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

Should you visit Johor Bahru or Canberra?

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

Should I visit Johor Bahru or Canberra? 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 Canberra?

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.

Canberra

There is something special about the capital city of Australia. Canberra's not just a wonderful spot for outdoor adventures. It's a city completely designed and built up around the coast of an artificial lake. When architects Walter Burley and Marion Mahony Griffin proposed their plans for Canberra it was met with a lot of criticism. Many people thought it would be a "waste of a good sheep pasture."

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Melbourne, and The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Australia.


Which place is cheaper, Canberra 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $64, while the average daily cost in Canberra is $159. 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 Canberra in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Johor Bahru $40
    Canberra $83
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Johor Bahru $80
    Canberra $166
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Canberra

Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Canberra? 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 Johor Bahru


Hotels in Canberra


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 Canberra Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Johor Bahru $13
    Canberra $24

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Canberra

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

  • Canberra to Canberra Airport (CBR) - Departure Private Transfer: $67
  • Canberra Int'l Airport (CBR) to Canberra Arrival Private Transfer: $67
  • Guided Tour of Floriade Festival with Transfers: $125
  • Canberra Airport (CBR) to Canberra - Round-Trip Private Transfer: $134

Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Canberra?

Prices for flights to both Canberra 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Johor Bahru $16
    Canberra $60

Typical Food Prices in Canberra

For Canberra, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Lunch
    $16

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Johor Bahru $7.81
    Canberra $17

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): $87

Tours and Activities in Canberra

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

  • National Portrait Gallery Guided Tour: $9.89
  • Museum Highlights Tour | 1pm Daily: $13
  • Building + Architecture Tour | 10am Daily: $13
  • First Australians Tour | 3pm Daily: $13
  • Australian Institute of Sport: The AIS Tour: $14
  • Personalised Hop-on Hop-off Sightseeing in Canberra, with John: $40
  • Ultimate Museum Experience | Tour + Dine + Shop (10am daily): $42
  • Ultimate Museum Experience | Dine + Tour + Shop (1pm daily): $42
  • Spies in the Capital: Women in Espionage Walking Tour: $43
  • The Women Behind Inspiring Tour with Local Guide: $43
  • Guided Tree Ropes Course Experience in Majura Pines: $46
  • Canberra Glassblowing Experience: Make Your Own Bird: $79

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Johor Bahru $5.09
    Canberra $16

Typical Alcohol Prices in Canberra

Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Canberra from other travelers:


  • Drinks at a Bar
    $9.16

Sample the Local Flavors in Canberra

Also in Canberra, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:

  • Canberra Bar Crawl Can I Get a Drink Canberra: $15
  • Wine Tour From Canberra to Murrumbateman - Hop on Hop Off: $60
  • 2 People - Indulgence Wine Tasting with Matched Elements Canberra: $87
  • Canberra Brewery Winery and Distillery Tour: $114
  • Canberra Wine Tour: $161
  • Full-Day Canberra Brewery, Wineries & Distillery tour /w lunch: $174
  • 2 People - Premium Wine Tasting Experience and 2-Course Lunch: $181


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Canberra, we can see that Canberra 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 Canberra is in Pacific, 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 Canberra would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Canberra 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 Canberra Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Canberra?

Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Canberra. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Canberra, 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.