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

Should you visit Surabaya or Jinghong?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Jinghong? 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 Jinghong?

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.

Jinghong

Located in the southernmost part of the Yunnan Province, Jinghong is a city that attracts visitors each year with its rich culture and folklore, Buddhist temples, and tropical rainforest scenery of palms and mango trees amongst others. It is also an area popular with backpackers as well as a waypoint for travelers passing between China and Laos.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Beijing, and The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Lhasa.


Which place is cheaper, Jinghong or Surabaya?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Surabaya is $76, while the average daily cost in Jinghong is $83. 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 Jinghong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Surabaya $36
    Jinghong $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Surabaya $72
    Jinghong $40
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and Jinghong

Looking for a hotel in Surabaya or Jinghong? 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 Jinghong


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Surabaya $2.66
    Jinghong $25

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:

  • From Private Transfer To or From Mount Bromo: $34
  • Private Airport Transfer Surabaya: $21
  • Private Transfer International Jendaral Ahmad (SRG) to City Semarang: $13
  • Private Transfer International Jendaral Ahmad (SRG) to City centre Seamarang: $13
  • Private Transfer from Bangkalan to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $142
  • Private Transfer from Batu to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $178
  • Private Transfer from Berbek Industri to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
  • Private Transfer from Buduran to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
  • Private Transfer from Bungurasih to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
  • Private Transfer from Gempol to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $54
  • Private Transfer from Gresik to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $52
  • Private Transfer from Kota Surabaya to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or Jinghong?

Prices for flights to both Jinghong 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 $37
    Jinghong $48

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Surabaya $4.56
    Jinghong $9.31

Tours and Activities in Surabaya

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

  • From Mount Bromo Sunrise Guided Group Tour: $46
  • Epic Mount Bromo Sunrise Tour from Surabaya & Malang: $52
  • From Malang: Tumpak Sewu Waterfall Private Tour: $68
  • Private Day Tour Surabaya Historiculture : $70
  • Mount Bromo Sunrise Shared Guided Tour from Surabaya : $71
  • Day Tour - Surabaya Heritage Colonial Tour: $73
  • Bromo Sunrise Tour: $76
  • Surabaya Private Tour: $78
  • Probolinggo City Tour For Cruise Passengers: $78
  • Bromo Tour Package: Midnight Bromo Open Trip from Batu: $79
  • Start From Mount Bromo Sunrise Shared Guided Tour : $79
  • Half-Day Private Majapahit Historical Tour from Surabaya: $80

Tours and Activities in Jinghong

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

  • Best of Dai Villages | 20km E-Bike Tour: $41

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Surabaya -
    Jinghong $5.41


When comparing the travel costs between Surabaya and Jinghong, we can see that Jinghong is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

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


Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Jinghong?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Jinghong. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Jinghong, 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.