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

Should you visit Surabaya or Tauranga?

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

Should I visit Surabaya or Tauranga? 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 Tauranga?

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.

Tauranga

Tauranga is a city on the North Island of New Zealand. It is situated on the western side of the Bay of Plenty, which is on the east coast of the island. Its population of 130,000 makes it the fifth largest city in the country. Tauranga is a Maori word translated roughly to 'a sheltered anchorage'. This makes sense as the town is located near a very large harbor and protected by Matakana Island. Mount Maunganui is at the headland of the town and regarded as a suburb of Tauranga. The beach at Mt Maunganui is a surfing hot spot. The climate is mostly warm and dry because of the town's sheltered position.

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 New Zealand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Tauranga 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 Tauranga is $103. 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 Tauranga in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Surabaya $37
    Tauranga $74
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Surabaya $74
    Tauranga $148
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and Tauranga

Looking for a hotel in Surabaya or Tauranga? 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 Tauranga


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 Tauranga Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Surabaya $2.76
    Tauranga $6.78

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Surabaya

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Surabaya:

  • Private Transfer International Jendaral Ahmad (SRG) to City Semarang: $13
  • Private Transfer International Jendaral Ahmad (SRG) to City centre Seamarang: $13
  • Private airport transfer surabaya: $21
  • Private 1-Way Transfer to/from SUB Airport: $27
  • Airport Private Transfers to Your Destinatination: $27
  • From Juanda International Airport: Transfer to Surabaya: $30
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Pabean: $32
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya City to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
  • Private Transfer from Taman to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
  • Private Transfer from Waru to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
  • Private Transfer from Surabaya Airport (SUB) to Waru: $32
  • Private Transfer from Sepanjang to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tauranga

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tauranga:

  • Roundtrip Transfer from Port of Tauranga Omanu Golf Club: $73

Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or Tauranga?

Prices for flights to both Tauranga 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
    Tauranga $22

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Surabaya $4.74
    Tauranga $10

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 Tauranga

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Tauranga are as follows:

  • Tauranga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
  • Mount Maunganui Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
  • Tauranga Self-Guided Audio Tour: $15
  • Tauranga Harbour Scenic One Hour Historical Boat Cruise : $24
  • Waimarino Adventure Park Supreme Pass Entry Ticket: $29
  • Waimarino Adventure Park: $30
  • 2-Hour Tauranga & Mount Maunganui City & Scenic Local Tour: $45
  • 3hr Tauranga Sun-downer History Tour COMPLIMENTARY Wine or Beer: $54
  • 4hr Tauranga Scenic History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Tasting: $57
  • 4hr Shore Excursion - History and Tasting Tour FREE Kiwifruit Tasting: $57
  • Tauranga Shore Excursion: Small-Group Bay of Plenty and Tauranga Tour: $59
  • Tauranga Shore Excursion: Omanawa Falls & Great Sights Tour: $72

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Surabaya -
    Tauranga $10


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


Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Tauranga?

Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Tauranga. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Tauranga, 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.