A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Leh vs. Malang for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Leh or Malang?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Leh and Malang. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Leh or Malang?

Leh

Leh is a small town located in the Indus river valley at a crossroads of the old trading routes from Kashgar, Tibet, and Kashmir. Today, the town is best known for its Buddhist sites and nearby trekking areas. It is situated in northern India, amidst the mountainous Himalayan range.

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 One-Week (7-Day) Tours from New Delhi, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Mumbai, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Malang or Leh?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Leh is $39, while the average daily cost in Malang 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 Leh and Malang in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Leh $17
    Malang $45
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Leh $34
    Malang $90
Compare Hotels in Leh and Malang

Looking for a hotel in Leh 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.

Hotels in Leh


Hotels in Malang


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: Leh Hotel Prices and Malang Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Leh $7.86
    Malang $1.42

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Leh

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Leh:

  • Leh Airport Transfer: $33

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malang

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malang:

  • South Beaches Tour with Private Transfer: $115
  • Mount Bromo: Sunrise Guided Tour with Optional Transfer: $145
  • One Way Transfer from/to Yogyakarta-Surabaya-Malang-Bromo: $160

Is it cheaper to fly into Leh or Malang?

Prices for flights to both Malang and Leh 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Leh $14
    Malang $17

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Leh $14
    Malang $8.88

Tours and Activities in Leh

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Leh are as follows:

  • Leh-Ladakh Sameday Tour/ Capture the Majesty in Just One Day: $53
  • "Leh to Pangong Lake Sameday tour: A Day of Tranquil Wonders: $80
  • LADAKH TOUR: $659
  • From Srinagar: Private Himalayan 11-Day Tour to Ladakh: $1,507

Tours and Activities in Malang

Here are a few actual costs in Malang for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Malang local life kampong walking tour - city highlights in between // 4 - 6 hrs: $42
  • 1 Day - Amazing Bromo Sunrise tour with 7 spots // 00.30 -13.00: $43
  • 1Day - Bromo Sunrise Tour via Malang (Sharing Trip): $45
  • Day Tour - Golden Sunrise Mount Bromo via Malang (Sharing Tour): $47
  • 1 Day - ULTIMATE TOUR Tumpak Sewu Waterfall and Goa Tetes cave // 07:30 - 17:30: $54
  • East Java Dirt Bike Tours: $59
  • Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Experience from Malang or Surabaya: $61
  • Waterfalls Tour: $63
  • Private Full Day Tour of Tumpak Sewu Waterfall: $63
  • From Malang city: 1 Day Mount Bromo Private Tour: $67
  • From Malang or Surabaya: Private Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Tour: $68
  • 1 Day - Tumpak Sewu, Kapas Biru Waterfall, Goa Tetes cave* Tour // 07:30 - 17:00: $70

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Leh $5.57
    Malang -


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Leh and Malang, we can see that Malang is more expensive. And not only is Leh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Leh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Leh 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 Leh.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Leh Expensive? and Is Malang Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Leh or Malang?

Malang has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Leh. When comparing the sizes of Leh 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.