A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Lhasa vs. Bandung for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Lhasa or Bandung?

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

Should I visit Lhasa 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: Lhasa or Bandung?

Lhasa

Lhasa is the famed capital of Tibet, and is one of the most fascinating cities in the world to visit. It's name means "Land of the Gods" and the city dates back more than 1,300 years. It's elevation is 3,650 meters above sea level, making it one of the highest cities in the world. It sits on the northern slopes of the Himalayan Mountains by the Lhasa River and is the second largest city on the Tibetan Plateau after Xining.

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 Sightseeing Tours in China, The Best Cultural Tours in China, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Bandung or Lhasa?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Lhasa is $91, while the average daily cost in Bandung is $48. 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 Lhasa and Bandung in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Lhasa $40
    Bandung $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Lhasa $80
    Bandung $40
Compare Hotels in Lhasa and Bandung

Looking for a hotel in Lhasa 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.

Hotels in Lhasa


Hotels in Bandung


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: Bandung Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Lhasa $2.60
    Bandung $5.54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lhasa

Also for Lhasa, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Lhasa Kongga Airport private Transfer: $260
  • Lhasa Kongga Airport Chauffeur Service, Lhasa Airport Transfer, Pickup: $170

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung

Also for Bandung, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Kec. Batununggal Kel. Kacapiring 40271 to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer from Sunyaragi to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
  • Private Transfer from Sukatani Purwakarta Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $128
  • Private Transfer from Sukatani Cikarang to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $58
  • Private Transfer from Sukatani Bekasi to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $58
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi, Sukamakmur, Bogor to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $80
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Sukamakmur Bogor to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $66
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Garut Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Cianjur Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $119
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Bekasi to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $66
  • Private Transfer from Sukarasa bandung to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $119
  • Private Transfer from Sukarasa Kuningan Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196

Is it cheaper to fly into Lhasa or Bandung?

Prices for flights to both Bandung and Lhasa 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
    Lhasa $46
    Bandung $24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bandung

For Bandung, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Indonesian Cooking Class with Welcoming Exotic Fruits: $32

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Lhasa $17
    Bandung $5.45

Tours and Activities in Lhasa

For Lhasa, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 17 Days Kailash Mansarovar Tour & Guge Kingdom Exploration: $13,185
  • 17-Day Tibet Tour with Everest Base Camp: $3,759
  • 5-Day Private Tour with Potala Palace & Yamdrok Lake: $1,299

Tours and Activities in Bandung

For Bandung, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 7 Hour Private Bandung City Tour : $148
  • BANDUNG : MAKE CUSTOMIZED TOUR WITH CAR CHARTER AND DRIVER: $78
  • Bandung : White Crater, Tea Plantation Tour Guide Bandung: $66
  • Bandung Crater Adventure Hotspring and Mud Bath: $70
  • Bandung One Day Tour Package: $160
  • Bandung Tour All In, White Crater, Volcano Mountain, Hot Spring : $52
  • Bandung Tour Volcano, Hotsprings, Mud, Tea, Lunch all Included: $60
  • Bandung Volcano Sightseeing and Hot Spring Private Tour: $43
  • Kawah Putih Day Tours: $59
  • Sanghyang Kenit Cave and Rainbow Waterfall Tour: $62
  • Tangkuban Parahu Volcano & Surrounding Areas Tour: $44
  • Batukaras Countryside & Canyon Tour: $74

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Lhasa $7.01
    Bandung $3.32


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Lhasa and Bandung, we can see that Lhasa is more expensive. And not only is Bandung much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Lhasa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Lhasa 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 Lhasa Expensive? and Is Bandung Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Lhasa or Bandung?

Bandung has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Lhasa. When comparing the sizes of Lhasa 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.