A Travel Price Comparison for Malaysia Johor Bahru vs. Melaka for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Johor Bahru or Melaka?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Johor Bahru or Melaka? 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 Melaka?

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.

Melaka

Melaka (or Malacca) is a large city on the western coast of Malaysia about half way between Singapore and Kuala Lumpur. This historical city grew up as a result of trading in the region due to its position on the namesake Straights of Malacca, a natural waterway formed from the peninsula of Malaysia and the Indonesian island of Sumatra. The city is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.

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.


Which place is cheaper, Melaka 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.

The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $64, while the average daily cost in Melaka is $32. 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 Melaka in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Johor Bahru $40
    Melaka $9.29
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Johor Bahru $80
    Melaka $19
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Melaka

Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Melaka? 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.

Hotels in Johor Bahru


Hotels in Melaka


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 Melaka Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Johor Bahru $13
    Melaka $2.04

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:

  • Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $257
  • Melaka City to Johor Bahru Chauffeur Transfer(1-3 persons): $257
  • Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]: $243
  • Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $203
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $176
  • Johor Hotels to Malacca Hotels (Door to Door) Transfer: $140
  • Universal Studios Singapore + Roundtrip Transfers: $128
  • Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $127
  • Universal Studios Singapore Full Day pack with Two way Transfers: $125
  • Private Singapore Departure Airport Transfer from Sentosa Island to Airport: $120
  • Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $118
  • Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Ipoh Transfer [Van]: $118

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:


  • Taxi
    $4.65
  • Bus Ride
    $0.35

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melaka

Also for Melaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $43
  • Malacca to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer: $45
  • Melaka Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Hotels 1-way Transfer: $50
  • Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $50
  • Malacca City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels 1-way Transfer: $50
  • Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $52
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Port to Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL): $66
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Shah Alam City: $66
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Subang Jaya city: $66
  • Local Transfer: Kuala Tembeling Jetty (Taman Negara) to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels: $72
  • Private Transfer from Malacca Port to Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL): $73
  • Chauffeur: Malacca to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $78

Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Melaka?

Prices for flights to both Melaka 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Johor Bahru $16
    Melaka $20

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: $213

Typical Food Prices in Melaka

Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:


  • Sitdown Lunch (for Two)
    $6.97
  • Dinner at the Market (for Two)
    $3.02
  • Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)
    $1.39
  • Taiwanese Noodle Soup
    $1.16
  • Sitdown Dinner (for Two)
    $7.43

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Johor Bahru $7.63
    Melaka $3.94

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: $113
  • *15Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $128
  • 1 Day Legoland Malaysia Ticket: $22
  • Admission Ticket to Universal Studio Singapore: $84
  • Adventure Cove Waterpark Singapore[E-Voucher]: $41
  • 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: $4.71
  • Fun and Adventurous Experience at Cove Water Park : $46
  • Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 150 mins Self Ride Tour (Single): $166
  • Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour (Double): $83
  • Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour(Single): $59

Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka

For Melaka, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:


  • Maritime Museum Entrance
    $0.70
  • Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance
    $4.65
  • Trishaw Tour (One Hour)
    $10
  • Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance
    $2.32
  • Melaka Zoo Entrance
    $1.63
  • Low Cost Kite
    $0.70
  • Malacca Duck Tour
    $9.29
  • Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)
    $2.32

Tours and Activities in Melaka

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.

  • Melaka Upside Down House Admission Tickets: $12
  • A'Famosa Safari and Water Park in Melaka Ticket (Only Malaysian): $15
  • Malaysian: A'Famosa Malacca Entry Ticket: $20
  • Luxury Full Day Tour to Saqqara,Giza Pyramids and sphinx, Memphis: $21
  • Malacca To Kuala Lumpur International Airport EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $48
  • Malacca City Hotels To Kuala Lumpur City Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
  • Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
  • Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
  • Malacca Instagram Tour: Top Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $219
  • Malacca Shore Excursion from Cruise Port with Local Guide & Lunch: $221
  • Malacca Shore Excursion with Tour Guide & Baba Nyonya Lunch: $221
  • *13 Hrs Melaka Ultimate Full Day & Night Car Tour w' Tour Guide: $252

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Johor Bahru $4.98
    Melaka $8.06


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Melaka, we can see that Johor Bahru is more expensive. And not only is Melaka much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Melaka would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Melaka 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 Melaka.

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 Melaka Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Melaka?

Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Melaka. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Melaka, 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.