Which place is cheaper, Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Montego Bay? 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 Montego Bay?
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.
Montego Bay
As with most places around the tropical oasis of Jamaica, Montego Bay (or "MoBay") is an ideal place to visit for a Caribbean getaway. It is Jamaica's second largest city and the capital of St. James parish on the northern coast. Montego Bay is considered to be the tourist capital of the country and is where the largest airport is located, bringing in many international travelers.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
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Johor Bahru Prices
Malaysia PricesMontego Bay Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $67Montego Bay $257
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $67, while the average daily cost in Montego Bay is $257. 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 Montego Bay in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $42Montego Bay $101
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $84Montego Bay $202
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Montego Bay
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Montego Bay? 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 Montego Bay Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $13Montego Bay $15
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore Van Transfer: $39
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Van]: $58
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Transfer [Van]: $74
- Malaysia：Senai International Airport（JHB）One-Way Transfer: $80
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $101
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $103
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru City Center to Singapore Hotels: $103
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur International Airport One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur International Airport One-way Transfer: $105
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $106
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Montego Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Montego Bay:
- Private Montego Bay Airport Transfer to Negril Hotels & Princess: $8.50
- Private Airport Transfers from Montego Bay: $8.70
- Shared Transfer: From/to Montego Bay International Airport: $9.75
- Sangster International Airport Private Transfer to Montego Bay: $10
- Private Airport transfer Montego Bay: $12
- Sandals Royal Caribbean Hotel Private Airport Transfer: $13
- Grandiosa Hotel Private Airport Transfer: $13
- Private Transfer to Royal Decameron Cornwall Beach/Montego Beach: $13
- A "Private" Airport Transfer to any Resort in Montego Bay: $14
- Private Airport Transfer to S Hotel, SeaGarden, Royal Decameron: $14
- RIU Reggae Palace and RIU Montego Bay Private Airport Transfer: $14
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Airport to Montego Bay Hotels: $14
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Montego Bay?
Prices for flights to both Montego Bay 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 $16Montego Bay $141
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Montego Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Montego Bay.
- Dinner or Lunch with Pickup from Montego Bay: $50
- Montego Bay Jerk Tour and Rum Punch Mixology/Food Tour: $50
- Club2727 Nightlife Experience With Optional Dinner In Montego Bay: $60
- Mystic Lagoon Sunset Cruise with Dinner and Lagoon Swim: $85
- Sunset Dinner at Bamboo Beach Club: $99
- 3 to 5 Hour Private Herbal Tour Shopping and Dinner at Ricks Cafe: $120
- Bar Hopping and Local Food Tour in Jamaica: $130
- Montego Bay, Negril, Ocho Rios Dinner and Nightlife Experience: $150
- Restaurant Transportation for Breakfast/Lunch/Dinner Montego Bay: $180
- Authentic Jamaican Food Cooking Experience in the Countryside: $195
- Authentic Jamaican Cooking Experience in the Mountain from mobay: $210
- PRIVATE Food Tour of Local Jamaican Cuisine Montego Bay & Negril: $210
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $8.14Montego Bay $31
Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:
- Sentosa Magical Island Adventure Pass: $6.32
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.60
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Wings of Time Admission Ticket: $14
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $17
- Malaysia: Johor Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Entry Ticket: $19
- Adventure Waterpark Ticket Desaru Coast: $19
- Causeway Tour: $20
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Legoland Malaysia Admission Ticket (All Rides & Attractions): $25
- Legoland Malaysia Theme Park E-Tickets: $25
Typical Entertainment Prices in Montego Bay
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Montego Bay are as follows:
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Admission to Doctor's Cave Beach$2.66
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Snorkeling Trip$19
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One Tank Dive$37
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1.5 Hr Horseback Ride$43
Tours and Activities in Montego Bay
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Montego Bay are as follows:
- Lethe Rafting And Margaritaville Tour from Montego Bay: $20
- Jamaica Bamboo Rafting Experience with Lime Stone Massage: $20
- Bamboo Rafting & Jamaican Village Experience: $25
- Great River Bamboo Rafting and Limestone Foot Massage Tour From Montego Bay: $30
- Adventure and Activity Based Music and Nightlife and Nature: $30
- Private Tour Souvenir Shopping in Montego Bay: $30
- Pruvate Transter to Ocho Rios + Catamaran Cruise: $30
- VR Experience in Montego Bay: $30
- Rose Hall Great House Haunted Night Tour with Admission: $35
- Street Executive Tours And Chauffeur Service Jamaica: $35
- Private Shopping Tour in Montego Bay with Hotel Pickup: $35
- Private Tour of Montego Bay City and Gift Shopping: $38
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.31Montego Bay $13
Sample the Local Flavors in Montego Bay
Also in Montego Bay, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
- Appleton Estate Admission Ticket & Distillery Tour with Tastings: $39
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Montego Bay, we can see that Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Montego Bay would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Montego Bay 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 Montego Bay Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Montego Bay?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Montego Bay. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Montego Bay, 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.