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

Should you visit Mount Bromo or Paihia?

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

Should I visit Mount Bromo or Paihia? 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 Paihia?

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.

Paihia

Paihia is a town on the North Island of New Zealand in the Bay of Islands region. It is about a three hours north of Auckland by car. For those visiting the Bay of Islands, it is the main town in the area and is located near the town of Russell and Kerikeri. There is a wharf in town where most ships depart from if you are planning on going out to explore the Bay of Islands. Paihia is a very small town with a population of about 1800 people. There is a fair climate all year round with temperatures ranging from sixty to seventy degrees Fahrenheit.

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 New Zealand, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Paihia 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 Paihia is $80. 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 Paihia in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mount Bromo $11
    Paihia $33
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mount Bromo $22
    Paihia $66
Compare Hotels in Mount Bromo and Paihia

Looking for a hotel in Mount Bromo or Paihia? 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 Paihia


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: Paihia Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mount Bromo $7.31
    Paihia $12

Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Bromo or Paihia?

Prices for flights to both Paihia 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
    Paihia $28

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Paihia

For Paihia, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Private Modern Vegetarian Cooking Class with Anna in Northland: $195

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mount Bromo $8.20
    Paihia $34

Tours and Activities in Paihia

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

  • Adrenalin Junkie Tour - 60 mins (min 2): $108
  • *Popular Cruise Ship Tour* Bay of Islands and Glow Worm Caves Shore Excursion: $127
  • 3 Hours // Hole in the Rock Cruise & Bay of Islands Tour: $75
  • 3 Hours // Hole in the Rock Cruise & Island Stopover: $75
  • Bay Combo Tour - 60 mins (min 2): $108
  • Bay of Islands 2-Hour Sundowner Evening Sailing Cruise: $48
  • Bay of Islands Cruise & Island Tour - Snorkel, Hike,Swim,Wildlife: $90
  • Bay of Islands Discover the Bay cruise including Dolphins: $90
  • Bay of Islands Half-Day Private Tour: $196
  • Bay of Islands Waterfall Explorer Kayaking Tour: $59
  • Bay of Islands and Hole in the Rock Scenic Helicopter Tour: $173
  • Bay of Islands: 4.5 Hour Day Cruise and Island Getaway Tour: $74

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mount Bromo $4.61
    Paihia $22

Sample the Local Flavors in Paihia

Also in Paihia, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Bay of Islands Wine Tour with Lunch: $106
  • Private Tour: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $287
  • Private Shore Excursion: Bay of Islands Tour with Wine Tasting: $287


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Bromo and Paihia, we can see that Paihia is more expensive. And not only is Mount Bromo much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Mount Bromo is in Asia and Paihia 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 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 Paihia would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Paihia 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 Paihia Expensive?.