A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Mount Bromo vs. Nara for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Mount Bromo or Nara?

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

Should I visit Mount Bromo or Nara? 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: Mount Bromo or Nara?

Mount Bromo

Mt. Bromo is the most famous active volcano in East Java at 2,329 meters high. Most visit Mt. Bromo to see the spectacular sunrise over the Tenggar-Caldera. Cemoro Lawang is the most popular town where tourists stay while visiting. Be prepared with cash ahead of time, as you'll have a hard time finding an ATM in town.

While you may be accustomed to warmer weather in other cities on the island, the highlands of Mt. Bromo will require that you dress warmly, if only for the night and early morning that you're there to see the sunrise, as temperatures may drop to freezing. There are many vendors selling hats and gloves if you need them.

Daytime temperatures, on the other hand, are much warmer in high 60s. Note that wet season takes place from November to March, and the months of January and February experience the heaviest rains and even flooding.

Nara

As Japan's first capital, Nara offers a world of tradition and culture second only to the city of Kyoto. It is home to eight UNESCO World Heritage Sites, which are largely concentrated in the area of Nara Park. Here, it is also common to see many deer wandering freely amongst the temples and shrines.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Nara or Mount Bromo?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Mount Bromo is $22, while the average daily cost in Nara is $86. 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 Mount Bromo and Nara in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mount Bromo $11
    Nara $52
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mount Bromo $22
    Nara $104
Compare Hotels in Mount Bromo and Nara

Looking for a hotel in Mount Bromo or Nara? 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 Mount Bromo


Hotels in Nara


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: Nara Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mount Bromo $7.31
    Nara $5.83

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nara

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nara:

  • Kansai Airport (KIX):Private One-Way Transfer to/from Nara: $240

Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Bromo or Nara?

Prices for flights to both Nara and Mount Bromo 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
    Mount Bromo $5.32
    Nara $28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nara

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nara.

  • Eel Fishing and Cooking Experience in Kyoto: $72
  • Cooking class, learning how to make authentic sushi: $111
  • Full Day Nara E bike Tour and Osaka History Food Tour: $189

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mount Bromo $8.20
    Nara $7.81

Tours and Activities in Nara

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Nara are as follows:

  • 1 Day Walking Tour in Nara Palace Deer and Inkstick: $166
  • 1-Day Walking Tour in Palace, Deer and Inkstick: $147
  • All must-sees in 3 hours - Nara Park Classic Tour! From JR Nara!: $42
  • EBike Eco Chic Tour Explore 1300 Year Old Primeval Forest: $88
  • Eigo Tour - Walk in Nara City: $65
  • Experience Authentic Sushi making in Nara: $115
  • Guided Tour of Todai ji and Nara Park: $83
  • Guided Uji Anime Walking Tour: $31
  • Half-Day Private Guided Tour : Nara Imperial Palace: $95
  • Half-Day Private Guided Tour to Nara City: $95
  • Immersive Experience Tour in Totsukawa village: $3,202
  • Katsuragi: Unique Sumo Experience: $195

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mount Bromo $4.61
    Nara $11


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

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