Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Ao Nang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
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Should you visit Ao Nang or Johor Bahru?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ao Nang or Johor Bahru? 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: Ao Nang or Johor Bahru?
Ao Nang
If you're looking for a relaxing beach on the coast of Thailand, it might be time to make a trip to Ao Nang. This developed and "westernized" beach was once the place to be for backpackers, but is now quite popular with package tourist crowds, too, as prices have risen in recent decades. Here you'll find nice hotels, restaurants, and plenty of fun activities at the beach and nearby, too.
Johor Bahru
Johor Bahru is the capital of the state of Johor in Southern Malaysia. Though it is largely industrial and does not typically cater to tourists, especially compared to the grandeur of neighboring Singapore, the city does have some opportunities for shopping, dining, and entertainment.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours Under $1000 in Thailand, The Best Budget Tours to Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
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Ao Nang Prices
Thailand PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAo Nang $131Johor Bahru $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Ao Nang is $131, while the average daily cost in Johor Bahru is $67. 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 Ao Nang and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAo Nang $50Johor Bahru $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAo Nang $100Johor Bahru $84
Compare Hotels in Ao Nang and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Ao Nang or Johor Bahru? 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: Ao Nang Hotel Prices and Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ao Nang $62Johor Bahru $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ao Nang
Also for Ao Nang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- From Kayaking at Klong Rud with Hotel Transfers: $27
- Ferry Transfer from Koh PhiPhi to Ao Nang: $28
- Klong Rud Kayaking with Hotel Transfer: $29
- Krabi: ATV Off-Road Adventure in Nature Paradise w/Transfer: $30
- Krabi: Ao Nang To or From Phi Phi By Fast Speedboat Transfer: $30
- Koh Lanta :Speedboat Transfer from Koh Lanta to Koh Phi Phi: $30
- Phuket: Ferry Transfer to/from Ao Nang & Railay & Lanta: $30
- Krabi ATV Extreme Experience with Transfer and Adventure: $31
- Krabi: 4-Island Deluxe Speedboat Tour with Lunch & Transfer: $31
- Aonang : Ferry Transfer from Aonang to Ko Lanta: $34
- Railay : Ferry Transfer from Railay to Ko Lanta: $34
- Krabi ATV Jungle Adventure with Hotel Transfer: $37
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore Van Transfer: $39
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $101
- Universal Studios Singapore Tickets with Round-trip Transfers: $117
- Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $212
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru City Center to Singapore Hotels: $103
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $137
- Malaysia：Senai International Airport（JHB）One-Way Transfer: $80
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $190
- Johor Hotels to Malacca Hotels (Door to Door) Transfer: $143
- Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $180
- Johor Bahru to Cameron Highland Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $235
Is it cheaper to fly into Ao Nang or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Ao Nang 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 dayAo Nang $47Johor Bahru $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Krabi: Traditional Thai Cooking Class with Local Chef: $37
- Authentic Thai Local Cooking Class: $38
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class Krabi Province: $39
- 7 Islands Sunset Tour with Dinner & Snorkeling: $40
- Krabi: 7 Islands Sunset Tour by Longtail Boat & BBQ Dinner: $43
- Krabi: Hong Island Cruise with Thai Buffet Dinner: $45
- From Ao Nang Hong Island Longtail Cruise with Sunset Dinner: $49
- Krabi: Morning/Afternoon Thai Cooking Class at Ya's Cookery: $51
- Krabi: Romantic Beachfront Sunset Dinner: $64
- Krabi: Ao Thalane Sunset Kayaking & BBQ Dinner: $110
- Local Krabi: Cooking Demo, Market Walk, Bamboo Raft & Fruit: $133
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ao Nang $12Johor Bahru $8.14
Tours and Activities in Ao Nang
For Ao Nang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- From Phi Phi : Splash & Explore – Half-Day Tour By longtail: $17
- Krabi: South Kayak Klong Root Kayaking Tour: $17
- Krabi kayaking and swimming clongrood Tour: $21
- Krabi: On The Hill Off-Road ATV Adventure 30 Minute: $22
- Krabi: 4 Island Snorkeling Tour: $24
- From Krabi: Blue Dragon Cabaret Ticket Dazzling Night: $24
- Krabi: 4 Islands One-Day Premium Speedboat Tour lunch: $25
- Krabi: Iconic 4 Islands Day Tour by Longtail Boat with Lunch: $27
- Ao Nang Kayak Adventure: Explore the Stunning Flooded Forest: $27
- Krabi: Saitai Mountain Tail ATV Adventure: $27
- Krabi: Jurassic Trails ATV Ride & Kayaking Tour: $27
- Muay Thai Training Experience for All Levels: $27
Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:
- Adventure Cove WaterPark Sentosa Island Singpore: $34
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Tickets: $49
- Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Admission Ticket in Johor: $29
- Adventure Waterpark Ticket Desaru Coast: $19
- Buggy Tour Tourism Johor: $59
- Causeway Tour: $20
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.59
- Harry Potter Visions of Magic Singapore Entry Ticket with Voucher: $72
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour (Double): $86
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour(Single): $62
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Johor Day Tour - Ostrich Farm, Beach, Waterfall, Fireflies [Car]: $281
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAo Nang $16Johor Bahru $5.31
Sample the Local Flavors in Ao Nang
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Ao Nang:
- K-Bunk Pub Crawl - The Best Bars in Ao Nang in One Night!: $1.20
- Krabi: Summer Club Pub Crawl with Fire Show: $15
- Krabi Pub Crawl - Join Nomads For The Best Night in Ao Nang!: $27
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ao Nang and Johor Bahru, we can see that Ao Nang is more expensive. And not only is Johor Bahru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Johor Bahru would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Johor Bahru 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 Ao Nang would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ao Nang than you might in Johor Bahru.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Ao Nang Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ao Nang or Johor Bahru?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 100 times larger than the population of Ao Nang. When comparing the sizes of Ao Nang and Johor Bahru, 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.