Which place is cheaper, Phnom Penh 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 Phnom Penh?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Phnom Penh? 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 Phnom Penh?
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.
Phnom Penh
Phnom Penh is the capital and largest city in the country of Cambodia. It is located at the edge of the Mekong and the Tonle Sap rivers and is the nation's center of economics and industry. The metropolitan area has a population of about 2.2 million.
Phnom Penh was once called the "Pearl of Asia." In the 1920s it was one of the most impressive French built cities in the region and was an important tourist destination. During the Vietnam War, refugees fled to the city and by 1975 the city's population was between 2 and 3 million, most of them being refugees. The city fell to the Khmer Rouge in 1975 and they cut off supplies to the population for over a year. Journalists reported torture and mutilation of the trapped civilians and the Khmer Rouge forcibly evacuated the city in what is known as the death march. The Khmer Rouge was driven from the city by the Vietnamese in 1979 and reconstruction began.
Today, tourism continues to grow in the city and those who visit are greeted by a welcoming and friendly population, a rich culture, and truly rewarding travel experience.
Phnom Penh has a tropical wet and dry climate. It is hot year around with very little temperature variation. Lows are usually in the low 70s Fahrenheit and highs are in the mid to high 90s Fahrenheit. The southwest monsoon brings rains between May and October and the northeast monsoon brings the dry season from November to March.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Cambodia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Cambodia.
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Johor Bahru Prices
Malaysia PricesPhnom Penh Prices
Cambodia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $66Phnom Penh $50
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $66, while the average daily cost in Phnom Penh is $50. 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 Phnom Penh in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $41Phnom Penh $12
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $82Phnom Penh $24
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Phnom Penh
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Phnom Penh? 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 Phnom Penh Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $13Phnom Penh $7.84
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $122
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Transfer [Car]: $214
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Car]: $161
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Van]: $58
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru to Cameron Highland Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $235
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $125
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $125
- Johor Bahru to Mersing jetty Private Transfer: $95
- Johor Hotels to Malacca Hotels (Door to Door) Transfer: $141
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $188
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Phnom Penh
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Phnom Penh:
- PNH Airport to City Centre Private Transfer: $7.00
- Techo Airport (KTI) Pickup/Transfer Private Car: $16
- Private Phnom Penh Airport Transfers to your hotel in town: $20
- Private Taxi transfer from Siem Reap to Phnom Penh: $20
- Private Taxi transfer from Phnom Penh to Siem Reap: $21
- Private Transfer From Phnom Penh International Airport To Phnom Penh City Center: $21
- Private Transfer Techo International Airport From/To Hotels: $22
- Private Departure Transfer: Hotel to Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH): $22
- Private Arrival Transfer: Phnom Penh International Airport (PNH) to Hotel: $22
- Private Airport Transfer From/To Hotels: $24
- Private Transfer: Techo Airport (KTI) to Hotel in Phnom Penh: $27
- Private Transfer: Phnom Penh's Hotel to Techo Airport(KTI): $27
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Phnom Penh?
Prices for flights to both Phnom Penh 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 $16Phnom Penh $22
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johor Bahru
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johor Bahru.
- Singapore: Christmas Dinner Cruise with 7 Course XMAS Menu: $289
Typical Food Prices in Phnom Penh
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Phnom Penh:
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Dinner for Two$10
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Breakfast for Two$4.82
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Phnom Penh
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Phnom Penh.
- Mekong Sunset Dinner Cruise with Live Music: $9.90
- Sunset Dinner Cruise with English Speaking Guide: $10
- Nightlife three hours food tours: $27
- Evening City Tour by Tuk Tuk with 1 Dinner: $29
- Cooking Class in Phnom Penh: $31
- Street Art & Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $35
- Phnom Penh’s Hands-On Khmer Cooking Class in the Countryside: $35
- Khmer Cooking Class Half Day (AM or PM): $36
- Street Art and Food Tour with Pickup and Beer: $39
- Street Art and Food Tour by Tuk-Tuk: $39
- Authentic Walking Food Tour with Local Guide: $39
- Phnom Penh Night Food Tour by Tuktuk-Local Eats& City Highlights: $45
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $8.04Phnom Penh $7.62
Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.53
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $17
- Malaysia: Johor Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Entry Ticket: $18
- Adventure Waterpark Ticket Desaru Coast: $19
- Dino Rescue Squad - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony Tickets: $23
- Legoland Malaysia Admission Ticket (All Rides & Attractions): $24
- Legoland Malaysia Theme Park E-Tickets: $25
- Malaysia : LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $26
Tours and Activities in Phnom Penh
Here are a few actual costs in Phnom Penh for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Riverside Walking Tour with Snack, Drinks & Local Ferry Ride: $7.20
- Sunset Cruise-"Unlimited BBQ Buffet-Beers, Sodas & Fruit Platter": $7.45
- Phnom Penh Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer & BBQ Buffet: $8.00
- Sunset Cruise on Kanika Boat: $8.60
- Sunset Cruise with free flow beer, soft drinks & fruit platter: $8.99
- Sunset Cruise-Unlimited Beers-Sodas-BBQ buffet-Fruit platter: $9.00
- Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beers & BBQ Buffet: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise with freeflow beers & BBQ buffet: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise: Your Cruise You Choose, 3 wonderful options: $9.16
- Sunset Cruise with Unlimited Beer &Fruit platter: $9.35
- Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Ticket Free Mekong Cruise: $12
- Phnom Penh Killing Fields and Tuol Sleng Private Tour: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.25Phnom Penh $4.32
Sample the Local Flavors in Phnom Penh
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Phnom Penh:
- Phnom Penh Pub Crawl with Free Mad Monkey Singlet: $12
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Phnom Penh, we can see that Johor Bahru is more expensive. And not only is Phnom Penh much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Phnom Penh would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Phnom Penh 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 Phnom Penh.
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 Phnom Penh Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Phnom Penh?
Phnom Penh has a larger population, and is about 96% larger than the population of Johor Bahru. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Phnom Penh, 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.