Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Dubai?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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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 Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $248Johor Bahru $52
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $248, 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 Dubai and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDubai $170Johor Bahru $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDubai $340Johor Bahru $72
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 $11
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:
- Global Village Dubai Skip the Line Tickets with Transfer Option: $9.15
- Abu Dhabi Airport (AUH): Transfer to/from Dubai Al Jafiliya: $9.53
- Global Village entry tickets with transfer option: $9.77
- Global Village Dubai Ticket with Optional transfer: $10
- Shared Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Ski Dubai/Wild Wadi: $15
- Sharing Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Dubai Mall (Burj Khalifa, VR Parks, DAUZ): $18
- Shared Transfers from Dubai Hotels to Aquaventure/Lost Chamber: $18
- Dubai Frame Ticket with Optional Transfer: $19
- Dubai Airport Private Departure and Arrival Airport Transfer: $19
- Airport Transfers to/from all Terminals: $19
- Dubai Frame Entry Ticket With Optional Transfer: $20
- Dubai Global Village All Days Ticket With Shared Transfer: $20
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 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 $56Johor Bahru $8.39
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:
- Dhow Cruise Dinner Dubai Creek with Buffet Dinner: $14
- Dubai:Desert Safari BBQ dinner, Dune bashing,Camel&Sandboarding: $14
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet in Dubai: $14
- Scenic Dhow Cruise with Buffet Dinner and Live Shows: $14
- Dubai Romantic Dhow Creek Dinner Cruise With Live Shows and International Buffet: $15
- 2-Hour Evening Dhow Cruise and Dinner: $15
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Al Seef: $15
- Romantic Sightseeing Dhow Cruise Dinner: $15
- Cruising With Dinner And Live Shows At Dubai Creek: $18
- Dhow Dinner Cruise with International Buffet: $18
- Desert Safari with Dinner and Live Show: $18
- Romantic Dhow Cruise Dinner: $19
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.Dubai $19Johor Bahru $6.89
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.
- Tourist eSIM/SIM Card with Data and Minutes: $2.49
- Dubai Guided Old Town Tour, Abra Boat, Gold & Spice Souk: $4.63
- A Self-Guided Tour of Dubai’s Origins in Deira: $5.99
- Global Village Entry Ticket: $6.13
- Burj Khalifa, Dubai Hidden Gems - Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour: $6.32
- 4G Data Roaming eSIM Card for Tourists: $7.22
- Small-Group Premium Old Town, Souk, & Abra Boat Tour: $7.62
- Old Town Walking Tour with Souks, Abra Ride & Snacks: $8.00
- Old Walking tour with Boat ride, Souks and Museums: $8.17
- Old Dubai, Walking Tour, Souk Shopping, and Abra Ride: $8.85
- Pearl Merchants and Palm Trees: A Self-Guided Tour of Sharjah: $8.99
- Guided Old Town Tour with Souks, Tastings & Boat Tour: $9.53
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 dayDubai $23Johor Bahru $4.49
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Dubai
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Dubai:
- Pub Crawl Nightlife Tour: $67
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.