Which place is cheaper, Sandakan 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 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 Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best 10-Day Tours in Malaysia, and The Best 2-Week Tours in Malaysia.
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Johor Bahru Prices
Malaysia PricesSandakan Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $64Sandakan $81
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $64, while the average daily cost in Sandakan is $81. 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 $40Sandakan $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $80Sandakan $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 $37
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 Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $94
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru City Center to Singapore Hotels: $99
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $100
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $103
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $103
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur International Airport 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
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $105
- Universal Studios Singapore + Roundtrip Transfers: $120
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sandakan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Sandakan:
- Private 1Way Transfer to/from Sandakan Airport, City or Sepilok: $39
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 $16Sandakan $36
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
- Sandakan : Fireflies and Mangrove Cruise with Dinner: $193
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $7.81Sandakan $8.15
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: $6.34
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $17
- Malaysia: Johor Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Entry Ticket: $18
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
- Magical Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $22
- Legoland Malaysia Ticket: $23
- Legoland Malaysia Theme Park E-Tickets: $23
- Legoland Malaysia Admission Ticket (All Rides & Attractions): $24
- Malaysia : LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $24
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: $60
- Private Sandakan City Must See 6 Highlights Tour with Guide & Car: $64
- From 7 Unmissable Local Stops Private Tour: $82
- Sukau Rainforest Wildlife and Dawn Cruises Tour in Sandakan: $84
- Sukau Rainforest Wildlife Journey & Dawn Cruises: $87
- Borneo Kinabatangan River Cruise Day Trip: $88
- Kinabatangan River Cruise from Sandakan: $90
- Sandakan Private City Tour Orangutan Sun Bears and Rainforest: $90
- Bornean Sun Bear Conservation Centre & Sepilok Orang Utan Rehab Centre Tour: $112
- Day Trip Sepilok Orang-utan And City Tour (Flight Excluded): $119
- 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
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.09Sandakan $7.47
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Sandakan, we can see that Sandakan 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 Sandakan would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Sandakan 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 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.