Which place is cheaper, Tianjin or Surabaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Surabaya or Tianjin?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Surabaya or Tianjin? 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 Tianjin?
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.
Tianjin
Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.
Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Indonesia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Indonesia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySurabaya $63Tianjin $76
The average daily cost (per person) in Surabaya is $63, while the average daily cost in Tianjin is $76. 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 Tianjin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSurabaya $37Tianjin $34
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSurabaya $74Tianjin $68
Compare Hotels in Surabaya and Tianjin
Looking for a hotel in Surabaya or Tianjin? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Surabaya $2.76Tianjin $36
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 Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Beijing: Private Roundtrip Transfer to Great Wall of China: $68
- Binhai Airport Private Transfer to Tianjin Cruise Port: $80
- Cruise Transfer from Tianjin Port to Beijing Airport: $280
- Cruise Transfer from Tianjin Port to Beijing Hotels : $225
- Cruise Transfer:Tianjin International Home Port to Beijing PEK or Daxing Airport: $118
- One Way Private Transfer from Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing with Guide: $216
- Port Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Cruise Home Port to Beijing Hotels: $100
- Private 1-Way Transfer Between Tianjin Port to Beijing: $138
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) to Hotel: $39
- Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Cruise Port to Train Stations (Tianjin/Tanggu): $63
- Private Arrival Transfer:Any Tianjin Railway Station to City Hotel: $30
- Private Departure Transfer: Bejing City Hotel to Airport: $32
Is it cheaper to fly into Surabaya or Tianjin?
Prices for flights to both Tianjin 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 $22Tianjin $20
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Surabaya $4.74Tianjin $10
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 Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- Tianjin Private Walking Tour Guided by a Lady Worked in Europe: $151
- Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Hotel With the English Speaking Driver: $160
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Capital Airport With the English Speaking Driver: $187
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
- Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Daxing Airport With the English Speaking Driver: $203
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven: $219
- 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
- Tianjin Private Tour to Eastern Qing Tombs with Flexible Departure time: $237
- Private Tianjin Day Tour to Huangyaguan Great Wall and Dule Temple: $238
- Tianjin Shore Excursion: Huangyaguan Great Wall Private Day Tour: $238
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySurabaya -Tianjin $11
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Surabaya and Tianjin, we can see that Tianjin 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 Tianjin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tianjin 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 Tianjin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Surabaya or Tianjin?
Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 59% larger than the population of Surabaya. When comparing the sizes of Surabaya and Tianjin, 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.