Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Dubai?
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 Dubai 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 Dubai and Johor Bahru can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Dubai or Johor Bahru?
Dubai
Ever wonder what it would be like to see the lifestyles of the rich and famous up close. There's no more upscale destination than Dubai. It's by far and away the spot for shopping, partying, sunbathing, fine dining and the most luxurious of luxury. As the most modern and progressive of the seven emirates in the United Arab Emirates, this area has experienced an unbelievable economic boom and tourism spike. It's a desert city with an amazing infrastructure.
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 3-Day Tours from Dubai, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in United Arab Emirates, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Dubai Prices
UAE PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $289Johor Bahru $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $289, 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 Dubai and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Johor Bahru $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Johor Bahru $82
Compare Hotels in Dubai and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Dubai 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: Dubai Hotel Prices and Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Dubai $13Johor Bahru $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Dubai:
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Taxi Ride$12
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Airport Taxi$12
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Sea Taxi$0.54
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Dubai
Also for Dubai, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Miracle Garden and Global Village Entry Ticket with Transfer: $8.42
- Global Village Dubai Ticket with Optional transfer: $9.50
- Global Village Entry Ticket with Transfer Option: $10
- Private Dubai Airport Arrival/Departure Transfer to Dubai City: $13
- Miracle Garden & Global Village with Optional Private Transfers: $14
- Dubai Airport (DXB) to Dubai hotel or address - Arrival Private Transfer: $17
- Dubai hotel or address to Dubai Airport (DXB) – Departure Private Transfer: $17
- Dubai Frame Ticket with Optional Private Transfer: $18
- Global Village Dubai Admission Ticket With Transfer (Optional): $18
- Dubai Airport Private Departure / Arrival Airport Transfer: $19
- Dubai & Sharjah Airport Private Arrival & Departure Transfer: $20
- Dubai Airport Arrival and Departure Transfers | Private Service: $20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $292
- Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $275
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $188
- Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $180
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Besut Transfer [Van]: $136
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $136
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $125
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $125
- Universal Studios Singapore Tickets with Round-trip Transfers: $116
- LEGOLAND Malaysia 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
Is it cheaper to fly into Dubai or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Dubai 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 dayDubai $96Johor Bahru $16
Typical Food Prices in Dubai
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Dubai:
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French bread$0.95
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Sumo salad in Dubai Mall + Juice$10
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Lemon Mint Tea$4.36
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Coffee & Cake$6.54
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Smoothie$5.45
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Shawarma$1.91
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Evening Desert Safari With BBQ dinner & live shows: $5.55
- VIP Red Sand Safari,Pick/Drop,Camel Ride,Quad Bike& Dinner: $6.42
- Premium Desert Safari with Camel Ride, Sandboard Dinner with BBQ: $6.78
- Dubai Desert Safari - Free Pick&Drop Red Dunes Live Shows Dinner: $6.78
- VIP Desert Safari, Quad Bike 30 Minutes ,Camel Ride, Dinner,Shows: $6.78
- Dubai Desert Safari Tour Hotel Transfer, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $6.78
- VIP Dubai Red Dune Desert Safari 4x4, Camel Ride and BBQ Dinner: $8.75
- Dubai Desert Safari With4x4 Pick/Drop camel ride BBQ dinner shows: $8.89
- Premium Desert Safari, Pick/Drop, Camel Ride, Quad bike & Dinner: $8.96
- Budget-Friendly Evening Desert Safari + BBQ Dinner & Live Shows: $8.99
- Desert Safari,Premium sofa,Quad Bike,CamelRide,BBQ Dinner,Shows: $9.21
- Vip Red Dune Desert Safari, Quad Bike, Camel Ride, Dinner & Shows: $9.60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Johor Bahru $8.04
Typical Entertainment Prices in Dubai
For Dubai, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Visit to the Dubai Museum$0.82
Tours and Activities in Dubai
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Dubai.
- Dubai's Hidden Gems: Self Guided City Tour: $1.12
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Dubai: $5.72
- Dubai Walking Tour: Self-Guided City Game: $5.84
- A Self-Guided Tour of Dubai’s Origins in Deira: $5.99
- Dubai Walking Tour 1h00 and 9 audio reviews: $7.26
- Miracle Garden and Global Village Entrance Ticket: $9.77
- Maze Mirror Inside Creek Park Entry Ticket: $9.77
- Private Evening Desert Safari Dubai Tour: $10
- DUBAI MARINA Jet Ski Adventure: $10
- Dubai Butterfly Garden Ticket Deals: $10
- 60 Min Burj Khalifa Tour in Wooden Boat: $11
- Al Shindagha Museum Ticket: $13
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: $117
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Admission Ticket: $39
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Sentosa Island Singapore AdmissionTicket: $30
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Tickets: $49
- Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Admission Ticket in Johor: $29
- Adventure Waterpark Ticket Desaru Coast: $19
- Dino Rescue Squad - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.53
- Harry Potter Visions of Magic Singapore Entry Ticket with Voucher: $71
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Johor Bahru $5.25
Typical Alcohol Prices in Dubai
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Dubai:
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A Couple Drinks$25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Dubai and Johor Bahru, we can see that Dubai is more expensive. And not only is Johor Bahru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Dubai 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 Dubai would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Dubai 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 Dubai Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Dubai or Johor Bahru?
Dubai has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Johor Bahru. When comparing the sizes of Dubai 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.