Which place is cheaper, Tauranga or Ubud?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ubud or Tauranga?
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 Tauranga. 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 Tauranga?
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.
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 Romantic Tours for Couples in Indonesia, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in New Zealand, and The Best 2-Week Tours in New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayUbud $150Tauranga $103
The average daily cost (per person) in Ubud is $150, 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 Ubud and Tauranga in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personUbud $133Tauranga $74
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomUbud $266Tauranga $148
Compare Hotels in Ubud and Tauranga
Looking for a hotel in Ubud 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.
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 Tauranga Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ubud $1.82Tauranga $6.78
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ubud
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ubud:
- Bali Airport Transfer: $5.34
- Bali Airport Private Transfer to Kerobokan: $5.34
- Bali Private arrival airport transfer : $7.00
- Ubud Airport & Ground Transfers: $7.00
- Private Arrival Transfer: Bali Airport to Hotel: $7.40
- Bali Denpasar Airport (DPS) - Private Transfer to/from Denpasar City: $8.00
- Airport Transfer From (DPS) Ngurah Rai Airport to Legian Area: $8.00
- Airport Transfer Bali from (DPS) Ngurah Rai Airport to Jimbaran Area: $8.00
- Bali Airport Private Hotel Transfer : $8.00
- Seminyak Premium Airport Transfer : $8.00
- Hotel to Airport:Bali Departure Private Transfer (Daytime): $8.15
- Bali Airport to Hotel:Arrival Private Transfer (Daytime): $8.15
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 Ubud or Tauranga?
Prices for flights to both Tauranga 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 $12Tauranga $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ubud
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ubud.
- Canggu: Drag Show with Dinner: $10
- Jimbaran Bay Sunset Dinner with Discount Voucher and Return Transport : $12
- Munduk authentic cooking class & banyumala waterfall: $19
- 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
- Balinese Cooking Class and Market Tour with Transfers: $23
- Cooking Class with Transfers and Optional Market Visit: $23
- Balinese Cooking Class with Hotel Transfers: $26
- Best of Ubud with Cooking Class Experience: $26
- Jimbaran Beach Candle Light Dinner : $26
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ubud $10Tauranga $10
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 Ride Adventure Guided: $3.16
- Ubud : ATV Single & Tandem Ride Adventure Local Guided: $3.59
- ATV Single & Tandem Ride and Zipline Adventure: $4.61
- Seminyak Driver ( Customized Tour): $5.00
- Mount Batur 4WD Jeep Sunrise Combo Experience in Bali: $5.00
- Bali Sightseeing Tours - Top Things to Do: $5.00
- Gorilla Face Atv Quad Bike Adventure: $5.00
- Bali Gate Of Heaven, Jungle Swing & Waterfall Private Tour: $5.00
- Bali: Ubud Palace Legong Dance Show Ticket: $6.40
- Private Full-Day Tour in Bali & FREE WIFI: $7.00
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
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayUbud $6.88Tauranga $10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ubud and Tauranga, we can see that Ubud is more expensive. And not only is Tauranga much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Ubud 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 Tauranga would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tauranga 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 Tauranga.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ubud Expensive? and Is Tauranga Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ubud or Tauranga?
Tauranga has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Ubud. When comparing the sizes of Ubud 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.
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.