Which place is cheaper, Lijiang or Johor Bahru?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Johor Bahru or Lijiang?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Lijiang? 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 Lijiang?
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.
Lijiang
Lijiang is a city in Southwestern China with a history of rule under the Mu family during the Ming and Qing dynasties. It played a key role along the Ancient Southern Silk Road, which started from Burma, crossed Lijiang, Shangri-La County, Tibet, journeyed through Iran, the Fertile Crescent, and ultimately to the Mediterranean Sea. The area was once a center for trade, politics, culture, and education, which is still evident in the rich culture seen today. Lijiang has also been the home of centuries to the Naxi people who still inhabit the area.
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 $52Lijiang $41
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $52, while the average daily cost in Lijiang is $41. 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 Lijiang in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $36Lijiang $15
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $72Lijiang $30
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Lijiang
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Lijiang? 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 $11Lijiang $5.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Universal Studios Singapore with Optional One-Transfer: $106
- Universal Studios Singapore (Shared Transfer): $144
- Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $197
- Private Transfer from Sentosa Island to Seletar Airport (XSP): $40
- Private Transfer from Senai International Airport Johor to Singapore Hotels: $125
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $108
- Private Singapore Departure Airport Transfer from Sentosa Island to Airport: $119
- Legoland Theme Park Ticket and Transfer (SIC-Shared transfer): $97
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $103
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $105
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Lijiang
Also for Lijiang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Lijiang Sanyi International Airport Chauffeur Service,Lijiang Airport Transfer: $57
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali : $149
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Shangri-la(Diqing) hotel: $149
- Private Transfer from Lijiang to Shangri-La and Stops at Tiger Leaping Gorge: $159
- Private Transfer from Lijiang/Shuhe hotel to Dali and Stops at Shaxi Old Town: $160
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Lijiang?
Prices for flights to both Lijiang 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 $8.39Lijiang $17
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
Typical Food Prices in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two$4.14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Lijiang Naxi Cuisine Cooking Class & Market Visit: $59
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $6.89Lijiang $20
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 Lijiang
For Lijiang, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Via Ferrata with Zipline Experience in Lijiang: $42
- 4 Hour Private Lijiang City Highlights Walking Tour: $72
- Half-Day Private Tour Tiger Leaping Gorge in Lijiang : $106
- Private Tour: Jade Dragon Village and Baisha Village via Bicycle: $158
- One day Jade Dragon Snow Mountain Tour in From Lijiang: $160
- 1 Day Private Tour to Shaxi Ancient Town from Lijiang or Dali: $165
- 1-Day Old Town Tour in Lijiang: $166
- 1 Day Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour from Lijiang or Shangri-La: $170
- Lijiang Train Station Pick up and Tiger Teaping Gorge Private Tour : $170
- Beautiful Country road Biking tour to Xinhua village Heqing start from Lijiang: $173
- Private trekking tour to Wenhai lake from Lijiang half day service: $175
- Country Biking tour to lashi lake Lamaism temple baisha village from Lijiang: $176
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $4.49Lijiang $7.86
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Lijiang, we can see that Johor Bahru is more expensive. And not only is Lijiang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Lijiang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Lijiang 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 Johor Bahru would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Johor Bahru than you might in Lijiang.
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 Lijiang Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Lijiang?
Lijiang has a larger population, and is about 42% larger than the population of Johor Bahru. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Lijiang, 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.