Which place is cheaper, Surabaya or Ubud?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ubud or Surabaya?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Ubud and Surabaya. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Ubud or Surabaya?
Ubud
Made popular by the film Eat Pray Love, Ubud is located in the uplands of Bali, Indonesia. Beautiful Hindu temples and iconic rice fields are the sight to see in this popular cultural, artistic and religious hub on the island.
Though Ubud is hot and humid during the day, it is still cooler than coastal areas. Still, temperatures linger between mid-70's and low 90's year-round, so it is likely you'll experience warm weather, regardless of when you visit.
Ubud's wet season is from November to June, which makes it an unpopular time for travelers. January and February are when Ubud experiences the heaviest rainfall, so it may be wise to avoid visiting at this time, especially since weather will limit activities, bring out insects, and cause landslides and possible flooding.
Dry season runs from July through October, which is high season for travel. Even during dry season, Ubud is extremely humid, so pack lightweight clothing that breathes and lots of sunblock.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Indonesia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUbud $150Surabaya $63
The average daily cost (per person) in Ubud is $150, while the average daily cost in Surabaya is $63. 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 Ubud and Surabaya in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUbud $133Surabaya $37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUbud $266Surabaya $74
Compare Hotels in Ubud and Surabaya
Looking for a hotel in Ubud or Surabaya? 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: Ubud Hotel Prices and Surabaya Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ubud $1.82Surabaya $2.76
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:
- (Less Stairs) Bali Telaga Waja Rafting & Zipline -Lunch, Transfer: $10
- 1 DAY Enjoy Lembongan Island! Snorkeling + mangrove exploration + sightseeing on the island such as the scenic spot "Devil's Tears" / marine sports enjoyment banana boat / transfer included: $131
- 2 hours Bali Lulur Massage & Spa Treatment Including Hotel Transfers: $56
- 2 hours Bali Lulur Massage & Spa Treatment Including Transfers: $49
- 3 Days Bali Tour Package with Airport Transfer: $164
- 4 Hours Pampering Spa Treatment in Seminyak including Hotel or Airport Transfer: $82
- A1 Airport Transfer Service - Ubud/Tanah Lot/Uluwatu/Ungasan Area: $24
- ATV Quad Bike Jungle Tunnel Track with lunch & transfer Hotel: $60
- ATV Ride Trough Cave + Water Rafting All Inclusive with Transfer and Lunch: $87
- Actively enjoy marine sports / popular flyboard + selectable marine sports (parasailing, etc.) round-trip hotel transfer included: $164
- Airport Pick Up and Transfer ( Airport to Ubud, Ubud to Airport ): $33
- Airport Private Transfer to Kuta, Legian, Seminyak: $19
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 from Bangkalan to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $134
- Private Transfer from Berbek Industri to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
- Private Transfer from Buduran to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
- 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 Gresik to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $92
- Private Transfer from Kota Surabaya to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $32
- Private Transfer from Krian to Surabaya Airport (SUB): $42
Is it cheaper to fly into Ubud or Surabaya?
Prices for flights to both Surabaya and Ubud 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 dayUbud $12Surabaya $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.
- Jimbaran Bay Sunset Dinner with Discount Voucher and Return Transport : $12
- Uluwatu Sunset & Romantic Dinner: $20
- Balinese Traditional Cooking Classes with Market Tour: $22
- Balinese Traditional Cooking Class with Market Tour: $22
- Ubud Cooking : All Inclusive Cooking Class: $23
- Cooking Class with Transfers and Optional Market Visit: $23
- Balinese Cooking Class and Market Tour with Transfers: $23
- Balinese Cooking Class with Hotel Transfers: $26
- Jimbaran Beach Candle Light Dinner : $26
- Subak cooking class (Balinese cooking school) 9 Dish Cooking and Market Tour: $26
- 8 Hours Private Balinese Cooking Class with Tirta Empul Temple: $28
- Jambangan bali cooking class with morning market tour: $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ubud $10Surabaya $4.74
Tours and Activities in Ubud
Here are a few actual costs in Ubud for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- ATV Tandem or single Adventure Experience With Guaded: $1.54
- ATV Single or Tandem Guided Jungle Adventure: $2.56
- Ubud : ATV Single & Tandem Ride Adventure Local Guided: $3.59
- ATV Single & Tandem Ride and Zipline Adventure: $4.61
- Bali Gate Of Heaven, Jungle Swing & Waterfall Private Tour: $5.00
- Mount Batur 4WD Jeep Sunrise Combo Experience in Bali: $5.00
- Seminyak Driver ( Customized Tour): $5.00
- Bali: Ubud Palace Legong Dance Show Ticket: $6.40
- Ubud Monkay Forest,Waterfall & Rice Terrace Private Tour: $7.68
- Bali: Private Full-day Customized Tours With Transpers: $7.68
- All-inclusive - Private 3 Days Tours Package: Bali Highlights: $8.00
- Ubud Bali Tour: Monkey Forest, Rice Terrace & Jungle Swing: $8.50
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
- Bromo Sunrise Tour: $76
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUbud $6.88Surabaya -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ubud and Surabaya, we can see that Ubud 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 Ubud would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ubud 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 Ubud Expensive? and Is Surabaya Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ubud or Surabaya?
Surabaya has a larger population, and is about 80 times larger than the population of Ubud. When comparing the sizes of Ubud and Surabaya, 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.