A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Malang vs. Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Malang or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

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

Should I visit Malang or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)? 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

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.

Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

In the heart of the Anhui Province of China is the stunning Mount Huangshan, or Yellow Mountain. This UNESCO World Heritage Site draws in visitors from around the world to take in the stunning views and conquer a new challenge.

Mount Huangshan is one of the most popular destinations in China. Because of this, most of the towns and regions around it also use the name Huangshan. Even the closest town, Tunxi, has begun going by Huangshan City. Keep this in mind as it could potentially cause some confusion in transit.

The whole of Huangshan has 36 separate peaks rising approximately 1,800 meters into the air. It is often covered in a spiritual-feeling mist that makes the peaks appear to live in the clouds. It has inspired artists for centuries, and is often thought to be the model for the typical mountain ranges seen in ancient Chinese paintings.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in China, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) is $57. 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Malang $45
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $25
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Malang $90
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $50
Compare Hotels in Malang and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Looking for a hotel in Malang or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)? 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 Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Malang $1.42
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $9.99

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain):


  • Shuttle Bus to Tangkou for Two
    $3.59

Is it cheaper to fly into Malang or Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)?

Prices for flights to both Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) 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
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $19

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Malang $8.88
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $27

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain)

Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) are as follows:


  • Two Entrance Tickets
    $63
  • Two Cable Car Passes
    $22

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Malang -
    Huangshan (Yellow Mountain) $15


When comparing the travel costs between Malang and Huangshan (Yellow Mountain), we can see that Malang is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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