Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Ayutthaya?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Ayutthaya or Johor Bahru?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Ayutthaya 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: Ayutthaya or Johor Bahru?
Ayutthaya
Once the largest city in the world, Ayutthaya, is the example of an ancient capital within a modern city. Located in the central plains of Thailand, this spot is ideally located between China, India and the Malay Archipelago creating the perfect place for trade in Asia. Eighteenth century maps from Holland and France show golden palaces, large ceremony spots and trading vessels from all over the world. Suddenly, in 1767, Ayutthaya experienced a tragic fall from grace with a Burmese invasion burning much of the city to the ground.
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 Cultural Tours in Thailand, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Thailand, The Best 2-Week Tours from Kuala Lumpur, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAyutthaya $68Johor Bahru $57
The average daily cost (per person) in Ayutthaya is $68, while the average daily cost in Johor Bahru is $57. 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 Ayutthaya and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAyutthaya $23Johor Bahru $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAyutthaya $46Johor Bahru $80
Compare Hotels in Ayutthaya and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Ayutthaya 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: Ayutthaya Hotel Prices and Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ayutthaya $30Johor Bahru $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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River Ferry Crossing$0.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ayutthaya
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ayutthaya:
- Transfer from Bangkok: $108
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore Van Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Seletar Airport (XSP): $42
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru city to Malacca Cruise Port: $51
- Johor Bahru to Mersing jetty Private Transfer: $80
- Legoland Theme Park Ticket and Transfer (SIC-Shared transfer): $97
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $99
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $103
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur International Airport One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur International Airport One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $105
Is it cheaper to fly into Ayutthaya or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Ayutthaya 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 dayAyutthaya $22Johor Bahru $9.24
Typical Food Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of dining costs in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Lunch for 2$4.15
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Ice Cream$0.89
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Breakfast for 2$4.15
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Breakfast for 2$10
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ayutthaya
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ayutthaya.
- Bangkok: VELA Dinner Cruise Ticket: $21
- Eat like a local Food tour with small group: $57
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johor Bahru
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johor Bahru.
- City Lights Cruise (Saturday) with 5 Course Seated Dinner: $202
- City Lights Cruise with Buffet Dinner + Free flow Wine & Beer: $218
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ayutthaya $29Johor Bahru $7.59
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ayutthaya
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Ayutthaya are as follows:
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Temple Entrances (2)$5.93
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Wat Entrance$1.48
Tours and Activities in Ayutthaya
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Ayutthaya are as follows:
- App self-guided: Tour Bangkok, Thailand: $4.43
- Ayutthaya City and Historical Park Bike Tour: $39
- The Incredible Ayutthaya Ancient Temple Tour : From Bangkok: $57
- Colors of UNESCO Heritage 6 hour Bicycle Tour: $60
- Ayutthaya Full-Day Tour with Bang Pa In (Summer Palace): $60
- From Bangkok: Ayutthaya Day Tour Small Group: $63
- UNESCO Heritage Temples and Cafe Day Tour: $69
- Bangkok: Ayutthaya Night Tour (Join Tour): $77
- Private 1 hour Boat tour Pa Sak River: $90
- BKK: Ayutthaya Old Capital with 4 Famous Temple Private Tour: $149
- Ayutthaya 1-day Private Tour : UNESCO World Heritage Site: $156
- From Bangkok: Tour Ayutthaya + Lunch + Spanish guide: $162
Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $4.77
- Laser Battle Experience in Johor Bahru: $7.06
- Singapore: Wings of Time Entry Ticket: $14
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $14
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $20
- Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Singapore Sentosa 4D AdventureLand Entry E-Ticket: $21
- Legoland Malaysia Theme Park E-Tickets: $22
- Sailing along Straits of Johor: Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $22
- Magical Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $22
- 1 Day Legoland Malaysia Ticket: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAyutthaya $20Johor Bahru $4.95
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Ayutthaya and Johor Bahru, we can see that Ayutthaya 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 Ayutthaya would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Ayutthaya 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 Ayutthaya Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ayutthaya or Johor Bahru?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Ayutthaya. When comparing the sizes of Ayutthaya 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.