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

Should you visit Surabaya or Koyasan?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Koyasan? 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 Koyasan?

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.

Koyasan

Mount Koya, Japan is a mountain city located just south of Osaka in the Wakayama prefecture. The area is known as the headquarters of the Shingnon sect of Japanese Buddhism and was first settled in 816. Over time, it has developed into the small town of Koya that is now home to a religious studies university and over 100 temples, many of which offer accommodation.

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 Japan, and The Best Historical Tours in Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Koyasan 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 Koyasan is $78. 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 Koyasan in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Surabaya $37
    Koyasan $39
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Surabaya $74
    Koyasan $78
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and Koyasan

Looking for a hotel in Surabaya or Koyasan? 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 Koyasan


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 Koyasan Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Surabaya $2.76
    Koyasan $33

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or Koyasan?

Prices for flights to both Koyasan 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
    Koyasan $19

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Surabaya $4.74
    Koyasan $13

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
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Surabaya -
    Koyasan $4.89


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surabaya and Koyasan, we can see that Koyasan is more expensive. And not only is Surabaya much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Koyasan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koyasan 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 Koyasan Expensive?.