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

Should you visit Surabaya or Auckland?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Auckland? 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 Auckland?

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.

Auckland

Auckland is located on the North Island of New Zealand on an isthmus between the Northland Peninsula and the other parts of the North Island. Auckland is not only a city but also a region. In 2010 New Zealand combined what had previously been four separate cities into one region. These cities include the southern city of Manukau, the western city of Waitakere, the North Shore in the north, and Auckland City. The City of Auckland is the largest city in Polynesia and is very diverse with many expatriates from elsewhere in Polynesia. This diversity becomes most apparent in Auckland's many festivals and sporting events.

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


Which place is cheaper, Auckland 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 Auckland is $139. 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 Auckland in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Surabaya $37
    Auckland $88
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Surabaya $74
    Auckland $176
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and Auckland

Looking for a hotel in Surabaya or Auckland? 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 Auckland


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 Auckland Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Surabaya $2.76
    Auckland $16

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

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Auckland

Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Auckland:


  • Bus from Airport
    $9.51
  • Airport Shuttle
    $15

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Auckland

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

  • Auckland Airport Private Transfer: $81
  • Airport Transfer From Auckland Airport To Auckland City: $121
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland in Business Car: $83
  • Arrival Private Transfer from Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland in Luxury Van: $110
  • Arrival Private Transfer: Auckland Airport AKL to Auckland City by Luxury Van: $108
  • Auckland Airport & Ground Transfers - Private Luxury Car/ Van.: $118
  • Auckland Airport (AKL) to North Shore - Arrival Private Transfer: $60
  • Auckland Airport (AKL) to North Shore-Round-Trip Private Transfer: $120
  • Auckland Airport (AKL): Private Transfer to Downtown hotels: $351
  • Auckland Airport (AKL): Transfer to North Shore hotels: $325
  • Auckland Airport Arrival Transfer to North Shore or Henderson: $121
  • Auckland Airport Private Pickup / Transfer: $84

Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or Auckland?

Prices for flights to both Auckland 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
    Auckland $27

Typical Food Prices in Auckland

For Auckland, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Breakfast
    $4.75

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Auckland

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

  • Auckland Harbour 3-Course Dinner Cruise with Welcome Drink: $89
  • Auckland Harbour Sailboat Cruise Including Three Course Dinner: $90
  • Flavours of the City Walking Food Tour: $104

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Surabaya $4.74
    Auckland $27

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

Typical Entertainment Prices in Auckland

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Auckland's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • Auckland Sky Tour (for 2)
    $33
  • Waiheke Island Tour (for 2)
    $120

Tours and Activities in Auckland

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

  • Explore Auckland's Sailing Spirit: In-App Audio Tour: $5.32
  • Auckland Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Maritime Museum Entry Ticket: $14
  • Tree Heart Park Adventure Clue Trail Family Package: $15
  • Auckland War Memorial Museum Entry Ticket: $17
  • Skip the Line: Auckland Museum General Admission Entry Ticket: $17
  • Vibrosaun Therapy Experience: $18
  • Auckland Sky Tower General Admission Ticket : $24
  • Sky Tower General Admission Ticket: $24
  • Hologate Virtual Reality Gaming Experience: $29
  • The Lagoon Lights Family Experience at Tree Heart Park: $30
  • Hop-On Hop-Off Explorer Bus Ticket: $33

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

Sample the Local Flavors in Auckland

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

  • Waiheke Island: Scenic Wine Tour Tasting Wines on Waiheke: $92
  • Muriwai Scenic Wine Tour from Auckland: $106
  • Waiheke Island: The Essence of Waiheke Wine Tour: $131
  • Waiheke Island Gourmet Food and Wine Tour with Platter Lunch: $148
  • Waiheke Island: Tour with Wine Tastings and Restaurant Lunch: $148
  • From Waiheke Island Wine Tasting Tour with Lunch: $151
  • From Small Group Kumeu Wine Tour with Lunch: $169
  • Small-Group Kumeu Wine Country Tour Includes Wine Tastings & Lunch: $172
  • Piha Waitakere Rainforest Wine Tour from Auckland: $178
  • Auckland Coastal Experience - Small Group City & Beach Tour Incl. Wine Tasting: $196


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


Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Auckland?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Auckland. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Auckland, 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.