Which place is cheaper, Sandakan or Johor Bahru?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Johor Bahru or Sandakan?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Sandakan? 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 Sandakan?
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.
Sandakan
Located on the Northeast side of the state of Sabah in Borneo is the city of Sandakan, which is the 2nd largest city in the country. Sandakan was a prosperous port town in the 1800s because of its exports of tobacco, timber, pearls, and ivory. However, this booming town that was formerly the administrative capital in North Borneo was bombed practically out of existence at the end of World War II.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Kuala Lumpur, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $60Sandakan $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $60, while the average daily cost in Sandakan is $67. 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 Sandakan in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $42Sandakan $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $84Sandakan $46
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Sandakan
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Sandakan? 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 Sandakan Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $13Sandakan $38
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Bukit Bintang: Shared Bus Transfer to Legoland Malaysia: $27
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore Van Transfer: $39
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Seletar Airport (XSP): $42
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Van]: $58
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Transfer [Van]: $73
- Johor Bahru to Mersing jetty Private Transfer: $80
- Legoland Theme Park Ticket and Transfer (SIC-Shared transfer): $97
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $100
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $103
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $103
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $105
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Sandakan?
Prices for flights to both Sandakan 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 $9.70Sandakan $21
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 (Saturday) with 5 Course Seated Dinner: $204
- City Lights Cruise with Buffet Dinner + Free flow Wine & Beer: $220
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sandakan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Sandakan.
- Mangrove Cruise with Fireflies Tour Including Dinner from Sandakan: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $7.97Sandakan $8.31
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: $4.98
- Laser Battle Experience in Johor Bahru: $7.06
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $14
- Singapore: Wings of Time Entry Ticket: $14
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
- Singapore Sentosa 4D AdventureLand Entry E-Ticket: $21
- Legoland Malaysia Theme Park E-Tickets: $22
- Magical Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $22
- Sailing along Straits of Johor: Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $23
- Malaysia: Legoland Entry Ticket: $23
Tours and Activities in Sandakan
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Sandakan are as follows:
- Private Tour: Half Day Sandakan City Tour Including Local Lunch: $51
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $78
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $112
- Private Full Day Sepilok Orang Utan, Bornean Sun Bear and Rainforest Discovery Center Tour: $125
- Labuk Proboscis, Sepilok, Sun Bear, Sandakan City Tour & Lunch: $147
- Sepilok Orang Utan & Bornean Sun Bear Centre with Sandakan City Tour with Lunch: $191
- Kinabatangan River Wildlife Cruise with Lunch: $192
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 2 Days 1 Night At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $205
- Borneo Wildlife Tour 3 Days 2 Nights At Tanjung Bulat Jungle Camp Kinabatangan: $256
- Sepilok Orang Utan, Sun Bear & Sandakan Nature City Tour + Lunch: $279
- 2D1N Sandakan Private Tour with Kinabatangan River Cruise: $290
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.19Sandakan $7.62
When comparing the travel costs between Johor Bahru and Sandakan, we can see that Sandakan is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Sandakan Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Sandakan?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Sandakan. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Sandakan, 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.