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

Should you visit Johor Bahru or Datong?

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

Should I visit Johor Bahru or Datong? 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 Datong?

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.

Datong

If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.


Which place is cheaper, Datong 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 Datong is $71. 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 Datong in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Johor Bahru $40
    Datong $23
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Johor Bahru $80
    Datong $46
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Datong

Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Datong? 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 Datong


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.

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

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong

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

  • Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $12
  • Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
  • Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
  • Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
  • Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
  • Transfer or Tour to Yungang Grottoes&Hanging Temple: $102
  • Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Hanging Temple and Hengshan from Datong: $118
  • Private One Way Transfer from Datong to Beijing : $211
  • From 4-Day Private Tour to Pingyao with Transfer: $988

Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Datong?

Prices for flights to both Datong 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
    Datong $35

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Johor Bahru $7.81
    Datong $25

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 Datong

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

  • Yungang Grottoes Ticket Booking: $21
  • Yungang Grottoes Entrance Ticket with Optional Tour Services: $24
  • Yungang Grottoes Entrance Ticket Only: $33
  • Datong Private Self-guided Tour with Chartered Car: $35
  • Pingyao Ancient City Scenic Area Pass Ticket Only: $36
  • YungangGrottoe HangingTemple Private Self-guided Tour by Car: $79
  • Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
  • 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
  • Private day tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple in Datong: $100
  • Private Guided Tour of Yungang Grottoes&Huayan Monastery : $148
  • Yungang Grottoes and Jinhua Palace 2-Day Tour: $168
  • Hanging Temple and Yungang Grottoes Private Tour: $174

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Johor Bahru $5.09
    Datong $12


When comparing the travel costs between Johor Bahru and Datong, we can see that Datong 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 Johor Bahru Expensive? and Is Datong Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Datong?

Datong has a larger population, and is about 31% larger than the population of Johor Bahru. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Datong, 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.