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

Should you visit Surabaya or Nagano?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Nagano? 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 Nagano?

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.

Nagano

Nagano city and its surrounding prefecture of Japan is a temple region built around Zenkoji, a 7th century Buddhist temple that overlooks the city. Nagano was also home to the Winter Olympic Games in 1998, with some facilities still existing around town. And then there is the forested mountain Togakushi area to the northwest, which is another draw of Nagano, known for its shrines and status as the home of the Togakure Ninja School.

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


Which place is cheaper, Nagano 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 Nagano is $90. 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 Nagano in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Surabaya $37
    Nagano $61
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Surabaya $74
    Nagano $122
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and Nagano

Looking for a hotel in Surabaya or Nagano? 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 Nagano


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 Nagano Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Surabaya $2.76
    Nagano $9.79

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:

  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Samaan: $210
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Malang: $168
  • Private Transfer from Batu to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $168
  • Private Transfer from Bangkalan to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $134
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Bangkalan: $134
  • Private Transfer from Gresik to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $93
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Gresik: $93
  • Surabaya & Malang: Private Transfer To The Hotels or Airport: $68
  • Surabaya & Malang: Private Hotel or Airport Transfer: $67
  • Private Transfer from Manyar to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $50
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Gempol: $50
  • Private Transfer from Gempol to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nagano

Also for Nagano, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer Between Station & Snow Monkey Park: $685

Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or Nagano?

Prices for flights to both Nagano 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
    Nagano $22

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Surabaya $4.74
    Nagano $8.16

Tours and Activities in Surabaya

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

  • 1 Day Bromo Private Tour with Madakaripura Waterfall: $118
  • 1 Day Private Malang / Surabaya Bromo Sunrise Tour: $98
  • 1 Day Tour - Wonderful Sunrise Mount Bromo From Surabaya: $136
  • 1Day - Bromo Madakaripura Day Tour: $128
  • 1Day - Bromo Sunrise Tour via Surabaya (Private Tour): $132
  • 2Days - Bromo Family Tour via Surabaya: $163
  • 2Days - Bromo Sunrise Ijen Tour via Surabaya: $199
  • 3 Days - Mt Bromo & Ijen Experience from Surabaya or Malang: $263
  • 3 Days Bromo Ijen Tour From Surabaya: $170
  • 3 Days Private Tour in Bromo and Ijen from Surabaya: $275
  • 3Days - Adventure Bromo Ijen via Surabaya: $245
  • 3Days - Adventure Bromo Ijen via Surabaya or Malang (Hotel Stay): $265

Tours and Activities in Nagano

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Nagano.

  • Nagano Sake Tasting Walking Tour: $47
  • Welcome to Private Tour with a Local: $55
  • Food & Cultural Walking Tour around Zenkoji temple in Nagano: $85
  • Izakaya Food Night Tour in Nagano: $98
  • Full-Day Tour: Matsumoto Castle & Kamikochi Alpine Valley: $177
  • Zenkoji Experience Tour: Overnight 'Shukubo' (Temple Lodge): $221
  • Snow Monkey & ZinkoJi With Sake Tasting Private Tour: $537
  • 4 Day - From Nagano to Kanazawa: Ultimate Central Japan tour: $782
  • Private Snow Monkey Tour: From Nagano City / Ski Resorts: $1,334

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Surabaya -
    Nagano -


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


Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Nagano?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Nagano. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Nagano, 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.