Which place is cheaper, Koh Pha Ngan or Surabaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Surabaya or Koh Pha Ngan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Surabaya or Koh Pha Ngan? 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 Koh Pha Ngan?
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.
Koh Pha Ngan
Ko Phangan (or Pha Ngan) is best known for its full moon parties, attracting backpackers and budget travelers the world over for all-night parties on the beach. The clear, blue water, beautiful beaches, and tropical atmosphere bring the tourists to the island, and the low prices, diverse activities, and abundant amenities keep them here.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Thailand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurabaya $63Koh Pha Ngan $45
The average daily cost (per person) in Surabaya is $63, while the average daily cost in Koh Pha Ngan is $45. 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 Koh Pha Ngan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurabaya $37Koh Pha Ngan $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurabaya $74Koh Pha Ngan $46
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and Koh Pha Ngan
Looking for a hotel in Surabaya or Koh Pha Ngan? 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.
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 Koh Pha Ngan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surabaya $2.76Koh Pha Ngan $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:
- From Juanda International Airport: Transfer to Surabaya: $30
- One Way Private Transfer: Juanda International Airport Transfer to/from Surabaya: $34
- 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): $134
- Private Transfer from Batu to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $168
- Private Transfer from Bungurasih to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
- Private Transfer from Delta sari to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
- Private Transfer from Gempol to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $50
- Private Transfer from Gendangan to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
- Private Transfer from Gresik to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $93
- Private Transfer from Kota Surabaya to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Scooter Rental$8.18
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Ferry Ride$14
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Gas for Scooter$3.00
Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or Koh Pha Ngan?
Prices for flights to both Koh Pha Ngan 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
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Food Meals for one daySurabaya $22Koh Pha Ngan $10
Typical Food Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Koh Pha Ngan:
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Noodle Lunch (for One)$1.09
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Sit Down Dinner (for Two)$11
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Smoothies (for Two)$1.09
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Ice Cream$0.55
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Juice$1.64
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3 Spring Rolls$0.82
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2 Pancakes$1.64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surabaya $4.74Koh Pha Ngan $17
Tours and Activities in Surabaya
Here are a few actual costs in Surabaya for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Bromo Sunrise Sharing Tour start Malang - Everyday: $51
- Bromo One Day Sharing Tour (Start MALANG): $52
- Mount Bromo Sunrise Tour from Surabaya & Malang - Depart Midnight: $52
- surabaya port : city tour surabaya, pick up drop off at port: $58
- Half-Day Private Majapahit Historical Tour from Surabaya: $66
- Private Day Tour Surabaya Historiculture : $68
- Surabaya Historiculture Private Day Tour: $70
- Day Tour - Surabaya Heritage Colonial Tour: $73
- From Surabaya Port: Cultural and Historical Guided City Tour: $77
- Probolinggo City Tour For Cruise Passengers: $78
- Bromo Tour Package: Midnight Bromo Open Trip from Batu: $79
- Taman Safari Private Tour and PutukTruno Waterfall: $79
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurabaya -Koh Pha Ngan $9.89
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Pha Ngan
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Koh Pha Ngan are as follows:
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Drinks at Irish Pub (for Two)$7.09
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surabaya and Koh Pha Ngan, we can see that Surabaya is more expensive. And not only is Koh Pha Ngan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Koh Pha Ngan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Koh Pha Ngan 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 Koh Pha Ngan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Surabaya Expensive? and Is Koh Pha Ngan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Koh Pha Ngan?
Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 200 times larger than the population of Koh Pha Ngan. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Koh Pha Ngan, 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.
Budget Your Trip is all about finding out how much everything costs so that you can travel cheaper and longer. Created by avid travelers Laurie and Bryan, our goal is to help you plan your next trip on the right budget. With average daily travel costs that are calculated from the budgets of real travelers, plus an analysis of hotel and tour prices, you can find out how much money you need to plan your next adventure. We also have plenty of travel advice, accommodation reviews, and activity suggestions.