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 Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
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Dubai Prices
UAE PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDubai $289Johor Bahru $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Dubai is $289, 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 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:
- Global Village Dubai Ticket with Optional transfer: $9.50
- Private Dubai Airport Arrival/Departure Transfer to Dubai City: $13
- Miracle Garden & Global Village with Optional Private Transfers: $14
- Global Village Dubai Tickets with Transfers Option: $16
- Private Dubai Airport Transfer DXB to Dubai City: $17
- Dubai hotel or address to Dubai Airport (DXB) – Departure Private Transfer: $17
- Dubai Private Airport Arrival & Departure To Hotel Transfer: $18
- Dubai Airport: Private One-Way Arrival and Departure Transfer: $18
- Dubai Frame Tickets with Optional Transfer: $19
- Dubai Airports Arrival Transfer Only: $20
- Dubai Airports Departure Transfer Only: $20
- Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise With or Without Transfers: $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $275
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]: $249
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru city to Malacca Cruise Port: $246
- Johor Bahru to Cameron Highland Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $235
- Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $208
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $186
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $160
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Car]: $159
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $134
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $125
- Universal Studios Singapore Tickets with Round-trip Transfers: $115
- Johor Bahru City 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$6.53
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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:
- Dubai Desert Safari with Dune Bashing, Camel Ride & BBQ Dinner: $8.75
- Desert Safari Dubai with BBQ Buffet Dinner: $15
- Dhow Cruise with Dinner and Live Entertainment at Dubai Al Seef: $16
- Dubai Creek Dhow Cruise Dinner: $18
- Vip Red Dune Desert Safari Dubai, Camel Ride, BBQ Dinner, Shows: $18
- Vip Desert Safari Dubai With BBQ Buffet Dinner: $19
- VIP RED DUNE SAFARI with Pick/drop,Quad,Camel, BBQ Dinner & Shows: $19
- Dubai Dhow Cruise Dinner in Deira Creek: $20
- Evening Desert Safari Dubai with Camel Ride & BBQ dinner: $21
- Dubai Desert Safari With4x4 Pick/Drop camel ride BBQ dinner shows: $21
- Dubai Creek Dhow Dinner Cruise with Buffet & Live Entertainment: $21
- Vip Desert Safari Dubai with BBQ dinner&shows-Pick&Drop(Optional): $22
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Dubai $19Johor Bahru $7.94
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.
- Global Village Dubai Ticket with optional transport: $9.00
- Miracle Garden and Global Village Entrance Ticket: $9.77
- Global Village Tickets: $10
- Global Village Skip the ticket line: $13
- Dubai Butterfly Garden Ticket Deals: $14
- Dubai Layover Private Tour with Choice of Duration: $15
- Dubai Marina Yacht Tour Ain Dubai, JBR and Harbour in 1 hour: $18
- Dubai Frame Ticket: $18
- Old Town, Souks, Street Food, Guided Tour & Abra Ride: $18
- Dubai Marina 2 Hour Sunset Yacht Tour with Alcoholic Drinks: $18
- Dubai 5 Hours Magic Secret New Shopping Tour: $19
- Dubai Frame Entry Ticket: $19
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: $116
- Adventure Cove WaterPark Sentosa Island Singpore optional ticket: $33
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Admission Ticket Singapore: $45
- DaVinci & The Wheel of Time - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Dino Rescue Squad - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.45
- Harry Potter Visions of Magic Singapore Entry Ticket with Voucher: $73
- 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
- Johor Day Tour - Ostrich Farm, Beach, Waterfall, Fireflies [Car]: $276
- Johor Day Tour - Southernmost Tip, Eco Farm, Go Kart [Car]: $268
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDubai $23Johor Bahru $5.18
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 Tours: $42
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.