Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Doha?
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 Doha or Johor Bahru?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Doha and Johor Bahru can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Doha or Johor Bahru?
Doha
Doha is the capital city of Qatar, modern and rapidly developing with much construction underway. It is home to Doha International Airport, the main point of entry for Qatar, as well as many of the country's best museums and examples of cultural heritage.
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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Doha Prices
Qatar PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDoha $245Johor Bahru $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Doha is $245, 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 Doha and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDoha $119Johor Bahru $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDoha $238Johor Bahru $82
Compare Hotels in Doha and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Doha 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: Doha Hotel Prices and Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Doha $23Johor Bahru $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Doha
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Doha:
- Departure Transfer From West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $20
- Private Car Transfer from Doha City: $20
- Arrival Transfer to West Bay / Pearl Qatar: $20
- Departure Transfer from Lusail: $27
- Doha Night Desert Safari Camel Ride Dune Bashing with Transfer: $39
- Doha to Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) Departure Private Transfer: $40
- Transfer from Hamad Airport to Doha City - Stress-Free Tranafer: $40
- Private Doha Airport Transfer | Hamad Airport (DOH): $40
- Qatar Doha Airport (DOH) to Qatar Doha - Private Transfer: $41
- Qatar Doha Hamad Airport (DOH) to Doha Arrival Private Transfer: $41
- Private Transfer from Doha Port to Doha Hamad Airport (DOH): $51
- Doha : City Tour To All Main Attractions Including Transfers: $55
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]: $249
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Transfer [Van]: $73
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Car]: $159
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru to Cameron Highland Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $235
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $103
- Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $275
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $186
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur International Airport One-way Transfer: $105
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $103
Is it cheaper to fly into Doha or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Doha 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 dayDoha $106Johor Bahru $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Doha
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Doha.
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Live BBQ Buffet and Hotel Transfer: $23
- Traditional Sunset Dhow Cruise Tour with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $32
- Starlight Dhow Cruise Dinner Experience on Doha Waterfront: $34
- Doha Evening Dhow Cruise with Dinner Option: $39
- Sunset Dinner Cruise in Doha Bay A Traditional Dhow Experience: $55
- Qatar: Desert Dune Bashing with lunch/dinner in Desert Beach Camp: $55
- Moonlight Dinner Cruise with Transfers: $65
- Qatar Desert Safari Tour with Bedouin Camp Lunch or Dinner: $130
- Full Day Desert Safari with Inland Sea Visit and Buffet Dinner: $150
- 5-Hour Private Night Tour with Dinner: $158
- Full Day Desert Safari in Qatar with Lunch/Dinner by sea side: $159
- Private Desert Safari with BBQ Lunch or Dinner: $160
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Doha $18Johor Bahru $7.94
Tours and Activities in Doha
Here are a few actual costs in Doha for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 3-2-1 Olympic and Sports Museum ticket | Qatar: $20
- National Museum Ticket at Qatar: $23
- Doha Desert Safari, ATV, Camels, Sandboarding and Inland Sea Tour: $28
- Qatar Desert Safari Adventure Experience .: $28
- Top Doha Night City Tour Including Souq Waqif , Lusail And Katara: $30
- Doha Private City Tour with Licensed Tour Guide: $30
- Explore Doha Souq Waqif Katara Cultural Village Pearl Island Tour: $30
- Doha Sightseeing Tour with Optional Sunset Dhow Cruise: $34
- Explore Heart of Qatar Doha City Tour with Professional Guide: $35
- Guided City Tour with Traditional Dhow Cruise Skyline: $35
- Qatar Desert Safari: Dune Bashing & Inland Sea (Shared Tour): $37
- Arabian Dhow Cruise in Doha with Sunset and Skyline Views: $37
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: $6.45
- 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
- Dino Rescue Squad - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- DaVinci & The Wheel of Time - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Magical Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $20
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDoha $15Johor Bahru $5.18
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Doha and Johor Bahru, we can see that Doha is more expensive. And not only is Johor Bahru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Doha is in Middle East and Johor Bahru is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Doha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Doha 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 Doha Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Doha or Johor Bahru?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Doha. When comparing the sizes of Doha 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.