Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Da 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 Da Nang or Johor Bahru?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Da 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: Da Nang or Johor Bahru?
Da Nang
Halfway between Ho Chi Minh City in the south and Hanoi in the North is the easy-going beach city of Da Nang (or Danang, for some). The third most populated city in Vietnam, Da Nang draws in crowds with its beautiful and calm beaches as well as its history as a French colonial port.
With beaches, mountains, and cityscape, there's bound to be a point of interest for all travelers. Da Nang is also a transit hub to get to the four Vietnamese UNESCO World heritage sites: Phong Nha Ke Bang National Park, Hue, Hoi An, and My Son.
Da Nang experiences wet season from September through March and dry season from April through August with average temperatures of around 80℉.
Da Nang is also known to have some of the friendliest locals, probably due to the peace and quiet and lack of heavy traffic, even in the city.
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 Adventure Tours to Vietnam, The Best Eco Tours in Vietnam, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
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Da Nang Prices
Vietnam PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDa Nang $55Johor Bahru $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Da Nang is $55, while the average daily cost in Johor Bahru is $66. 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 Da Nang and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDa Nang $18Johor Bahru $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDa Nang $36Johor Bahru $82
Compare Hotels in Da Nang and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Da 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: Da Nang Hotel Prices and Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Da Nang $11Johor Bahru $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Da Nang
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Da Nang:
- Da Nang International Airport PRIVATE Transfer To Da Nang/Hoi An: $4.00
- Da Nang Airport Private Transfer to Hoi An & Da Nang City: $4.00
- Da Nang Airport to Da Nang City Private Transfer: $5.00
- Private transfer service from Danang airport to Hotel: $5.18
- Transfer from airport train station to hotel Danang vice versa: $7.01
- Hue Transfer Service to/from Hotel, Airport, Train Station: $7.09
- PRIVATE TRANSFER Da Nang Airport to/from Da Nang & Hoi An hotels: $8.00
- Shuttle Bus Airport Transfer to Da Nang Central/ Hoi An city: $8.00
- Danang/Hoi An/Hue private transfers - all fees inclusive: $8.00
- One Way Bus Transfer from Da Nang to Hoi An: $8.57
- DA NANG AIRPORT TO DA NANG HOTEL by Private Transfer: $8.97
- Da Nang Airport Private Round-Trip Transfer: $9.00
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore Van Transfer: $38
- Malaysia：Senai International Airport（JHB）One-Way Transfer: $80
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $94
- Johor Bahru to Mersing jetty Private Transfer: $95
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $99
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru City Center to Singapore Hotels: $102
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $104
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Taman Negara Transfer [Van]: $109
- Universal Studios Singapore Tickets with Round-trip Transfers: $115
Is it cheaper to fly into Da Nang or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Da 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 dayDa Nang $27Johor Bahru $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Da Nang
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Da Nang.
- Authentic Street Food Tour in Hanoi, Ho Chi Minh City or Da Nang: $1.87
- Da Nang Private Street Food Tour with Students Flexible Itinerary: $5.00
- Da Nang Street Food Tour with Karaoke, Bar, Acoustic Optional: $5.00
- Da Nang Live Cooking Experience with Ocean Views: $10
- Da Nang Egg Coffee and Spring Roll Cooking Class: $15
- Tasty Dinner Han River Dragon Cruise by Yatch & Tradictional Show: $17
- Da Nang Food Tour & Hidden Gems w/ Students By Scooter: $19
- Poseidon Cruise with Dinner and Dragon Bridge Show: $21
- Home Cooking Class: Market, Garden and cooking 4 dishes: $26
- Walking Food Tour of Da Nang: $27
- Trà Quế Vegetable Village, Herbal cocktail & HoiAn Cooking Class: $29
- Private Traditional Cooking Class and Pho with Local Girl: $29
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Da Nang $13Johor Bahru $8.07
Tours and Activities in Da Nang
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Da Nang are as follows:
- Hoi An Ancient Town Tour with Lantern Release, Basket Boat Ride,: $1.87
- Hue Imperial City and Royal Tombs Scenic Tour With Hai Van Pass: $1.87
- Da Nang City Sightseeing and My Son Sanctuary Heritage Experience: $1.87
- Vietnamese Tradition Combo Ao dai Coffee and Banh mi Private Tour: $2.73
- Da Nang Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $3.51
- Vietnam Da Nang Museum Admission Ticket: $3.97
- Hue City Sightseeing Private Tour With Hai Van Pass Train Ride: $5.00
- Da Nang Sun World Ba Na Hills & Golden Bridge Tour with Cable Car: $5.00
- Da Nang Night Cruise on Han River with Optional Shows or Massage: $5.00
- Cu Lao Cham Island, Coconut Basket Boat, Hoi An Ancient Town Tour: $5.00
- Da Nang City Tasting Local Streeet Food Private Tour With Student: $5.00
- My Son Sanctuary UNESCO Tour With Thu Bon River Boat Trip: $5.00
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: $6.52
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Wings of Time Admission Ticket: $14
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $17
- Malaysia: Johor Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Entry Ticket: $18
- Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony Tickets: $19
- Dino Rescue Squad - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Singapore: Madame Tussauds Sentosa E-Ticket: $22
- Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony Tickets: $23
- Legoland Malaysia Admission Ticket (All Rides & Attractions): $24
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDa Nang $8.95Johor Bahru $5.26
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Da Nang and Johor Bahru, we can see that Johor Bahru is more expensive. And not only is Da Nang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Da Nang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Da Nang 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 Da Nang.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Da Nang Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Da Nang or Johor Bahru?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 7% larger than the population of Da Nang. When comparing the sizes of Da 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.