Which place is cheaper, San Juan 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 San Juan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or San Juan? 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 San Juan?
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.
San Juan
If you've ever set foot on a Caribbean cruise, you've probably spent a bit of time in San Juan, Puerto Rico. However, maybe you should consider spending more than just a port day in this beautiful and historically rich city.
As the capital and largest city in all of Puerto Rico, San Juan is home to approximately 400,000 people. Established in 1521, it is also the second oldest European-founded settlement in the Americas.
As this city fuses a historic paradise with modern day energy, it has absolutely everything to offer. Intellectual wanderers, beach bums, rainforest adventurers and radical surfers will all find plenty to do in San Juan.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Johor Bahru Prices
Malaysia PricesSan Juan Prices
Puerto Rico Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $66San Juan $218
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $66, while the average daily cost in San Juan is $218. 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 San Juan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $41San Juan $124
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $82San Juan $248
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and San Juan
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or San Juan? 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 San Juan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $13San Juan $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $291
- Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $275
- °Sit Back & Relax - JB to Malacca MPV Transfer: $241
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru city to Malacca Cruise Port: $240
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Transfer [Car]: $214
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $188
- Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $180
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Penang Island Transfer [Van]: $157
- Johor Hotels to Malacca Hotels (Door to Door) Transfer: $141
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Besut Transfer [Van]: $136
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $136
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $125
Hired Cars and Shuttles in San Juan
Also for San Juan, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer San Juan from or to SJU Airport, Hotel, Cruises: $20
- SJU Airport Transfers (Isla Verde, Condado, Old San Juan): $23
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan - Arrival Private Transfer: $26
- San Juan Port to San Juan Airport (SJU)- Departure Transfer: $29
- San Juan Airport (SJU) to San Juan Arrival Private Transfer: $29
- SJU Airport Transfers (Isla Verde, Condado, Old San Juan): $38
- San Juan Transfers: $38
- Premium Transfer Service from or to Río Grande Puerto Rico: $50
- Puerto Rico Island Wide Transfers, VW Buzz Luxury Minivan.: $61
- Private Transfer Airport SJU to Old San Juan Vice versa One way: $65
- Roundtrip-Transfer from: SJU Airport,Cruises and Hotels in Puerto Rico LuxurySUV: $70
- Transfer TO or FROM: Airport,Cruise,Hotel in DORADO or RIO GRANDE: $70
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or San Juan?
Prices for flights to both San Juan 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 $16San Juan $62
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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Old San Juan Food Tour with 7 Tastings of Authentic Local Flavors: $140
- FlyDining 4-Course Dinner in Old Sunset or City Lights: $165
- Puerto Rican Gastronomy Cooking Class: $167
- Authentic Flavors of San Juan Food Tour: $170
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $8.04San Juan $49
Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Admission Ticket: $39
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Sentosa Island Singapore AdmissionTicket: $30
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Tickets: $49
- Adventure Waterpark Ticket Desaru Coast: $19
- 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: $6.53
- 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 - Lasertag, Eco Farm, Go Kart [Car]: $276
- Johor Day Tour - Ostrich Farm, Beach, Waterfall, Fireflies [Car]: $279
Typical Entertainment Prices in San Juan
For San Juan, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Horseback Riding Tour$40
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Full Day Snorkeling Trip$100
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1 Hr Windsurfing Lesson$75
Tours and Activities in San Juan
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for San Juan.
- The Ultimate Self-Guided Hidden Gems Tour in Puerto Rico: $5.00
- Transportation in San Juan, Isla verde, Condado, Hotels, Cruises & Airbnb's SJU: $14
- San Juan Self-Guided Walking Audio Tour: $14
- Outdoor Salsa Class Experience in San Juan: $19
- Eco Friendly Farming Tour to Explore Dorado's Most Beautiful Farm: $20
- Old San Juan Walking Tour with a Local Certified Guide: $25
- San Juan Ghost Tour: Shrieks in the Sugarcane: $26
- VIP San Juan Salsa Night Experience at Luxury Condado Beach: $35
- San Juan Guided Turtle Snorkel Tour and Complimentary Videos: $39
- SJU Airport to San Juan Cruise Port or return: $43
- 3 Tours in 1 Day Old San Juan Rainforest and Beach with Transport: $44
- 2 Tours in 1 Day Rainforest and Beach Adventure with Transport: $44
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.25San Juan $12
Sample the Local Flavors in San Juan
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in San Juan:
- Old San Juan Bar Crawl: Experience Local Hotspots: $65
- Puerto Rico Tobacco Farm and Local Brewery Tour: $109
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and San Juan, we can see that San Juan 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 San Juan 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 San Juan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in San Juan 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 San Juan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or San Juan?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 92% larger than the population of San Juan. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and San Juan, 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.