Which place is cheaper, Tanah Rata or Johor Bahru?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Johor Bahru or Tanah Rata?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Tanah Rata? 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 Tanah Rata?
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.
Tanah Rata
Tanah Rata is one of the main tourist towns in the Cameron Highlands. The Cameron Highlands are in western Malaysia and are a popular retreat for Malaysian residents and international travelers alike. The area's higher elevation offers an often much needed break from the country's oppressive heat. It also has a beautiful setting that is rich in agriculture and has rolling hills that are beautifully covered in tea plantations. Tanah Rata has many of the area's tourist amenities. ATMS, banks, and the area's main hospital are all found in town. For some, the area feels too touristy, but if you linger longer, and explore on your own, you can easily escape the mass tourism and see the area for what it is.
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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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $60Tanah Rata $158
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $60, while the average daily cost in Tanah Rata is $158. 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 Tanah Rata in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $42Tanah Rata $77
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $84Tanah Rata $154
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Tanah Rata
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Tanah Rata? 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 Tanah Rata Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $13Tanah Rata $34
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 Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $120
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $103
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Transfer [Van]: $85
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Ipoh Transfer [Van]: $120
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Transfer [Car]: $210
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $93
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
- 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
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tanah Rata
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Tanah Rata:
- Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $92
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $93
- Cameron Highlands City To Kuala Lumpur City Transfer: $94
- Cameron Highlands Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $94
- CameronHighland CityHotel to KualaLumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $109
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $110
- Chauffeur: Cameron Highlands to Singapore Van Transfer: $123
- Cameron Highland to Kuala Besut Jetty One Way SIC Transfer: $152
- Shared Transfer : Cameron Highland to Taman Negara via Kuala Tembeling Jetty: $152
- Cameron Highland to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $153
- Departure Transfer from Cameron Highland to KLIA/KLIA2: $169
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Tanah Rata?
Prices for flights to both Tanah Rata 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 $9.70Tanah Rata $51
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: $200
- City Lights Cruise with Buffet Dinner + Free flow Wine & Beer: $216
Typical Food Prices in Tanah Rata
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Tanah Rata:
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Dinner for Two$6.55
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Dessert$0.73
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Lunch$4.61
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Afternoon tea$4.48
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $7.97Tanah Rata $39
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: $4.79
- Laser Battle Experience in Johor Bahru: $7.06
- Singapore: Wings of Time Entry Ticket: $13
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $14
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $20
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $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: $22
- 1 Day Legoland Malaysia Ticket: $23
- Malaysia: Legoland Entry Ticket: $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Tanah Rata
Here are a few typical costs in Tanah Rata for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Tea Factory Visit$6.55
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Tour of Orang Asli Village$24
Tours and Activities in Tanah Rata
Here are a few actual costs in Tanah Rata for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Cameron Highlands Sightseing Tour: $33
- Cameron Highlands: Agro Delight Tour: $61
- Cameron Highlands Full Day Tour: $75
- Cameron Highlands City to Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $109
- Cameron Highlands City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
- Cameron Highlands to Kuala Lumpur International Airport EN-ROUTE Batu Caves Tour: $110
- Special Cameron Highlands ~ Day tour;Solo;Couple;Group: $292
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.19Tanah Rata $22
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Tanah Rata, we can see that Tanah Rata 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 Tanah Rata would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tanah Rata 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 Tanah Rata Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Tanah Rata?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 110 times larger than the population of Tanah Rata. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Tanah Rata, 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.