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

Should you visit Jakarta or Johor Bahru?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Jakarta and Johor Bahru. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.

Where Should I go: Jakarta or Johor Bahru?

Jakarta

As Indonesia's capital and largest city, Jakarta rests on the northwest coast of the island of Java. It is the country's economic, cultural, and political center with plenty of opportunities for sightseeing, nightlife, shopping, and entertainment.

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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Indonesia, The Best Adventure Tours to Indonesia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.


Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Jakarta?

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 Jakarta is $73, while the average daily cost in Johor Bahru is $64. 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 Jakarta and Johor Bahru in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Jakarta $32
    Johor Bahru $40
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Jakarta $64
    Johor Bahru $80
Compare Hotels in Jakarta and Johor Bahru

Looking for a hotel in Jakarta 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 Jakarta


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: Jakarta Hotel Prices and Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Jakarta $20
    Johor Bahru $13
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Jakarta

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Jakarta are as follows:


  • Taxi to Station
    $1.04

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Jakarta

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

  • Private Transfer from Soekarno Hatta (CGK) Airport to Jakarta City: $11
  • Private Transfer Airport Soekarno Hatta (CGK) to All City Destination: $13
  • Airport Jakarta Soekarno - Hatta ( Private Transfer ): $18
  • Airport Private Transfer Jakarta, Best Price: $19
  • All-inclusive Private Jakarta Airport Transfer : $20
  • Private Transfer from Soekarno Hatta Airport to Jakarta Hotels: $22
  • Private Car : Airport Transfer Jakarta Minibus 20 Pax : $27
  • Airport Transfer Jakarta - Bogor: $27
  • Jakarta Private Airport Transfer: $27
  • Jakarta Airport Transfer for Small/Big Group: $28
  • Airport Transfer Jakarta ( Private Car ): $30
  • Airport Transfer: $30

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:

  • Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]: $249
  • Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
  • Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $208
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $182
  • Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $180
  • Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $164
  • Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $131
  • Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $125
  • Universal Studios Singapore + Roundtrip Transfers: $119
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
  • Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105

Is it cheaper to fly into Jakarta or Johor Bahru?

Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Jakarta 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
    Jakarta $28
    Johor Bahru $16
Typical Food Prices in Jakarta

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Jakarta:


  • Dinner
    $2.62
  • Dinner
    $0.72

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Jakarta

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

  • Mangga Besar Food Tour: $49
  • Jakarta Night Tour with Dinner at Café or Food street: $55
  • Kota Tua Food Tour: $64
  • Melawai Night Street Food Tour: $67
  • Halfday Batavia by Night with dinner at Cafe Batavia & souvenir: $120
  • Jakarta Private Cooking Class and Experience Tour: $120

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Jakarta $12
    Johor Bahru $7.81

Tours and Activities in Jakarta

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Jakarta.

  • Jakarta City Center: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $5.20
  • Watercolor & Wellness : A Healing Art Therapy Experience: $29
  • Jakarta Culture and History Walking Tour: $33
  • Jakarta Private Custom Walking Tour with A Guide : $37
  • Jakarta Walking Tour with Public Transportation Visiting Sites: $45
  • Jakarta Half Day Visit The Monument with Highlight City Tour: $45
  • Jakarta Half Day Shared Guided Tour Visit Monument and Old Town: $49
  • Pasar Baru Foodie Tour: $49
  • Experience Jakarta Street Food Scene with MRT Transportation: $50
  • Jakarta Half-Day Highlights Tour: $50
  • Half Day Jakarta Private Tour in two highlight place: $50
  • 4 Hours Jakarta Private City Tour - (Most Tourist Attractions): $55

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
    Jakarta $4.06
    Johor Bahru $5.09


When comparing the travel costs between Jakarta and Johor Bahru, we can see that Jakarta is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.

If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Jakarta Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Jakarta or Johor Bahru?

Jakarta has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Johor Bahru. When comparing the sizes of Jakarta 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.