A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Bandung vs. Qingdao for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Bandung or Qingdao?

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

Should I visit Bandung or Qingdao? 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: Bandung or Qingdao?

Bandung

Bandung is the capital city of West Java, and the third largest city in Indonesia after Jakarta and Surabaya. Nicknamed Parijs van Java (Paris of Java) by the Dutch for its resemblance to Paris and European atmosphere back in colonial times, Bandung also earned another nickname as Kota Kembang, literally meaning the Flower City since Bandung used to have a lot of flowers. Nowadays, Bandung has become a very popular weekend escape for Jakartans, who crowd the city on weekends and national holidays. It's known for colonial and art deco architecture, a lively, university-town feel and relatively cool tropical weather. Bandung is also a shopping destination, with fashion outlets clustered along Jalan Setiabudi and Jalan Riau in the Dago district. The city also make a good base for day trips to the surrounding countryside - high volcanic peaks, hot springs, and tea plantations are all within reach.

Qingdao

Qingdao, China, located in the Shandong Province, is a very large city right on the Yellow Sea coast. The city, whose name means "The Green Island" due to it's gorgeous landscapes and interesting geography, was named China's most livable city in 2012. The city is rich in history, having almost become a German territory in 1897 and being occupied by the Japanese during WWI. Evidence of these occupiers is present in much of the architecture around the city, which includes a few Catholic and Protestant churches.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Qingdao or Bandung?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Bandung is $48, while the average daily cost in Qingdao is $73. 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 Bandung and Qingdao in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Bandung $20
    Qingdao $27
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Bandung $40
    Qingdao $54
Compare Hotels in Bandung and Qingdao

Looking for a hotel in Bandung or Qingdao? 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 Bandung


Hotels in Qingdao


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: Bandung Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Bandung $5.54
    Qingdao $12

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung

Also for Bandung, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Transfer from Kec. Batununggal Kel. Kacapiring 40271 to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer from Sunyaragi to Kertajati Airport (KJT): $184
  • Private Transfer from Sukatani Purwakarta Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $128
  • Private Transfer from Sukatani Cikarang to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $58
  • Private Transfer from Sukatani Bekasi to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $58
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi, Sukamakmur, Bogor to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $80
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Sukamakmur Bogor to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $66
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Garut Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Cianjur Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $119
  • Private Transfer from Sukaresmi Bekasi to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $66
  • Private Transfer from Sukarasa bandung to Jakarta Airport (CGK): $119
  • Private Transfer from Sukarasa Kuningan Regency to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $196

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Qingdao

Also for Qingdao, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Qingdao Railway Station Depature Transfer from City Hotels: $36
  • Qingdao Railway Station Arrival Transfer to City Hotel: $36
  • Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao central to Qingdao Airport (TAO): $53
  • Qingdao Private Transfer from Qingdao Airport (TAO) to central Qingdao: $54
  • Qingdao Northern Railway Station Arrival Private One-Way Transfer: $42
  • Qingdao Liuting Airport Transfer Service by Minivan: $86
  • Qingdao Cruise Port Departure Transfer from City Hotels: $36
  • Private Qingdao Airport Arrival Transfer to City Hotels: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Bandung or Qingdao?

Prices for flights to both Qingdao and Bandung 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
    Bandung $24
    Qingdao $35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Bandung $5.45
    Qingdao $20

Tours and Activities in Bandung

For Bandung, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • 7 Hour Private Bandung City Tour : $148
  • Bandung Crater Adventure Hotspring and Mud Bath: $70
  • Bandung One Day Tour Package: $160
  • Bandung Tour All In, White Crater, Volcano Mountain, Hot Spring : $52
  • Bandung Tour Volcano, Hotsprings, Mud, Tea, Lunch all Included: $60
  • Bandung Volcano Sightseeing and Hot Spring Private Tour: $43
  • Batukaras Countryside & Canyon Tour: $74
  • Bogor ,west Java Tour: $50
  • Full-Day Tour to Bandung White Crater,Lake and Tea Plantation: $87
  • Indonesia: Dago Dreampark Bandung Tickets: $9.93
  • Innova Reborn Tour driver car rental in Bandung: $62
  • Kawah Putih tour - Day trip Ticket etc all including : $57

Tours and Activities in Qingdao

For Qingdao, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Private Qingdao Essentials Tour: City Highlights and Beer Museum: $216
  • Alternative City Tour with Navy Museum, Beer Street and TV Tower, Lunch Included: $200
  • German Era Tour of Old Town Qingdao with Lunch and Beer Museum: $200
  • Half Day Tour and Trek to Fushan Mountain: $170
  • Laoshan Mountain Full Day Private Activity Tour: $224
  • Private Qingdao Historic architectural day tour with Tsingdao beer during Lunch: $245
  • Private Qingdao Laoshan day tour with lunch& round way cable car: $240
  • Private Qingdao Laoshan half day tour with one bottle of Tsingdao beer as gift: $199
  • Private Qingdao highlights city tour with Lunch and Qingdao beer: $175
  • Qingdao + Weihai Day Tour with Buffet: $265
  • Qingdao After Dark: 4-Hour Illumination Tour with Options: $150
  • Qingdao Discover Tour to the Mount Laoshan and Tasting Famous Local Beer: $248

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Bandung $3.32
    Qingdao $14


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bandung and Qingdao, we can see that Qingdao is more expensive. And not only is Bandung much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bandung would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bandung 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 Qingdao would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Qingdao than you might in Bandung.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bandung Expensive? and Is Qingdao Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Bandung or Qingdao?

Bandung has a larger population, and is about 3% larger than the population of Qingdao. When comparing the sizes of Bandung and Qingdao, 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.