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

Should you visit Surabaya or Kampong Cham?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Kampong Cham? 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 Kampong Cham?

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.

Kampong Cham

Kampong Cham is the sixth largest city in the country, located in the east of Cambodia. Just two and a half hours away from Phnom Penh is a surprisingly large province by the same name. Kampong Cham is the capital of this province, a quiet town on the west side of the Mekong River. While the town does not cater to tourists like other large cities such as Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, the charm of Kampong Cham lies in the beauty and simplicity of local life. Visitors will also get a glimpse into agricultural life on the plantations of rubber trees, tobacco and cashews.

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 in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Kampong Cham 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 Kampong Cham is $36. 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 Kampong Cham in more detail.



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

Looking for a hotel in Surabaya or Kampong Cham? 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 Kampong Cham


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
    Kampong Cham $7.67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:

  • Private Transfer from Yogyakarta to Bromo: $234
  • Private Transfer from Waru to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
  • Private Transfer from Tanggulangin to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $52
  • Private Transfer from Taman to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $49
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya City to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $33
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Tanggulangin: $52
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Tambak Sawah: $35
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Taman: $42
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Surabaya City : $33
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Sidoarjo: $52
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Semampir: $33
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Segoro Tambak: $33

Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or Kampong Cham?

Prices for flights to both Kampong Cham 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
    Kampong Cham $11

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Surabaya $4.56
    Kampong Cham $5.76

Tours and Activities in Surabaya

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

  • 1 Day Bromo Private Day Tour with Madakaripura Waterfall: $131
  • 1 Day Tour, Wonderful Mount Bromo Sunrise From Surabaya or Malang: $136
  • 1 days Majapahit temple history tour: $100
  • 1Day - Bromo Madakaripura Day Tour: $128
  • 2Days - Bromo Family Tour via Surabaya: $163
  • 2Days - Bromo Madakaripura Adventure via Surabaya or Malang: $155
  • 2Days - Bromo Sunrise Ijen Tour via Surabaya: $199
  • 2Days/1Night Bromo Private Tour with Hotel: $189
  • 3-Day Tour: Mount Bromo & Ijen Crater from Surabaya or Malang: $264
  • 3D2N Mount Bromo & Ijen Crater Tour from Surabaya: $289
  • 3Days - Adventure Bromo Ijen via Surabaya: $245
  • 3Days - Adventure Bromo Ijen via Surabaya or Malang: $275

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Surabaya -
    Kampong Cham $5.47


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

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


Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Kampong Cham?

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