Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Darjiling?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Darjiling or Johor Bahru?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling 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: Darjiling or Johor Bahru?
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
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 India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $35Johor Bahru $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $35, while the average daily cost in Johor Bahru is $52. 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 Darjiling and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $13Johor Bahru $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $26Johor Bahru $72
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices and Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.48Johor Bahru $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $49
- Rafting Journey at the Down on Teesta River's White Water with Private Transfer: $197
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuantan Transfer [Car]: $266
- Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
- Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $197
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $177
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Car]: $150
- Universal Studios Singapore (Shared Transfer): $144
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $125
- Private Transfer from Senai International Airport Johor to Singapore Hotels: $125
- Private Singapore Departure Airport Transfer from Sentosa Island to Airport: $119
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Ipoh Transfer [Van]: $115
- Johor Hotels to Malacca Hotels (Door to Door) Transfer: $108
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $108
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Darjiling 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 dayDarjiling $14Johor Bahru $8.39
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 with Buffet Dinner + Free flow Wine & Beer: $192
- Dog Cruise with 5-Course Seated Dinner: $222
- Sunset Sail Cruise with 5 Course Seated Dinner: $222
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $12Johor Bahru $6.89
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
- Heritage & Cultural Walk of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Darjeeling (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $13
- Gangtok Food Crawl (2 Hours Guided Local Food Tasting Tour): $25
- Tiger Hill Darjeeling Nature Walk (3 Hours Guided Trekking Experience): $25
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $31
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $31
- Mirik Lake Day tour From Darjeeling: $37
- Private Morning Excursion Tour To Tiger Hill (3 Points) With Pickup and Drop: $62
- Excursion to Tea Estate Tour With Tea Processing Tour with Transportation: $62
- Gangtok Monastery Tour (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $82
- Best of Gangtok (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $84
Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:
- *15Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $125
- 4-Hour Private Luxurious Sentosa Walking Tour in Singapore: $286
- Breakfast Cruise with International Breakfast (Buffet): $134
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour, Johor Bahru (Direct Entry): $25
- Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark Admission Ticket: $34
- Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $4.30
- Fun and Adventurous Experience at Cove Water Park : $42
- Hassle Free Universal Studios Singapore - One-Day Ticket: $65
- HeadRock VR Admission Ticket: $11
- Johor Day Tour - Ostrich Farm, Beach, Waterfall, Fireflies [Car]: $261
- Johor Tour ends in Singapore - Ostrich Farm, Waterfall, Go Kart [Car]: $298
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.77Johor Bahru $4.49
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Darjiling and Johor Bahru, we can see that Johor Bahru is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Darjiling.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Johor Bahru?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling 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.