Which place is cheaper, Katoomba 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 Katoomba?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Katoomba? 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 Katoomba?
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.
Katoomba
Designated an UNESCO World Heritage site in 2000, the Blue Mountains are located just west of Sydney in the highlands of New South Wales, Australia.
This area can be generally expensive, but is on par with other destinations in Australia and around Sydney. Plenty of luxury places can be found here that cost more than average, but plenty of cheaper places to stay can be found here, too. Expect to pay for various activities such as tours and entrance fees, too.
The landscape is sprawling with majestic scenery over a rugged terrain of steep cliffs, forests, waterfalls, and villages. Whether you come to hike, climb, bike, or drive to the scenic viewpoints, a curtain of tranquility falls upon the mountains in a blue haze from which they get their name.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Australia, and The Best Scuba Diving Tours in Australia.
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Johor Bahru Prices
Malaysia PricesKatoomba Prices
Australia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $64Katoomba $148
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $64, while the average daily cost in Katoomba is $148. 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 Katoomba in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $40Katoomba $78
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $80Katoomba $156
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Katoomba
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Katoomba? 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 Katoomba Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $13Katoomba $50
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore Van Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru City Center to Singapore Hotels: $99
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $99
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $103
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $103
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $104
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
- Universal Studios Singapore + Roundtrip Transfers: $119
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $125
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $131
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Katoomba?
Prices for flights to both Katoomba 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 $16Katoomba $30
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $7.81Katoomba $54
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: $6.32
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $17
- Malaysia: Johor Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Entry Ticket: $18
- Singapore Sentosa: Trick Eye 3D Museum Entrance Ticket: $21
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Magical Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $22
- Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark Admission Ticket: $22
- Legoland Malaysia Ticket: $23
- Legoland Malaysia Theme Park E-Tickets: $23
Tours and Activities in Katoomba
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Katoomba are as follows:
- Blue Mountains 90 Minute Army Truck Adventures: $65
- Army Truck Adventures - 90 Minute Guided Tour: $66
- Blue Mountains Hop On Hop Off Tour: $73
- Blue Mountains 3 Hour Army Truck Adventures: $99
- Army Truck Adventures - 3 Hour Guided Tour: $100
- Blue Mountains Tour with Scenic World, Zoo&Bilingual Driver: $100
- Blue Mountains Day Tour with Wildlife and Scenic World: $101
- Blue Mountains 1-Hour Trike Tour of Three Sisters: $109
- Blue Mountains: Spectacular Half Day Abseiling Adventure: $116
- Half-Day Abseiling Adventure in Blue Mountains National Park: $117
- Blue Mountains Day Tour with Scenic World and Wildlife Park Entry: $118
- Small Group Blue Mountains Wildlife & Bushwalk Tour From Sydney: $120
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.09Katoomba -
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Katoomba, we can see that Katoomba 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 Katoomba 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 Katoomba would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Katoomba 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 Katoomba Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Katoomba?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Katoomba. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Katoomba, 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.