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

Should you visit Johor Bahru or Kampong Cham?

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

Should I visit Johor Bahru or Kampong Cham? 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 Kampong Cham?

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.

Kampong Cham

Kampong Cham is the sixth largest city in the country, located in the east of Cambodia. Just two and a half hours away from Phnom Penh is a surprisingly large province by the same name. Kampong Cham is the capital of this province, a quiet town on the west side of the Mekong River. While the town does not cater to tourists like other large cities such as Siem Reap and Phnom Penh, the charm of Kampong Cham lies in the beauty and simplicity of local life. Visitors will also get a glimpse into agricultural life on the plantations of rubber trees, tobacco and cashews.

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 in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.


Which place is cheaper, Kampong Cham or Johor Bahru?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $52, while the average daily cost in Kampong Cham is $31. 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 Kampong Cham in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Johor Bahru $36
    Kampong Cham $20
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Johor Bahru $72
    Kampong Cham $40
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Kampong Cham

Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Kampong Cham? 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 Kampong Cham


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 $11
    Kampong Cham $7.67

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:

  • Universal Studios Singapore with Optional One-Transfer: $106
  • Universal Studios Singapore (Shared Transfer): $144
  • Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $197
  • Private Transfer from Sentosa Island to Seletar Airport (XSP): $40
  • Private Transfer from Senai International Airport Johor to Singapore Hotels: $125
  • Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $108
  • Private Singapore Departure Airport Transfer from Sentosa Island to Airport: $119
  • Legoland Theme Park Ticket and Transfer (SIC-Shared transfer): $97
  • Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $103
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $105

Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Kampong Cham?

Prices for flights to both Kampong Cham 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 $8.39
    Kampong Cham $6.46

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johor Bahru

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johor Bahru.

  • City Lights Cruise with Buffet Dinner + Free flow Wine & Beer: $192
  • Dog Cruise with 5-Course Seated Dinner: $222
  • Sunset Sail Cruise with 5 Course Seated Dinner: $222

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Johor Bahru $6.89
    Kampong Cham $5.76

Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:

  • *15Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $125
  • 4-Hour Private Luxurious Sentosa Walking Tour in Singapore: $286
  • Breakfast Cruise with International Breakfast (Buffet): $134
  • Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour, Johor Bahru (Direct Entry): $25
  • Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark Admission Ticket: $34
  • Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
  • Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $4.30
  • Fun and Adventurous Experience at Cove Water Park : $42
  • Hassle Free Universal Studios Singapore - One-Day Ticket: $65
  • HeadRock VR Admission Ticket: $11
  • Johor Day Tour - Ostrich Farm, Beach, Waterfall, Fireflies [Car]: $261
  • Johor Tour ends in Singapore - Ostrich Farm, Waterfall, Go Kart [Car]: $298

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Johor Bahru $4.49
    Kampong Cham $5.47


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Kampong Cham, we can see that Johor Bahru is more expensive. And not only is Kampong Cham much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kampong Cham would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kampong Cham 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 Johor Bahru would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Johor Bahru than you might in Kampong Cham.

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 Kampong Cham Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Kampong Cham?

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