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

Should you visit Karachi or Bandung?

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

Should I visit Karachi or Bandung? 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: Karachi or Bandung?

Karachi

Karachi is the capital of the Pakistani province of Sindh. It is the most populous city in Pakistan, and sixth most populous city proper in the world. Karachi, located on the coast of the Arabian Sea, is the financial and commercial center of the nation, as well as its largest port. The pace of life here is more hurried, and social attitudes are far more liberal than elsewhere in Pakistan. Locals call it the City of Lights, the City of The Quaid, and the City that Never Sleeps. The city credits its growth to the mixed populations of economic and political migrants along with refugees from different national, provincial, linguistic and religious origins, who generally come to the city to settle permanently.

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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Pakistan, The Best Historical Tours in Pakistan, The Best Budget Tours to Indonesia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Indonesia.


Which place is cheaper, Bandung or Karachi?

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 Karachi is $33, while the average daily cost in Bandung is $48. 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 Karachi and Bandung in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Karachi $10
    Bandung $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Karachi $20
    Bandung $40
Compare Hotels in Karachi and Bandung

Looking for a hotel in Karachi or Bandung? 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 Karachi


Hotels in Bandung


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: Karachi Hotel Prices and Bandung Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Karachi $4.48
    Bandung $5.54

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Karachi

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Karachi:

  • Karachi Pick up and Dropoff Transfer : $50

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bandung

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

  • Private Transfer from Mampang to Jakarta Halim Airport (HLP): $35
  • Private Transfer from Sadang Serang to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer from Kel. Sekejati to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer from Kel. Samoja to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Kel. Samoja: $37
  • Private Transfer from Pagerwangi to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer from Cihideung to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer from Dusun Mulya Bhakti to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to 40294 Arcamanik, Bandung City: $37
  • Private Transfer from Citeureup City to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer from Malabar to Bandung Airport (BDO): $37
  • Private Transfer Bandung Airport (BDO) to Paledang: $37

Is it cheaper to fly into Karachi or Bandung?

Prices for flights to both Bandung and Karachi 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
    Karachi $19
    Bandung $24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Karachi

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Karachi.

  • Street Food Tour of Karachi: $199
  • Private Karachi Street Food Tour: $215

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bandung

For Bandung, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Indonesian Cooking Class with Welcoming Exotic Fruits: $32

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Karachi $4.95
    Bandung $5.45

Tours and Activities in Karachi

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

  • Day Tour in Karachi Unesco Heritage: $150
  • Experience local village life in Sindh: $300
  • Full Day Karachi Private City Tour: $120
  • Full Day Karachi to Thatta Unesco Sites Tour: $92
  • Full Day Private City Tour of Karachi: $120
  • Karachi City Tour : $129
  • Karachi Heritage Express: Thatta UNESCO Tour: $150
  • Karachi Sightseeing Private City Tour.: $199
  • UNESCO World Heritage Tour Near Karachi : $150

Tours and Activities in Bandung

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

  • Indonesia: Dago Dreampark Bandung Tickets: $9.93
  • The heart of Bandung and Grand Mosque Guided Walking Tour: $15
  • Bandung Volcano Sightseeing and Hot Spring Private Tour: $43
  • Tangkuban Parahu Volcano & Surrounding Areas Tour: $44
  • Private Guided to The White Crater & Surrounding Areas Tour: $45
  • Private Guide Bandung Tour Car Charter: $49
  • Bogor ,west Java Tour: $50
  • Bandung Tour All In, White Crater, Volcano Mountain, Hot Spring : $52
  • Private Tour to Bandung Volcano Hot Springs and Mud bathing: $55
  • Kawah Putih tour - Day trip Ticket etc all including : $57
  • Private: Kawah Putih,Volcano,HotSpring,Mud Bathing,Lake Tour: $58
  • Kawah Putih Day Tours: $59

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Karachi $3.27
    Bandung $3.32


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

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


Which is Bigger, Karachi or Bandung?

Karachi has a larger population, and is about 7 times larger than the population of Bandung. When comparing the sizes of Karachi and Bandung, 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.

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