Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Bagan?
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 Bagan or Johor Bahru?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bagan and Johor Bahru can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bagan or Johor Bahru?
Bagan
Located in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), Bagan is an ancient city best known as the home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.
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 Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
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Bagan Prices
Myanmar PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBagan $34Johor Bahru $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $34, while the average daily cost in Johor Bahru is $68. 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 Bagan and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBagan $7.36Johor Bahru $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBagan $15Johor Bahru $84
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Bagan 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: Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bagan $3.57Johor Bahru $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:
- From Bagan City To Mandalay Private Transfer: $180
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $122
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $105
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Transfer [Van]: $73
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuantan Transfer [Car]: $282
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Car]: $160
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $125
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $103
- Johor Bahru to Mersing jetty Private Transfer: $95
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $189
Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Bagan 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 dayBagan $10Johor Bahru $17
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bagan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bagan.
- Romantic Sunset Dinner At Bagan Viewing Tower: $91
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bagan $57Johor Bahru $8.28
Tours and Activities in Bagan
Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay: $31
- Old Bagan Sightseeing Tour: $43
- Private Bagan Cultural Tour: $46
- Best Bagan One Day Tour With Tour Guide: $48
- Private Day Tour to Mt Popa: $48
- Visiting Mount Popa from Bagan - Private Tour: $48
- Full Day tour In Bagan UNESCO World Heritage: $50
- Tuk Tuk tour to Mt. Popa: $67
- Private Day Adventure Trip in Bagan: $71
- Full day Adventure Trip in Bagan with Tuk Tuk: $72
- Bagan Antique Day Tour in Bagan: $86
- Mount Popa - Private Day Tour: $105
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: $6.57
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Wings of Time Admission Ticket: $14
- Universal Studios Ticket Singapore: $16
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $17
- Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony Tickets: $18
- Malaysia: Johor Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Entry Ticket: $18
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Singapore: Madame Tussauds Sentosa E-Ticket: $22
- Legoland Malaysia Admission Ticket (All Rides & Attractions): $24
- Legoland Malaysia Theme Park E-Tickets: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBagan -Johor Bahru $5.40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Johor Bahru, we can see that Johor Bahru is more expensive. And not only is Bagan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bagan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bagan 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 Johor Bahru would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Johor Bahru than you might in Bagan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bagan Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bagan or Johor Bahru?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 2670 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Bagan 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.