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

Should you visit Surabaya or Lake Tekapo?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Lake Tekapo? 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 Lake Tekapo?

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.

Lake Tekapo

Tekapo is a lakeside town on the South Island of New Zealand, and it is part of the Mackenzie District of Canterbury. This is one of the bluest lakes in the country and is surrounded by the mighty mountains of the Southern Alps.

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


Which place is cheaper, Lake Tekapo 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 Lake Tekapo is $75. 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 Lake Tekapo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Surabaya $37
    Lake Tekapo $59
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Surabaya $74
    Lake Tekapo $118
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and Lake Tekapo

Looking for a hotel in Surabaya or Lake Tekapo? 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 Lake Tekapo


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 Lake Tekapo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Surabaya $2.76
    Lake Tekapo -

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 Lake Tekapo?

Prices for flights to both Lake Tekapo 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
    Lake Tekapo $13

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Surabaya $4.74
    Lake Tekapo -

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

Tours and Activities in Lake Tekapo

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

  • Indoor Māori Cultural Astronomy Experience: $30
  • Dark Sky Indoor Cultural Astronomy Experience: $31
  • Dark Sky Virtual Stargazing Experience: $41
  • 45 Minutes Virtual Stargazing Experience in Lake Tekapo: $43
  • High Country Farm Tour - Lake Tekapo: $59
  • Alpine Stargazing Experience with a Guide: $59
  • Chameleon Stargazing Shared Tour: $60
  • 中文观星团 Chinese tour: $65
  • Stargazing Experience: $65
  • Crater Experience at Cowan's Observatory: $85
  • From Tekapo: Mt Cook day tour via Pukaki, Tasman Glacier: $100
  • Summit Experience - University of Canterbury Mt John Observatory: $114

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Surabaya -
    Lake Tekapo -


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


Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Lake Tekapo?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 7200 times larger than the population of Lake Tekapo. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Lake Tekapo, 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.