Which place is cheaper, Ise or Malang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Malang or Ise?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Malang or Ise? 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 Ise?
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.
Ise
A coastal city of Japan, Ise is best known for the Ise Shrine, arguably the holiest and most important Shinto site and the reputed home of the Emperor's Sacred Mirror. The shrine dates back to 4 BC and actually consists of two shrines: the inner shrine called Naiku and the outer shrine called Geku.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan, and The Best Cultural Tours in Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMalang $66Ise $89
The average daily cost (per person) in Malang is $66, while the average daily cost in Ise is $89. 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 Ise in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMalang $45Ise $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMalang $90Ise $84
Compare Hotels in Malang and Ise
Looking for a hotel in Malang or Ise? 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: Malang Hotel Prices and Ise Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Malang $1.42Ise $43
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 Malang or Ise?
Prices for flights to both Ise 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
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Food Meals for one dayMalang $17Ise $24
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Malang $8.88Ise $5.83
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
Tours and Activities in Ise
Here are a few actual costs in Ise for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Shirataki Takigyo Waterfall Meditation Experience in Toba: $29
- Island Adventure Sea Kayak Tour(Ise-Shima): $39
- Ise Grand Shrine Private Guided Tour: $88
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMalang -Ise $4.52
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Malang and Ise, we can see that Ise is more expensive. And not only is Malang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Ise would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ise 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 Ise Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Malang or Ise?
Malang has a larger population, and is about 8 times larger than the population of Ise. When comparing the sizes of Malang and Ise, 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.