Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Chiang Mai?
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 Chiang Mai or Johor Bahru?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Chiang Mai and Johor Bahru. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Chiang Mai or Johor Bahru?
Chiang Mai
Chiang Mai is both the cultural center of northern Thailand and a launching point for trips into the rural areas, small towns, and lush jungles of the country's northern regions. Known for great food, historic temples, arts and crafts, and a lively night market, Chiang Mai is a very popular destination for travelers. In some areas, tourists and ex-pats dominate, but it's quite easy to get away from the tourist scene and into the real culture of Thailand, as Chiang Mai (and the surrounding countryside) is quite large.
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 G Adventures Tours to Thailand, The Best 3-Day Tours from Phuket, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
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Chiang Mai Prices
Thailand PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayChiang Mai $59Johor Bahru $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Chiang Mai is $59, while the average daily cost in Johor Bahru is $65. 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 Chiang Mai and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personChiang Mai $29Johor Bahru $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomChiang Mai $58Johor Bahru $82
Compare Hotels in Chiang Mai and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Chiang Mai 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: Chiang Mai Hotel Prices and Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Chiang Mai $4.04Johor Bahru $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Chiang Mai
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Chiang Mai are as follows:
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Tuk Tuk Ride$1.22
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Moped Rental$5.47
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Chiang Mai
Also for Chiang Mai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Shared AC Minivan Transfer Chiang Mai to Mon Jam (Return Option): $9.09
- Chiang Mai to Pai Shared Minivan Transfer with Hotel Pickup: $11
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Chiang Mai International Airport (CNX): $11
- Shared Minivan Transfer to Chiang Mai and Mae Kampong Village: $13
- Chiang Mai Private Car :Airport To Hotel transfer (one way): $15
- Chiang Mai International Airport Departure Shared Transfer: $15
- Private Chiang Mai Airport Transfer to or from Mae Rim Hotels: $16
- Hassle-Free Private Arrival Transfer from Chiang Mai Airport: $20
- Bua Tong Sticky Waterfall & Dantewada Cafe with Hotel Transfer: $21
- Private Arrival Transfer from Chiang Mai International Airport: $21
- Chiang Mai Airport To / From Hotel with Private Transfer: $23
- Sticky Waterfall Retreat and Chet Si Fountain Transfer: $23
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $275
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]: $249
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru city to Malacca Cruise Port: $245
- Johor Bahru to Cameron Highland Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $235
- Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $208
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $189
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $160
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Car]: $159
- Johor Hotels to Malacca Hotels (Door to Door) Transfer: $142
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $136
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $125
- Universal Studios Singapore Tickets with Round-trip Transfers: $115
Is it cheaper to fly into Chiang Mai or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Chiang Mai 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 dayChiang Mai $20Johor Bahru $16
Typical Food Prices in Chiang Mai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Chiang Mai:
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Sit Down Dinner (for One)$5.93
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Roti Snack (Bread)$0.73
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Casual Breakfast$1.22
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Casual Lunch (for Two)$6.08
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Mangoes$0.91
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Coffee$1.52
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Chiang Mai
For Chiang Mai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Cooking Morning Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market: $12
- Cooking Evening Class Chiang Mai Visit Organic Garden and Market: $12
- Chiang Mai Khantoke Dinner and Cultural Show Experience: $27
- Half-Day Cooking Class: $28
- Morning Thai cooking class: $28
- Half-Day Thai Cooking Class at Organic Farm in Chiang Mai: $28
- The Rice Barn Thai Cooking Farm Chiangmai: $28
- Khantoke Dinner at Old Chiang Mai Cultural Center: $29
- Half Day Evening Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai: $29
- Half Day Morning Cooking Class with Market Tour in Chiang Mai: $29
- Baan Farm Thai Cooking School Chiangmai: $30
- Traditional Khantoke Dinner & Cultural Show Tour in Chiang Mai: $30
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Chiang Mai $14Johor Bahru $7.94
Typical Entertainment Prices in Chiang Mai
For Chiang Mai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Thai Cooking Class$40
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Doi Suthep Entrance Ticket$1.82
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Kratong Lessons$3.04
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Pedicure$4.56
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Chiang Mai Museum (for Two)$5.47
Tours and Activities in Chiang Mai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Chiang Mai.
- Chiang Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.51
- Chiang Mai Eco Tourism Elephant Poop Paper Creative Experience: $6.18
- Tube Trek Water Park Tickets in San Kamphaeng, Chiang Mai: $8.90
- Doi Suthep Temple Tour by Local Red Car 3 Hour Adventure: $12
- Art in Paradise: Chiang Mai 3D Art Museum Experience: $15
- Skip the Line: Chiang Mai Art in Paradise Admission Ticket: $16
- FAM Fahlanna Art Museum Admission Ticket, Chiang Mai: $17
- Chiang Mai Mae Ping River Cruise and Thai Farmer House Visit: $20
- Doi Suthep Temple, Wat Pha Lat, Hmong Village Tour (Comfort Van): $21
- Explore Wat Phra Singh on a Walking Tour in Chiang Mai: $21
- Chiang Mai Old City Temples and Heritage Walking Tour: $21
- Authentic Muay Thai Experience with Hotel Pickup: $21
Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:
- *15 Hrs Melaka Escorted Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $116
- Adventure Cove WaterPark Sentosa Island Singpore optional ticket: $33
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Admission Ticket Singapore: $45
- Adventure Waterpark Ticket Desaru Coast: $19
- Causeway Tour: $20
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.55
- Harry Potter Visions of Magic Singapore Entry Ticket with Voucher: $73
- HydroDash Singapore Ticket: $45
- 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 - Lasertag, Eco Farm, Go Kart [Car]: $273
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayChiang Mai $7.53Johor Bahru $5.18
Typical Alcohol Prices in Chiang Mai
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Chiang Mai are as follows:
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Wine$3.04
Sample the Local Flavors in Chiang Mai
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Chiang Mai:
- Chiang Mai Pub Crawl: 4 Venues, Beer Buffet & VIP Entry: $22
When comparing the travel costs between Chiang Mai and Johor Bahru, we can see that Johor Bahru is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Chiang Mai Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Chiang Mai or Johor Bahru?
Chiang Mai has a larger population, and is about 25% larger than the population of Johor Bahru. When comparing the sizes of Chiang Mai 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.