A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Helsinki vs. Johor Bahru for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Helsinki 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 Helsinki 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: Helsinki or Johor Bahru?

Helsinki

Helsinki is the capital of Finland and dates back to 1550. Helsinki is an international metropolis with a diverse population, but also a small town vibe. The city itself has a population of just over 600,000 but the metropolitan area, including Espoo and Vantaa, has a population of more than 1.3 million. There are many outdoor bars and cafes that take advantage of the warmer summer months. During this time there are long days, and the population floods into the street after a long and cold winter, so visiting during the summer is a fun and lively experience.

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 10-Day Tours in Finland, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Finland, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.


Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Helsinki?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Helsinki is €164, while the average daily cost in Johor Bahru is €54. 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 Helsinki and Johor Bahru in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Helsinki 73
    Johor Bahru 34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Helsinki 146
    Johor Bahru 68
Compare Hotels in Helsinki and Johor Bahru

Looking for a hotel in Helsinki 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.

Hotels in Helsinki


Hotels in Johor Bahru


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: Helsinki Hotel Prices and Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Helsinki 22
    Johor Bahru 11

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Helsinki

Also for Helsinki, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Arrival Private Transfer: $70
  • Helsinki Hotels to West Harbour Cruise Terminal - Deparure Private Transfer: $70
  • Private Transfer from Helsinki Hotels to Helsinki Cruise Terminal: $70
  • Private Transfer from Helsinki Cruise Terminal to Helsinki hotels: $70
  • Private Transfer from Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki Port : $70
  • Helsinki West Harbour Terminal to Helsinki hotels - Arrival Private Transfer: $70
  • Helsinki Airport (HEL) to Helsinki - Arrival Private Transfer : $70
  • Minivan Departure Transfer Helsinki City to Helsinki Airport HEL: $79
  • Private VIP Transfer in Helsinki: $82
  • Private VIP Transfer from or to Helsinki Airport: $84
  • Helsinki Private Airport & City Transfer: $90
  • Private Transfer: Helsinki City to Cruise Port by Luxury Van: $102

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:

  • ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore Van Transfer: $38
  • ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $99
  • Universal Studios Singapore + Roundtrip Transfers: $119
  • Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $208
  • Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $164
  • Private Transfer from Johor Bahru City Center to Singapore Hotels: $99
  • Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $131
  • Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $103
  • Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $125
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $182

Is it cheaper to fly into Helsinki or Johor Bahru?

Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Helsinki 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Helsinki 59
    Johor Bahru 13

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Helsinki

For Helsinki, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • FOOD Tour with Roof Top Bar in Helsinki: $119
  • Helsinki Food Tour: A Culinary Experience with a Local: $275

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Helsinki 27
    Johor Bahru 6.63

Tours and Activities in Helsinki

For Helsinki, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • Tip-based Tour of Helsinki - RED UMBRELLA - 2025: $3.61
  • Tove Jansson's Helsinki Self Guided Tour: $11
  • Helsinki Historical Highlights Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour : $11
  • Capital of Contrasts: A Self Guided Audio Tour in Helsinki: $15
  • A Finntastic Walking Tour in Helsinki: $24
  • Sightseeing Cruise in Archipelago of Helsinki: $32
  • Helsinki Canal Cruise: $33
  • Hop-On Hop-Off City Tour: $42
  • City Sightseeing Helsinki Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $42
  • Helsinki Panorama Sightseeing Audio-Guided Bus Tour: $43
  • Adventure Day: $48
  • Explore Tallinn: Self-Guided Day Cruise from Helsinki: $49

Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:

  • Adventure Cove Water Park Entry ticket sentosa Island singpore: $50
  • Sentosa 4D Adventureland Admission Ticket in Singapore: $29
  • #11Hrs Singapore Escorted Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $113
  • *15Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $132
  • Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Johor Admission Ticket: $35
  • Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Ticket: $40
  • Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour, Johor Bahru (Direct Entry): $25
  • Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark Admission Ticket: $22
  • Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
  • Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.32
  • HydroDash Singapore Ticket: $45
  • Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour (Double): $86

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Helsinki 16
    Johor Bahru 4.32


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Helsinki and Johor Bahru, we can see that Helsinki is more expensive. And not only is Johor Bahru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Helsinki is in Europe 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 Helsinki would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Helsinki 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 Helsinki Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Helsinki or Johor Bahru?

Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 44% larger than the population of Helsinki. When comparing the sizes of Helsinki 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.