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

Should you visit Johor Bahru or Sado?

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

Should I visit Johor Bahru or Sado? 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 Sado?

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.

Sado

Sado Island, Japan is located just off the coast of Niigata and is an old gold mining town that has since developed into a quiet summer holiday destination. The island is home to two mountain ranges, O-Sado in the north and Ko-sado in the south, with the popular Kuninaka plain in between the mountain ranges. With the remoteness of the island, it has become a popular destination for tourists to experience old Japan and get away from the busy mainland.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best Adventure Tours to Japan, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Japan.


Which place is cheaper, Sado 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 Sado is $82. 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 Sado in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Johor Bahru $40
    Sado $31
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Johor Bahru $80
    Sado $62
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Sado

Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Sado? 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 Sado


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 Sado Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Johor Bahru $13
    Sado $14

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:

  • ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore Van Transfer: $38
  • Private Transfer from Johor Bahru City Center to Singapore Hotels: $99
  • ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $99
  • Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $103
  • Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $103
  • Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $104
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
  • Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
  • Universal Studios Singapore + Roundtrip Transfers: $119
  • Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $125
  • Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $131

Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Sado?

Prices for flights to both Sado 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
    Sado $42

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Johor Bahru $7.81
    Sado $8.74

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: $6.32
  • Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
  • Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $17
  • Malaysia: Johor Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Entry Ticket: $18
  • Singapore Sentosa: Trick Eye 3D Museum Entrance Ticket: $21
  • Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
  • Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
  • Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
  • Magical Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $22
  • Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark Admission Ticket: $22
  • Legoland Malaysia Ticket: $23
  • Legoland Malaysia Theme Park E-Tickets: $23

Tours and Activities in Sado

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sado are as follows:

  • Sado Island Highlights: 3-Hour Bike Tour: $84

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Johor Bahru $5.09
    Sado $69


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Sado, we can see that Sado is more expensive. And not only is Johor Bahru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Sado would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sado 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 Sado Expensive?.


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