Which place is cheaper, Nanjing or Malang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Malang or Nanjing?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Malang or Nanjing? 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 Nanjing?
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.
Nanjing
Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMalang $66Nanjing $96
The average daily cost (per person) in Malang is $66, while the average daily cost in Nanjing is $96. 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 Nanjing in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMalang $45Nanjing $46
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMalang $90Nanjing $92
Compare Hotels in Malang and Nanjing
Looking for a hotel in Malang or Nanjing? 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.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Malang $1.42Nanjing $38
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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:
- Nanjing Railway Station Private Transfer from City Center: $32
- Huangshan Tunxi International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area: $20
- Nanjing Airport (NKG) to Nanjing - Arrival Private Transfer : $36
- Nanjing Airport (NKG) to Nanjing - Round-Trip Private Transfer : $72
- Nanjing Lukou Airport Chauffeur Service, Nanjing Airport Transfer, Pickup: $63
- Nanjing Lukou Airport Chauffeur Service, Nanjing Airport Transfer, Pickup: $53
- Nanjing Lukou Int Airport (NKG): Private Transfer to Nanjing: $175
- Nanjing Lukou International Airport (NKG) to Nanjing - Arrival Private Transfer : $33
- Nanjing Lukou International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $45
- Nanjing Lukou Intl Airport (NKG) to Nanjing hotels - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $66
- Nanjing Private Round Trip Transfer to Niushoushan Cultural Park: $67
- Nanjing Private Transfer from Nanjing central to Nanjing Lukou Airport (NKG): $115
Is it cheaper to fly into Malang or Nanjing?
Prices for flights to both Nanjing 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 dayMalang $17Nanjing $28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.
- 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
- Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
- Nanjing City Private Night Tour with Qinghuai River Cruise and Dinner Option: $114
- Nanjing Tangshan Mountain Hot Spring Experience and Hot Pot Dinner: $175
- Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Malang $8.88Nanjing $9.27
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
Tours and Activities in Nanjing
Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
- Nanjing Self-Guided Day Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $70
- Nanjing Private English Tour Guide Service: $75
- Private Amazing Nanjing City Day Tour in Your Way: $75
- Nanjing Professional English Tour Guide Service: $91
- Half-Day Nanjing Purple Mountain Private Tour in Your Way: $94
- Yangzhou Self-Guided Tour from Nanjing with Private Car and Driver Service : $94
- Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
- 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way : $109
- 4-Hour Nanjing Private Tour: Xiaoling Tomb, Ming City Wall and Memorial Hall : $115
- Nanjing Private Night Tour: Confucian Temple Area, Ming City Wall, Laomendong: $116
- Nanjing Private Flexible Day Tour with Ancient and Modern History: $119
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMalang -Nanjing -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Malang and Nanjing, we can see that Nanjing 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 Nanjing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nanjing 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 Nanjing Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Malang or Nanjing?
Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Malang. When comparing the sizes of Malang and Nanjing, 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.