Which place is cheaper, Kota Kinabalu or Johor Bahru?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Johor Bahru or Kota Kinabalu?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Kota Kinabalu? 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 Kota Kinabalu?
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.
Kota Kinabalu
Kota Kinabalu, originally Jesselton, is the capital of Sabah, which is on the northern part of the island of Borneo. Kota Kinabalu is located just between the western side of the island and Tambunan Rafflesia Forest Reserve. Most of Kota Kinabalu's historic buildings were destroyed by bombing during World War II, so the city had to be rebuilt. KK, as it's commonly called, is a compact, but booming town today, with its new shopping centers, seaside condominiums, and bustling marketplaces.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $60Kota Kinabalu $56
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $60, while the average daily cost in Kota Kinabalu is $56. 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 Kota Kinabalu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $42Kota Kinabalu $21
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $84Kota Kinabalu $42
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Kota Kinabalu? 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 Kota Kinabalu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $13Kota Kinabalu $26
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Bukit Bintang: Shared Bus Transfer to Legoland Malaysia: $27
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore Van Transfer: $38
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru city to Malacca Cruise Port: $50
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Transfer [Van]: $85
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $93
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $98
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $103
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
- Universal Studios Singapore with Optional One-Transfer: $111
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $120
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kota Kinabalu:
- Kota Kinabalu（BKI）: Private Transfer to City Center: $14
- Private Transfer: Kota Kinabalu International Airport to/from Hotel: $20
- Kota Kinabalu to Kota Kinab Airport: Departure Private Transfer: $24
- One Way Transfer from Kota Kinabal Airport to/from Kota Kinabali: $25
- Private Transfer from Kota Kota Kinabalu Hotels to Kinabalu Port: $29
- Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport (BKI): $29
- Private Transfer- Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu Airport BKI: $33
- Private Transfer from Kota Kinabalu Port to Kota Kinabalu hotels: $33
- AIRPORT TRANSFER & HOTEL TRANSFER: $44
- Borneo to Kota Kinabalu Airport(BKI) - Departure Private Transfer: $47
- Kota Kinabalu Hotel to Jetty Round Trip Transfer: $84
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Kota Kinabalu?
Prices for flights to both Kota Kinabalu 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 $9.70Kota Kinabalu $18
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 (Saturday) with 5 Course Seated Dinner: $200
- City Lights Cruise with Buffet Dinner + Free flow Wine & Beer: $216
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kota Kinabalu
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Kota Kinabalu.
- Kota Kinabalu K2 Fireflies Sunset River Cruise Tour with Dinner: $91
- Ethnic Cooking Class & Upside Down House & 3D Wonders Museum: $92
- Kota Kinabalu Sunset Cruise with Buffet Dinner: $187
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $7.97Kota Kinabalu $6.56
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: $4.79
- Laser Battle Experience in Johor Bahru: $7.06
- Singapore: Wings of Time Entry Ticket: $13
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $14
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
- Legoland Malaysia Theme Park E-Tickets: $22
- Magical Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $22
- Sailing along Straits of Johor: Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $22
- 1 Day Legoland Malaysia Ticket: $23
- Malaysia: Legoland Entry Ticket: $23
Tours and Activities in Kota Kinabalu
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Kota Kinabalu are as follows:
- Private Half Day Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $38
- Night Glow Stand Up Paddle Experience in Kota Kinabalu: $44
- Full Day Bongawan River Cruise with Proboscis Monkey Sightseeing: $45
- Sky-Mirror Photographing and Proboscis Monkey & Fireflies Watching River-Cruise: $46
- Rainbow Island Ferry Tickets with Lunch: $47
- Sabah: Manukan and Sapi Islands Excursion Ticket: $50
- Borneo (Klias) River Cruise & Fireflies Tour: $50
- Kota Kinabalu Historical Photowalking Tour: $52
- Kota Kinabalu City Tour: $54
- Mari-Mari Cultural Village Tour Including Lunch: $55
- Klias Wildlife Safari River Cruise from Kota Kinabalu: $58
- Cowboy Town & Fireflies River Cruise: $62
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.19Kota Kinabalu $7.33
When comparing the travel costs between Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu, 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. 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 Kota Kinabalu Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Kota Kinabalu?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 75% larger than the population of Kota Kinabalu. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Kota Kinabalu, 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.