Which place is cheaper, Koh Phi Phi 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 Koh Phi Phi?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Koh Phi Phi? 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 Koh Phi Phi?
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.
Koh Phi Phi
The islands of Koh Phi Phi, off the coast of southwestern Thailand, are very popular with travelers because of their unrivaled tropical scenery, clear blue waters, relaxing atmosphere, and undersea attractions. However, in the last decade, Koh Phi Phi has seen a huge surge in tourism, adding to the crowds and pollution of the main (and only populated) island, known as Koh Phi Phi Don.
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 Thailand, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Thailand.
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Johor Bahru Prices
Malaysia PricesKoh Phi Phi Prices
Thailand Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $68Koh Phi Phi $93
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $68, while the average daily cost in Koh Phi Phi is $93. 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 Koh Phi Phi in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $42Koh Phi Phi $49
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $84Koh Phi Phi $98
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Koh Phi Phi
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Koh Phi Phi? 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 Koh Phi Phi Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $14Koh Phi Phi $7.75
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuantan Transfer [Car]: $282
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru city to Malacca Cruise Port: $248
- Sit Back & Relax - JB to Malacca MPV Transfer: $228
- Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $209
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $189
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $162
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Car]: $160
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $137
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $125
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $125
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $122
- Universal Studios Singapore Tickets with Round-trip Transfers: $116
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Koh Phi Phi:
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Ferry to Maya Beach (for 2)$17
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Longboat Taxi$3.07
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Koh Phi Phi
Also for Koh Phi Phi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Speedboat Transfer Phi Phi Tonsai to Phuket with Dropoff Service: $28
- Phi Phi Island to Phuket Speedboat Transfer: $31
- Smooth Round Trip Ferry Transfer from Krabi to Phi Phi Island: $38
- Krabi to Phi Phi Island Scenic Round Trip Ferry Transfer Service: $38
- Koh Phi Phi to Krabi VIP Speed Boat Transfer: $47
- Koh Phi Phi to Phuket VIP Speed Boat Transfer: $47
- Easy Island Transfer from Phi Phi Island to Koh Tao: $70
- Phuket Phi phi Maya Bay Khai Island Diving Transfer & Buffet: $88
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Koh Phi Phi?
Prices for flights to both Koh Phi Phi 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 $17Koh Phi Phi $22
Typical Food Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Koh Phi Phi:
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Crepe$1.84
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Sit Down Lunch$10
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Casual Lunch$6.45
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Coconut Donut$0.31
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Lunch at Mexican Restaurant (for 2)$12
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Sit Down Dinner$15
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $8.28Koh Phi Phi $51
Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:
- *15 Hrs Melaka Escorted Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $116
- Adventure Cove WaterPark Sentosa Island Singpore optional ticket: $33
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Admission Ticket Singapore: $45
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.57
- Harry Potter Visions of Magic Singapore Entry Ticket with Voucher: $74
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour (Double): $86
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour(Single): $62
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Johor Day Tour - Ostrich Farm, Beach, Waterfall, Fireflies [Car]: $277
- Johor Day Tour - Southernmost Tip, Eco Farm, Go Kart [Car]: $269
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- JungleWalla Desaru Mangrove Afterdark | Firefly Cruise Tour: $259
Typical Entertainment Prices in Koh Phi Phi
For Koh Phi Phi, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Kayak Rental$9.21
Tours and Activities in Koh Phi Phi
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Koh Phi Phi.
- Ferry from Phi Phi Islands to Phuket with Dropoff Service by Royal Jet Cruiser: $15
- Phuket Trick Eye Museum Admission Ticket: $16
- Half-Day Phi Phi Tour with Maya Bay By Longtail Boat From Phi Phi: $17
- Phi Phi Half Day Longtail Boat Tour to Maya Bay and Snorkeling: $19
- Koh Phi Phi to Phuket by Phi Phi Cruiser: $21
- Phi Phi Islands Sunset Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $21
- Snorkeling Phi Phi Islands Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $22
- Phi Phi Island To Phuket By Phi Phi Cruiser: $23
- Phi Phi Island Half Day Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $25
- Phi Phi 7 Islands Full-Day Tour From Phi Phi by Longtail Boat: $31
- Phuket Evening Tour Sunset Viewpoints and Night Market Experience: $38
- Phuket Half Day Instagram Guided Group Tour: $45
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.40Koh Phi Phi $6.37
Typical Alcohol Prices in Koh Phi Phi
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Koh Phi Phi from other travelers:
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Mojito Bucket$15
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Banana Daiquiri$6.14
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Koh Phi Phi, we can see that Koh Phi Phi is more expensive. And not only is Johor Bahru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Koh Phi Phi would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Koh Phi Phi 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 Koh Phi Phi Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Koh Phi Phi?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 800 times larger than the population of Koh Phi Phi. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Koh Phi Phi, 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.