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.
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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.
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Johor Bahru Prices
Malaysia PricesMelaka Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $65Melaka $33
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $65, while the average daily cost in Melaka is $33. 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
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $41Melaka $9.67
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $82Melaka $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.
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
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $13Melaka $2.12
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $275
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]: $249
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru city to Malacca Cruise Port: $246
- Johor Bahru to Cameron Highland Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $235
- Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $208
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $186
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $160
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Car]: $159
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $134
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $125
- Universal Studios Singapore Tickets with Round-trip Transfers: $115
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Melaka
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Melaka are as follows:
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Taxi$4.83
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Bus Ride$0.36
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Melaka
Also for Melaka, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Malacca Hotels to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer: $52
- Private Transfer from Kuala Lumpur Airport (KUL) to Malacca Port: $64
- Malacca Hotel to Kuala Lumpur Hotel (Door to Door) Transfer: $73
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Taman Negara Transfer [Van]: $83
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Ipoh Transfer [Van]: $98
- Private Transfer : Taman Negara Kuala Tahan to Cameron Highlands: $168
- Sit Back & Relax - Malacca to Kuala Lumpur MPV Transfer: $191
- Private Transfer from Malacca Cruise Port to Subang Jaya city: $234
- Chauffeur: Malacca to Ipoh Transfer [Car]: $239
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
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Food Meals for one dayJohor Bahru $16Melaka $21
Typical Food Prices in Melaka
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Melaka:
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Sitdown Lunch (for Two)$7.25
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Dinner at the Market (for Two)$3.14
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Asam Pedas (Fish Curry)$1.45
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Taiwanese Noodle Soup$1.21
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Sitdown Dinner (for Two)$7.73
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Melaka Meals Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Rempah Routes Melaka Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Small Group Melaka After Dark Food Tour: $74
- Private Traditional Peranakan & Malay Cooking Class in Melaka: $95
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $7.94Melaka $4.10
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: $116
- Adventure Cove WaterPark Sentosa Island Singpore optional ticket: $33
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Admission Ticket Singapore: $45
- DaVinci & The Wheel of Time - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Dino Rescue Squad - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.45
- Harry Potter Visions of Magic Singapore Entry Ticket with Voucher: $73
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour (Double): $86
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour(Single): $62
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Johor Day Tour - Ostrich Farm, Beach, Waterfall, Fireflies [Car]: $276
- Johor Day Tour - Southernmost Tip, Eco Farm, Go Kart [Car]: $268
Typical Entertainment Prices in Melaka
For Melaka, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Maritime Museum Entrance$0.73
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Taming Sari Revolving Tower Entrance$4.83
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Trishaw Tour (One Hour)$11
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Baba and Nyonya Peranakan Museum Entrance$2.42
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Melaka Zoo Entrance$1.69
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Low Cost Kite$0.73
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Malacca Duck Tour$9.67
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Melaka River Cruise (One Hour)$2.42
Tours and Activities in Melaka
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Melaka.
- Melaka UNESCO City Guided Walking Tour: $4.96
- Malaysia: Melaka Upside Down House Entry Ticket: $7.15
- Malaysia Melaka - Breakout Escape Game E-Ticket: $12
- Essential Self-Guided Tour of it's UNESCO Heritage Centre: $15
- Malaysia: A'famosa Melaka Ticket: $17
- From Kuala Lumpur Full Day A'Famosa Theme Park Experience: $40
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca Hotels To Kuala Lumpur Hotels En-route Putrajaya Tour: $49
- Malacca City To Kuala Lumpur City EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Malacca To Kuala Lumpur EN-ROUTE Putrajaya City Tour: $61
- Small Group Melaka Flavours Food and Culture Tour: $74
- Private Half-Day Melaka Walking Tour: $81
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.18Melaka $8.38
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.
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.