Which place is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur 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 Kuala Lumpur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Kuala Lumpur? 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 Kuala Lumpur?
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.
Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur, often referred to as KL, is the cosmopolitan capital of Malaysia. It is also the largest city in the country, having grown out of a small Chinese mining village. Today Kuala Lumpur is a microcosm of the country of Malaysia. The population is split between the Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures which you can see reflected in the city's neighborhoods, cuisine, and entertainment. It's also an incredibly affordable city, even if you're looking for the comforts of a five star hotel or a luxury restaurant. Prices are almost always a fraction of what you would pay in Europe or the United States.
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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Johor Bahru Prices
Malaysia PricesKuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $62Kuala Lumpur $79
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $62, while the average daily cost in Kuala Lumpur is $79. 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 Kuala Lumpur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $39Kuala Lumpur $39
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $78Kuala Lumpur $78
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Kuala Lumpur? 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 Kuala Lumpur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $12Kuala Lumpur $6.88
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore Van Transfer: $37
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $95
- Universal Studios Singapore with Optional One-Transfer: $108
- Universal Studios Singapore Full Day pack with Two way Transfers: $125
- Universal Studios Singapore + Roundtrip Transfers: $126
- Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $199
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $147
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru city to Malacca Cruise Port: $225
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $124
- Private Singapore Departure Airport Transfer from Sentosa Island to Airport: $116
- Melaka City to Johor Bahru Chauffeur Transfer(1-3 persons): $253
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $103
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$3.37
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.72
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Short Taxi Ride$3.37
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Taxi From Airport$20
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Bus from Airport$1.80
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.70
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kuala Lumpur Airport Train Transfer to/from KL Sentral: $11
- Departure Transfer : Kuala Lumpur City to Kuala Lumpur International Airport: $13
- Private Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $15
- Private airport transfer KLIA to Kuala Lumpur city : $16
- Private: Kuala Lumpur Departure Transfer: $17
- PVT Departure Transfer <> Kuala Lumpur to KLIA 1/2: $17
- Kuala Lumpur Airport Arrival Transfer: $17
- Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $17
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park to Kuala Lumpur Hotels Transfer (1-way): $17
- Kuala Lumpur Hotels to Sunway Lagoon Theme Park Transfer (1-way): $17
- Kuala Lumpur City to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer: $18
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Kuala Lumpur?
Prices for flights to both Kuala Lumpur 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 $16Kuala Lumpur $28
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: $194
- City Lights Cruise with Buffet Dinner + Free flow Wine & Beer: $209
- Singapore: Christmas Sunset Dinner Cruise with 5 Course XMAS Menu: $251
Typical Food Prices in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner at Ding Tai Fung$9.00
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Roti Bread$0.22
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Food Court Lunch$3.24
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$4.84
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Exclusive Night Market Food Tour in Kuala Lumpur: $19
- Private Night Tour Batu Caves and South Indian Dinner: $20
- Authentic Malaysian Street Food Tour in Kampung Baru: $35
- Nightlife Street Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $38
- Kuala Lumpur's Urban Evening Food Tour: $41
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $50
- Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Cultural Night Experience with Buffet Dinner : $53
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: $54
- Best Local Food Tour by Night at Kuala Lumpur : $55
- From Kuala Selangor Fireflies Tour with Dinner: $57
- 3 Hour Kuala Lumpur Private Food Tour With A Guide: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $7.39Kuala Lumpur $14
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: $126
- 1 Day Legoland Malaysia Ticket: $22
- Admission Ticket to Universal Studio Singapore: $83
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour Johor Bahru(Direct Entry): $22
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour, Johor Bahru (Direct Entry): $25
- Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $5.74
- Fun and Adventurous Experience at Cove Water Park : $44
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 150 mins Self Ride Tour (Single): $164
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour (Double): $82
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour(Single): $58
- Johor Day Tour - Ostrich Farm, Beach, Waterfall, Fireflies [Car]: $265
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kuala Lumpur's activities, tours, and tickets:
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KL Tower Admission (for Two)$10
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Canopy Walk at FRIM Forest Reserve$1.12
Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- KL Tower Admission E-Ticket with Options: $4.21
- Malaysia: KL Tower Entry Ticket: $4.59
- KL Tower Observatory & Sky deck, Sky box ticket in Kuala Lumpur: $7.42
- Breakout Escape Game NU Sentral Ticket: $8.19
- Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Pass: $8.36
- Zoo Negara Instant Entry E-Ticket: $8.66
- Museum Of Illusions Standard Admission Ticket: $9.12
- Big Bounce Admission Ticket: $9.36
- Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $11
- KL Tower Observation Deck Entry Ticket: $11
- Breakout Escape Game Avenue K Ticket: $11
- Malaysia: Aquaria KLCC Admission E-Ticket: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $4.82Kuala Lumpur $6.67
Typical Alcohol Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Kuala Lumpur 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 Kuala Lumpur would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kuala Lumpur 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 Kuala Lumpur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 81% larger than the population of Johor Bahru. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Kuala Lumpur, 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.