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

Should you visit Mount Bromo or Xiamen?

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

Should I visit Mount Bromo or Xiamen? 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 Xiamen?

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.

Xiamen

Xiamen is a coastal city in the Fujian Province of China and has been a major port city and gateway to China for centuries. This vibrant and modern city was named the most livable city in the world in 2002 and one of the first cities to be named a Special Economic Zone. Xiamen is best known for being home to Gulangyu Island, a beautiful island full of historic colonial buildings and lovely walking paths.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Xiamen 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 Xiamen is $64. 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 Xiamen in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Mount Bromo $11
    Xiamen $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Mount Bromo $22
    Xiamen $60
Compare Hotels in Mount Bromo and Xiamen

Looking for a hotel in Mount Bromo or Xiamen? 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 Xiamen


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.


Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Mount Bromo $7.31
    Xiamen $5.98

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen

Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Village: $115
  • Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
  • Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Hongkeng Tulou from Xiamen City: $98
  • Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster : $89
  • Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
  • Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
  • Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hua’an Earth Building: $89
  • Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer: $47
  • Private Transfer between Riyue Gu Hotspring Resort and Xiamen City : $32
  • Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
  • Xiamen North Railway Station Private Transfer from City Area: $19
  • Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Private Transfer to Local Railway Station : $19

Is it cheaper to fly into Mount Bromo or Xiamen?

Prices for flights to both Xiamen 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
    Xiamen $26

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Mount Bromo $8.20
    Xiamen $16

Tours and Activities in Xiamen

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

  • Fujian Tulou Private Day Tour to World Heritage Site Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster: $178
  • Xiamen Private One Day Tailor Made Tour with Gulangyu and City Highlights : $176
  • 1-Day Xiamen City Highlights and Gulangyu Island Private Tour: $244
  • 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
  • 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $113
  • A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
  • Day Tour to Admire the Panorama of Gulangyu Island and Visit the Precious Birds: $110
  • Dongshan Island Highlights Full-Day Private Tour: $232
  • Flexible Private Half-Day Tour to Visit the Top Attraction Xiamen Yuanbo Garden: $110
  • Flexible Private Xiamen Layover Tour with Meal: $176
  • Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour to Experience Xiamen Botanical Garden: $105
  • Flexible Xiamen Private Half Day Tour with Meal Option: $109

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Mount Bromo $4.61
    Xiamen $17


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mount Bromo and Xiamen, we can see that Xiamen 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 Xiamen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Xiamen 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 Xiamen Expensive?.