A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Johor Bahru vs. Milford Sound for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Johor Bahru or Milford Sound?

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

Should I visit Johor Bahru or Milford Sound? 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 Milford Sound?

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.

Milford Sound

Milford Sound is a fjord in Fiordland that was created by a glacier. The area is known for rain, but if you end up here on a rainy, know that you are seeing the waterfalls at their fullest.

People go to Milford Sound for the natural beauty. It is unlike any other place on earth. If you're the adventurous type, get yourself a kayak to explore the area. Also, if you have the chance, take a cruise to Milford Deep Underwater Observatory.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in New Zealand, and The Best Luxury Tours to New Zealand.


Which place is cheaper, Milford Sound or Johor Bahru?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $52, while the average daily cost in Milford Sound is $117. 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 Milford Sound in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Johor Bahru $36
    Milford Sound $67
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Johor Bahru $72
    Milford Sound $134
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Milford Sound

Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Milford Sound? 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 Milford Sound


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Johor Bahru $11
    Milford Sound $14

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

Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Milford Sound?

Prices for flights to both Milford Sound 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 $8.39
    Milford Sound $34

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

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Johor Bahru $6.89
    Milford Sound $38

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

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Johor Bahru $4.49
    Milford Sound $13


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Milford Sound, we can see that Milford Sound is more expensive. And not only is Johor Bahru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Johor Bahru is in Asia and Milford Sound is in Pacific, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. 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 Milford Sound would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Milford Sound 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 Milford Sound Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Milford Sound?

Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 1840 times larger than the population of Milford Sound. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Milford Sound, 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.