Which place is cheaper, Kunming or Johor Bahru?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Johor Bahru or Kunming?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Kunming? 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 Kunming?
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.
Kunming
Kunming, located in southern China, is the modern capital city of the Yunnan province. It is a transportation hub for visitors entering the region, and good transfer point to just about everywhere else in the province by train or bus. Within the city itself there are many things to see and do with a full range of parks and zoos, museums, temples, theatres, and scenic areas.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best 2-Week Tours from Beijing, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to China.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $52Kunming $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $52, while the average daily cost in Kunming is $67. 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 Kunming in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $36Kunming $33
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $72Kunming $66
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Kunming
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Kunming? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $11Kunming $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuantan Transfer [Car]: $266
- Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
- Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $197
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $177
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Car]: $150
- Universal Studios Singapore (Shared Transfer): $144
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $125
- Private Transfer from Senai International Airport Johor to Singapore Hotels: $125
- Private Singapore Departure Airport Transfer from Sentosa Island to Airport: $119
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Ipoh Transfer [Van]: $115
- Johor Hotels to Malacca Hotels (Door to Door) Transfer: $108
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $108
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kunming
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Kunming:
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Taxi Ride$1.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kunming
Also for Kunming, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kunming Private Departure Transfer:City Hotel to Railway Station: $22
- [Airport Transfer] Kunming Changshui Airport ⇔ Kunming City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $36
- Kunming Airport Private Transfer - Charge by Vehicle: $48
- Kunming Changshui Airport Chauffeur Service, Kunming Airport Transfer, Pick up: $71
- Kunming Private Round Trip Transfer to Fuxianhu Lake: $90
- Private Transfer from Kunming hotel to Guizhou Xingyi hotel: $240
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Kunming?
Prices for flights to both Kunming 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 $8.39Kunming $22
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kunming
For Kunming, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Kunming evening food tour with locals: $65
- Private Kunming Night Tour with Dinner: $78
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $6.89Kunming $18
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
Tours and Activities in Kunming
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Kunming.
- Half Day Kunming History Tour: $80
- Private Night Tour to Enjoy Dynamic Yunnan Show: $86
- Morning Market Tour - Eat like a local: $93
- 1-Day Self-Guided Stone Forest Geological Park Tour from Kunming: $106
- Stone Forest Day Tour: $106
- Private Day Tour of Jiuxiang Cave from Yunnan: $109
- 4-Hour Tea-tasting and Cha Guo Zi (茶果子）Experience Tour: $112
- One day Stone Forest and Nuohei Yi Village Tour: $114
- Private Kunming Illuminated Night Tour: Dianchi Lake,1903 Park and Fountain Show: $118
- 1- Day Kunming Short Hiking Tour: $122
- 1-Day Kunming Temple and Market Tour: $122
- 1-Day Kunming Scenery Tour: $122
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $4.49Kunming $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Kunming, we can see that Kunming 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 Kunming would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kunming 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 Kunming Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Kunming?
Kunming has a larger population, and is about 28% larger than the population of Johor Bahru. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Kunming, 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.