Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Istanbul?
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 Istanbul or Johor Bahru?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Istanbul or Johor Bahru, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Istanbul or Johor Bahru?
Istanbul
Istanbul is strategically located on the Bosphorus and is split between Europe and Asia. It truly is a city where east meets west. Istanbul is the cultural and financial hub of Turkey, and also the most populous city. The sites are countless and there's something for everybody, whether you're interested in art, music, food, or adventure. You can pass many days exploring both the residential and commercial pockets of this city. Much of the appeal is hidden away along back alleys or within corner shops.
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 2-Week Tours in Turkey, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Turkey, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
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Istanbul Prices
Turkey PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayIstanbul $159Johor Bahru $65
The average daily cost (per person) in Istanbul is $159, 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 Istanbul and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personIstanbul $74Johor Bahru $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomIstanbul $148Johor Bahru $82
Compare Hotels in Istanbul and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Istanbul 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Istanbul $35Johor Bahru $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Istanbul
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Istanbul are as follows:
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Metro Cards$4.59
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Istanbul
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Istanbul:
- Fast & Luxury VIP Private Transfer | IST Airport & Hotel pickup: $8.11
- Sapanca & Masukiye Day Tour from Istanbul with Lunch & Transfer: $15
- Istanbul Princes Island Tour with Lunch & Hotel Transfer: $20
- Full Day Sapanca Tour with Lunch and Transfer From Istanbul: $23
- Istanbul Airport or Sabiha Gokcen Private Airport Transfers: $25
- Istanbul Airport Private Arrival Transfer: $29
- Reliable & Safe Istanbul Airport Taxi Transfer – VIP Service: $30
- Istanbul Airport Private Departure Transfer: $31
- Istanbul Airport Private Transfer: $32
- Private Minivan Transfer from Istanbul Airport: $33
- Istanbul Airports Arrival or Departure Private Transfers: $34
- Istanbul to Istanbul Airport (IST) - Departure Private Transfer: $35
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Van]: $57
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Transfer [Van]: $72
- Malaysia：Senai International Airport（JHB）One-Way Transfer: $80
- Johor Bahru to Mersing jetty Private Transfer: $95
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $99
- Singapore Universal Studio with Optional One Way Transfer: $100
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru City Center to Singapore Hotels: $102
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $103
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $103
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
Is it cheaper to fly into Istanbul or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Istanbul 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 dayIstanbul $59Johor Bahru $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Istanbul
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Istanbul.
- Istanbul Dinner Cruise Show: $20
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise Tour: $22
- Dinner and Turkish Night Show in Bosphorus Strait: $29
- Budget Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Party: $29
- Istanbul Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Turkish Show Private Table: $29
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise with Shows and Drinks: $30
- Mega Lüfer Dinner Cruise Bosphorus and Show with Private Table: $30
- Bosphorus Turkish Night Show and Dinner Cruise with Private Table: $30
- Istanbul Night Life : Bosphorus Dinner Cruise - Unlimited Drinks: $31
- Bosphorus Evening Cruise: Dinner, Live Shows & Private Table: $31
- Bosphorus Dinner Cruise & Night Show: $32
- Istanbul Turkish Coffee Cooking and Tasting with Locals at Home: $33
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Istanbul $39Johor Bahru $7.94
Tours and Activities in Istanbul
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Istanbul are as follows:
- Istanbul Scavenger Hunt and Sights Self-Guided Tour: $3.46
- Self Guided Walking Tour of Istanbul with Audio Guide: $4.64
- Daily Bursa and Uludag Tour from Istanbul with lunch: $5.00
- Istanbul Sites: Peel back the layers of Turkish history a self-guided audio tour: $5.40
- Princess Islands Tour With Lunch and Guide: $5.79
- Istanbul Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
- Kadikoy's history, theatres and sweet shops: a self-guided audio tour: $6.31
- Istanbul Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $6.94
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Balat&Asia: $8.00
- Walking Tour in Istanbul with Audio and Written Guide Pera: $8.00
- Istanbul's Old Town Through Time: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Enjoy Istanbul’s Bosphorus:2-Hour Daytime, Sunset & Night Cruises: $12
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: $6.51
- 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
- Malaysia: Johor Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Entry Ticket: $18
- DaVinci & The Wheel of Time - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Causeway Tour: $20
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Singapore: Madame Tussauds Sentosa E-Ticket: $22
- Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony Tickets: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayIstanbul $11Johor Bahru $5.18
Sample the Local Flavors in Istanbul
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Istanbul:
- Istanbul Party Pub Crawl with Party Bus in Sultanahmet and Taksim: $30
- Pub Crawl Original Istanbul Pub Crawl with Party Bus: $30
- Istanbul Private Wine Tasting Tour Through 3 City Wineries: $207
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Istanbul and Johor Bahru, we can see that Istanbul is more expensive. And not only is Johor Bahru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Istanbul 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 Istanbul would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Istanbul 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 Istanbul Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Istanbul or Johor Bahru?
Istanbul has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Johor Bahru. When comparing the sizes of Istanbul 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.