A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Surabaya vs. Arrowtown for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Surabaya or Arrowtown?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Arrowtown? 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: Surabaya or Arrowtown?

Surabaya

Surabaya, also known as the "city of heroes," is the capital of East Java and the second largest city in Indonesia, following Jakarta. While it doesn't highlight as many typical tourist monuments as other cities, Surabaya serves as a takeoff point or a landing base for travelers visiting Mount Bromo and Bali.

Arrowtown

Historically, Arrowtown is an old gold mining town that is located on the South Island of New Zealand. The town was established during the Otago gold rush of 1862. It is very close to Queenstown, which is a very popular destination among travelers, and it is definitely worth visiting if you are in the Otago region of New Zealand. It is a very tiny town, with a population of just over 2,000 people. The town has a lot of character and history and is a perfect place to go if you wish to get out of the touristy areas like Queenstown.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Arrowtown or Surabaya?

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

The average daily cost (per person) in Surabaya is $63, while the average daily cost in Arrowtown is $114. 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 Surabaya and Arrowtown in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Surabaya $37
    Arrowtown $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Surabaya $74
    Arrowtown $134
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and Arrowtown

Looking for a hotel in Surabaya or Arrowtown? 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 Surabaya


Hotels in Arrowtown


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: Surabaya Hotel Prices and Arrowtown Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Surabaya $2.76
    Arrowtown $27

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:

  • Private 1-Way Transfer to/from SUB Airport: $27
  • Airport Private Transfers to Your Destinatination: $27
  • Surabaya & Malang: Private Transfer To The Hotels or Airport: $68
  • Surabaya & Malang: Private Hotel or Airport Transfer: $67
  • Private airport transfer surabaya: $21
  • Private Transfer from Waru to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
  • Private Transfer from Tanggulangin to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $50
  • Private Transfer from Taman to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya City to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Waru: $32
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Tambak Sawah: $32
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Surabaya City : $32

Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or Arrowtown?

Prices for flights to both Arrowtown and Surabaya 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
    Surabaya $22
    Arrowtown $30

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Surabaya $4.74
    Arrowtown $15

Tours and Activities in Surabaya

Here are a few actual costs in Surabaya for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • 1 Day Bromo Private Tour with Madakaripura Waterfall: $118
  • 1 Day Private Malang / Surabaya Bromo Sunrise Tour: $98
  • 1 Day Tour - Wonderful Sunrise Mount Bromo From Surabaya: $136
  • 1Day - Bromo Madakaripura Day Tour: $128
  • 1Day - Bromo Sunrise Tour via Surabaya (Private Tour): $132
  • 2Days - Bromo Family Tour via Surabaya: $163
  • 2Days - Bromo Sunrise Ijen Tour via Surabaya: $199
  • 3 Days - Mt Bromo & Ijen Experience from Surabaya or Malang: $263
  • 3 Days Bromo Ijen Tour From Surabaya: $170
  • 3 Days Private Tour in Bromo and Ijen from Surabaya: $275
  • 3Days - Adventure Bromo Ijen via Surabaya: $245
  • 3Days - Adventure Bromo Ijen via Surabaya or Malang (Hotel Stay): $265

Tours and Activities in Arrowtown

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

  • Queenstown: Arrowtown Mountain Biking Adventure: $53

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Surabaya -
    Arrowtown $13

Sample the Local Flavors in Arrowtown

Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Arrowtown:

  • From Scenic Valley of the Vines Bike & Wine Tour: $89


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

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


Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Arrowtown?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 1100 times larger than the population of Arrowtown. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Arrowtown, 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.