Which place is cheaper, Sendai or Surabaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Surabaya or Sendai?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Surabaya or Sendai? 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 Sendai?
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.
Sendai
Sendai, Japan is located in the Toohoku region on the main Honshu island. It is often referred to as "Forest City" due to the large amount of green space throughout the city and the tree filled parks and public spaces. Sendai is a very pleasant city to visit; they are in close proximity to both mountains and the sea and have many large universities throughout the city, making it a popular college town.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours from Tokyo, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Tokyo.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurabaya $63Sendai $105
The average daily cost (per person) in Surabaya is $63, while the average daily cost in Sendai is $105. 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 Sendai in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurabaya $37Sendai $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurabaya $74Sendai $118
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and Sendai
Looking for a hotel in Surabaya or Sendai? 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 Sendai Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surabaya $2.76Sendai $18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:
- Private 1-Way Transfer to/from SUB Airport: $27
- Airport Private Transfers to Your Destinatination: $27
- Surabaya & Malang: Private Transfer To The Hotels or Airport: $68
- Surabaya & Malang: Private Hotel or Airport Transfer: $67
- Private airport transfer surabaya: $21
- Private Transfer from Waru to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
- Private Transfer from Tanggulangin to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $50
- Private Transfer from Taman to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
- Private Transfer from Surabaya City to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Waru: $32
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Tambak Sawah: $32
- Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Surabaya City : $32
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sendai
Also for Sendai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Sendai Airport to/from Sendai City private transfer: $76
Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or Sendai?
Prices for flights to both Sendai 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 $22Sendai $33
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surabaya $4.74Sendai $18
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 Sendai
For Sendai, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Japanese Taiko Drum Experience at Sairi Yashiki : $71
- Sendai, Okama: Private tour from Sendai city to Okama: $251
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurabaya -Sendai $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surabaya and Sendai, we can see that Sendai 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 Sendai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sendai 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 Sendai Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Sendai?
Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Sendai. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Sendai, 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.