Which place is cheaper, Cusco 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 Cusco?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Cusco? 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 Cusco?
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.
Cusco
Cusco is most famous as the historic capital of the Inca Empire. It is in the southern Sierras and is one of the most popular travel destinations within Peru. The city is located at 3,400 meters above sea level so it is best to acclimate yourself slowly to avoid altitude sickness.
Cusco is the starting point for many travelers making their way to the famed Machu Picchu or other Inca sites in the surrounding area.
The city is very beautiful and has impressive architecture throughout. The history is obvious as you walk around town and there are impressive ruins nearby, with the most impressive being Sacsayhuaman. The city also has a significant indigenous population that is obvious from their traditional clothing and style.
Cusco has a subtropical highland climate with a pleasant daytime temperature year around. There are two distinct seasons with the dry season being between May and August and the wet season between December and March. During the dry season there is plenty of sun with occasional nighttime freezes. Frost is less common in the wet season.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best One-Week (7-Day) Tours from Cusco, and The Best 3-Day Tours from Cusco.
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Johor Bahru Prices
Malaysia PricesCusco Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $66Cusco $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $66, while the average daily cost in Cusco 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 Johor Bahru and Cusco in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $41Cusco $24
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $82Cusco $48
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Cusco
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Cusco? 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 Cusco Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $13Cusco $11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Malaysia：Senai International Airport（JHB）One-Way Transfer: $80
- Singapore Universal Studio with Optional One Way Transfer: $100
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $100
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru City Center to Singapore Hotels: $102
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur International Airport 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
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- Universal Studios Singapore Tickets with Round-trip Transfers: $116
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $136
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Penang Island Transfer [Van]: $157
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Cusco
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Cusco:
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Taxi Ride$1.16
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Cusco
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Cusco:
- One-Way Cusco Airport Arrival Transfer: $7.00
- Cusco Airport Pickup and Transfer: $9.00
- Cusco Airport Departure Transfer: $9.50
- Transfer Cusco Airport to your Hotel in Cusco: $10
- Private transfer from your hotel in downtown Cusco to the Airport: $11
- Private Airport transfer to centrally located hotels in Cusco: $11
- Private transfer from your hotel in downtown Cusco to the Airport: $11
- Private transfer from Cusco Airport to your city-center hotel: $11
- Cusco Airport to hotel Transfer: Fast, Reliable Drop-Off: $12
- Transfer Cusco airport: $12
- Transfer Cusco Airport - Hotel or Train Station: $12
- Private Transfer: Cusco Hotel to Airport: $15
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Cusco?
Prices for flights to both Cusco 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 $16Cusco $24
Typical Food Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of dining costs in Cusco are as follows:
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Sandwich$2.31
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Mango$0.58
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Cusco
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Cusco.
- Multi-Course Dinner with Live Folk Show Performance: $32
- Cooking Class: Lomo Saltado, PapaHuancaina, Pisco Sour, Picarones: $50
- Market-to-Table Peruvian Cooking Class and Cocktail in Cusco: $52
- Dinner Show at SUYU a Peruvian Gastronomic and Experience: $53
- Market tour & Peruvian Cooking Class in Cusco: $54
- Traditional Peruvian Cooking Class and Market Tour in Cusco: $57
- Cusco Cooking Class Experience: $61
- Local Market and Peruvian Cooking Class with Pisco Sour in Cusco: $65
- Cusco Cooking Classes and San Pedro Market Tour: $65
- Peruvian Cooking Class Cocktails and Market Tour in Cusco: $65
- Cusco Collective Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $65
- Cooking Class in Ollantaytambo: $68
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $8.04Cusco $31
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
- Wings of Time Admission Ticket: $14
- Seletar Indigenous & Fish Farm Tour: $17
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $17
- Malaysia: Johor Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Entry Ticket: $18
- Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony Tickets: $19
- Adventure Waterpark Ticket Desaru Coast: $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
Typical Entertainment Prices in Cusco
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Cusco are as follows:
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Salsa Class$2.89
Tours and Activities in Cusco
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Cusco are as follows:
- Walking Tour in Cusco: $7.00
- City Tour - Cusco: $10
- Cochahuasi Animal Sanctuary® Admission Ticket: $10
- Half-Day Cusco City Tour – Explore History, Culture & Inca Ruins: $12
- City Tour Cusco: $12
- Cusco Machu Picchu Self Guided Audio Tour (Without a Ticket): $12
- Half Day City Tour in Cusco: $12
- City Tour - Lugares destacado en Cusco + Experiencia Fotográfica: $12
- City Tour in Cusco & visit Museum South American Camelid: $13
- Cusco City Tour: 4-Hour Tour to Sacsayhuamán and Qenqo: $15
- Explore Cusco Highlights in a Walking Tour: $15
- Half-Day City Tour with Sacsayhuaman and Qenqo: $15
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.25Cusco $10
Sample the Local Flavors in Cusco
Also in Cusco, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Cusco Bar Hopping Experience: $22
- Cusco Pub Crawl: Bar Tour, Drinks And Club with no waiting lines: $23
When comparing the travel costs between Johor Bahru and Cusco, we can see that Johor Bahru 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. Even though Johor Bahru is in Asia and Cusco is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.
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 Cusco Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Cusco?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Cusco. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Cusco, 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.