer: $229
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Samaan: $210
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Malang: $168
- Private Transfer from Batu to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $168
- Private Transfer from Bangkalan to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $134
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Bangkalan: $134
- Private Transfer from Gresik to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $93
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Gresik: $93
- Surabaya & Malang: Private Transfer To The Hotels or Airport: $68
- Surabaya & Malang: Private Hotel or Airport Transfer: $67
- Private Transfer from Manyar to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $50
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Gempol: $50
- Private Transfer from Gempol to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $50
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Surabaya?
Prices for flights to both Surabaya 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 $56Surabaya $22
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
- Dubai Romantic Dhow Creek Dinner Cruise With Live Shows and International Buffet: $15
- 2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner: $15
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Al Seef: $15
- Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
- Cruising With Dinner And Live Shows At Dubai Creek: $18
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet: $18
- Desert Safari with Dinner and Live Show: $18
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner: $19
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Surabaya $4.74
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.
- Tourist eSIM/SIM Card with Data and Minutes: $2.49
- Dubai Guided Old Town Tour, Abra Boat, Gold & Spice Souk: $4.63
- A Self-Guided Tour of Dubai’s Origins in Deira: $5.99
- Global Village Entry Ticket: $6.13
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai Hidden Gems - Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.32
- 4G Data Roaming eSIM Card for Tourists: $7.22
- Small-Group Premium Old Town, Souk, & Abra Boat Tour: $7.62
- Old Town Walking Tour with Souks, Abra Ride & Snacks: $8.00
- Old Walking tour with Boat ride, Souks and Museums: $8.17
- Old Dubai, Walking Tour, Souk Shopping, and Abra Ride: $8.85
- Pearl Merchants and Palm Trees: A Self-Guided Tour of Sharjah: $8.99
- Guided Old Town Tour with Souks, Tastings & Boat Tour: $9.53
Tours and Activities in Surabaya
Here are a few actual costs in Surabaya for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 1 Day Bromo Private Tour with Madakaripura Waterfall: $118
- 1 Day Private Malang / Surabaya Bromo Sunrise Tour: $98
- 1 Day Tour - Wonderful Sunrise Mount Bromo From Surabaya: $136
- 1Day - Bromo Madakaripura Day Tour: $128
- 1Day - Bromo Sunrise Tour via Surabaya (Private Tour): $132
- 2Days - Bromo Family Tour via Surabaya: $163
- 2Days - Bromo Sunrise Ijen Tour via Surabaya: $199
- 3 Days - Mt Bromo & Ijen Experience from Surabaya or Malang: $263
- 3 Days Bromo Ijen Tour From Surabaya: $170
- 3 Days Private Tour in Bromo and Ijen from Surabaya: $275
- 3Days - Adventure Bromo Ijen via Surabaya: $245
- 3Days - Adventure Bromo Ijen via Surabaya or Malang (Hotel Stay): $265
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Surabaya -
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 Tour: $67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Surabaya, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Surabaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai is in Middle East and Surabaya 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 Surabaya would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Surabaya 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 Surabaya.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Dubai Expensive? and Is Surabaya Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Surabaya?
Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Dubai. When comparing the sizes of Dubai 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.