Which place is cheaper, Amsterdam or Johor Bahru?
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 Johor Bahru or Amsterdam?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Amsterdam? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Johor Bahru or Amsterdam?
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.
Amsterdam
Amsterdam is the capital and most popular tourist destination in the Netherlands. While it is most famous for its canals that cross and weave around the city, it also has a rich history, interesting culture, and liberal vibe that appeal to all types of travelers. The historical architecture, scenic bridges, and energetic cycling culture help this metropolitan area maintain its small town vibe, despite being the largest city in the country as well as the financial center.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best 10-Day Tours from Amsterdam, and The Best 2-Week Tours from Amsterdam.
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Johor Bahru Prices
Malaysia PricesAmsterdam Prices
Netherlands Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $66Amsterdam $237
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $66, while the average daily cost in Amsterdam is $237. 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 Johor Bahru and Amsterdam in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $41Amsterdam $114
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $82Amsterdam $228
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Amsterdam
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Amsterdam? 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: Johor Bahru Hotel Prices and Amsterdam Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $13Amsterdam $22
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- °Sit Back & Relax - JB to Malacca MPV Transfer: $241
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $105
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Besut Transfer [Van]: $136
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Transfer [Car]: $214
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Penang Island Transfer [Van]: $157
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $180
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $125
- Johor Bahru to Mersing jetty Private Transfer: $95
- Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $275
- Johor Hotels to Malacca Hotels (Door to Door) Transfer: $141
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Amsterdam:
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Ride on Tram$3.59
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Renting a Bike$17
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One Hour Canal Cruise$11
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Single Day Transit Pass$2.92
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Transit Pass to Amsterdam Airport$3.82
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Amsterdam
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Amsterdam:
- 1-Way Train Transfer to/from Haarlem: $7.37
- Train Transfer Amsterdam from/to Leiden: $16
- Madurodam: Train + tram transferring to/from Amsterdam: $22
- Train Transfer Schiphol Airport from/to Eindhoven: $33
- Amsterdam Airport (AMS) Transfer to Amsterdam/Rotterdam/Keukenhof: $35
- Private Transfer: Hotel in Amsterdam to Amsterdam Cruise Port: $39
- Private Cruise Transfers: AMS, Rotterdam, IJmuiden: $39
- Amsterdam Private Taxi Transfer to from Cruise Port: $39
- Amsterdam Airport Arrival Transfer (Airport to Amsterdam Hotel or Address): $39
- AMS Airport Private Transfer ⇄ Amsterdam/Rotterdam: $39
- Private Amsterdam Schiphol Airport Transfer Service: $40
- Amsterdam Schiphol Airport (AMS) Departure transfer from Amsterdam City: $40
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Amsterdam?
Prices for flights to both Amsterdam and Johor Bahru 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 dayJohor Bahru $16Amsterdam $90
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johor Bahru
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johor Bahru.
- Singapore: Christmas Dinner Cruise with 7 Course XMAS Menu: $289
Typical Food Prices in Amsterdam
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Amsterdam:
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Afternoon Tea$6.74
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Amsterdam
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Amsterdam.
- Amsterdam Guided Cruise with New York Pizza, Drinks and Ice Cream: $40
- Romantic Dinner or Lunch in the Dark Amsterdam: $48
- Amsterdam Nightlife Ticket & VIP Dinner at Hard Rock Café: $58
- 3-course dinner party at a secret pop-up restaurant: $68
- Top 10 Tastes of Guided Walking Food Tour: $70
- Amsterdam : Guided Cultural Food Tour: $80
- Amsterdam Food Tour with Full Meal & Drinks by Do Eat Better: $86
- Dutch Food Tour with local guide: $90
- Amsterdam Morning Food Tour & Stroopwafel Workshop: $91
- 10 Tastes of Amsterdam Food Tour: Small Group, Full Meal & Drinks: $96
- Private Dutch Pancake Cooking Class in an Amsterdam Canal Home: $109
- Authentic Amsterdam Food Tour: De Pijp & Albert Cuyp Market: $115
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $8.04Amsterdam $41
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: $6.53
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $17
- Malaysia: Johor Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Entry Ticket: $18
- Adventure Waterpark Ticket Desaru Coast: $19
- Dino Rescue Squad - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- DaVinci & The Wheel of Time - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony Tickets: $23
- Legoland Malaysia Admission Ticket (All Rides & Attractions): $24
- Legoland Malaysia Theme Park E-Tickets: $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Amsterdam
Here are a few typical costs in Amsterdam for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Two tickets to the Houseboat Museum$6.74
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Entry for two to the Anne Frank House$19
Tours and Activities in Amsterdam
Here are a few actual costs in Amsterdam for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Amsterdam Uncovered: City Center Walking Tour: $1.14
- Self-Guided Tours Amsterdam With 100 Captivating Audio Stories: $3.41
- Amsterdam Scavenger Hunt & Highlights Self-Guided Walking Tour: $3.41
- Private Audio Guided Walking Tour in Amsterdam: $3.41
- The Anne Frank Tour | Amsterdam during WWII: $3.42
- Amsterdam Introductory Walking Tour with a Local: $3.42
- Anne Frank & WWII Jewish Quarter History Walking Tour Amsterdam: $5.59
- Amsterdam History Walking Tour: $5.70
- Amsterdam Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.70
- Museumkwartier Self-Guided City Walking Tour & Scavenger Hunt: $5.70
- Amsterdam’s Magic Canals: Self-Guided Puzzle Adventure: $5.80
- Amsterdam Self-Guided Audio Tour: $6.00
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.25Amsterdam $27
Sample the Local Flavors in Amsterdam
Also in Amsterdam, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Amsterdam Nightlife Bar Crawl with Club Entry and Welcome Shots: $18
- Red Light District Bar Crawl: $21
- Red Light District Halloween Pub Crawl & Nightclub: $29
- Red Light District Pub Crawl in Amsterdam with 4 Shots: $34
- Dutch Wine Tasting Experience: $140
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Amsterdam, we can see that Amsterdam is more expensive. And not only is Johor Bahru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Johor Bahru is in Asia and Amsterdam is in Europe, 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 Amsterdam would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Amsterdam 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 Johor Bahru Expensive? and Is Amsterdam Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Amsterdam?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 8% larger than the population of Amsterdam. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Amsterdam, 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.