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

Should you visit Malang or Coffs Harbour?

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

Should I visit Malang or Coffs Harbour? 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: Malang or Coffs Harbour?

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.

Coffs Harbour

Coffs Harbour is in New South Wales between Brisbane and Sydney. Historically, Coffs Harbour has been a popular vacation destination among families, particularly Australian families. Most visitors today are families that are carrying on a longstanding tradition and bringing their children to the holiday destination of their childhood. You'll also find backpackers who spend up to a week here, dividing the trip between Sydney and Brisbane. The area has a well established tourist infrastructure that is not as trendy as that in Byron Bay, but it remains a wonderful community to visit if you're not looking for the party atmosphere.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Australia, and Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Coffs Harbour or Malang?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Malang is $66, while the average daily cost in Coffs Harbour is $135. 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 Malang and Coffs Harbour in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Malang $45
    Coffs Harbour $63
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Malang $90
    Coffs Harbour $126
Compare Hotels in Malang and Coffs Harbour

Looking for a hotel in Malang or Coffs Harbour? 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 Malang


Hotels in Coffs Harbour


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: Malang Hotel Prices and Coffs Harbour Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Malang $1.42
    Coffs Harbour $22

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malang

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Malang:

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Malang or Coffs Harbour?

Prices for flights to both Coffs Harbour and Malang 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
    Malang $17
    Coffs Harbour $51

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Malang $8.88
    Coffs Harbour $41

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: $43
  • 1 Day - Bromo Afternoon Siesta Tour start MALANG or SURABAYA // 11:00 - 18:00: $83
  • 1 Day - Tumpak Sewu, Kapas Biru Waterfall, Goa Tetes cave* Tour // 07:30 - 17:00: $70
  • 1 Day - ULTIMATE TOUR Tumpak Sewu Waterfall and Goa Tetes cave // 07:30 - 17:30: $54
  • 1Day - Bromo Non Sunrise Tour via Malang (to avoid crowd): $75
  • 1Day - Bromo Sunrise Tour via Malang (Sharing Trip): $45
  • 2 Days - Bromo Ijen Bali Ultimate Tour // D1 01.00 - D2 14.00: $174
  • 2 Days - Tumpak Sewu Waterfall & Mt Bromo Experience from Malang: $164
  • 2Days - Bromo Sunrise Ijen Adventure via Malang: $190
  • 3Days - Tumpaksewu Bromo Ijen Adventure via Malang: $267
  • Bromo Adventure: $75
  • Bromo Ijen Bali tour From Malang (2 Days): $292

Typical Entertainment Prices in Coffs Harbour

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Coffs Harbour's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Surfing Museum (for 2)
    $7.14

Tours and Activities in Coffs Harbour

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

  • Daytime Kayak Eco Tour of New South Wales: $40
  • Sunset Kayak Eco Tour with Marine Scientist: $40
  • Coffs Harbour Whale Watch Experience: $63
  • Sunset Experience: $77
  • Rainforest & Waterfall Experience: $126
  • Coastal Adventure: $126

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Malang -
    Coffs Harbour $8.34


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Malang and Coffs Harbour, we can see that Coffs Harbour is more expensive. And not only is Malang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Malang is in Asia and Coffs Harbour is in Pacific, 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 Malang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Malang 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 Coffs Harbour would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Coffs Harbour than you might in Malang.

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


Which is Bigger, Malang or Coffs Harbour?

Malang has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Coffs Harbour. When comparing the sizes of Malang and Coffs Harbour, 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.