Which place is cheaper, Taupo or Johor Bahru?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Johor Bahru or Taupo?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Taupo? 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 Taupo?
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.
Taupo
Taupo is a town located in the center of the North Island, situated on the shores of Lake Taupo, which is New Zealand's largest lake. It is also the caldera of the Taupo Volcano. It has a population of 23,700 people and is visited by many people interested in fishing, boating, and other water activities. There are many hiking and biking trails that take you around the water as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best Budget Tours to New Zealand, and The Best Tours for Seniors to New Zealand.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $52Taupo $111
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $52, while the average daily cost in Taupo is $111. 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 Taupo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $36Taupo $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $72Taupo $124
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Taupo
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Taupo? 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 Taupo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $11Taupo $25
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- *Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore Car Transfer: $94
- *Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore Van Transfer: $38
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $99
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Ipoh Transfer [Van]: $115
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuantan Transfer [Car]: $266
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $89
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Car]: $150
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $103
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $125
- Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Taupo?
Prices for flights to both Taupo 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 $8.39Taupo $24
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 with Buffet Dinner + Free flow Wine & Beer: $192
- Dog Cruise with 5-Course Seated Dinner: $222
- Sunset Sail Cruise with 5 Course Seated Dinner: $222
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $6.89Taupo $35
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: $4.30
- Laser Battle Experience in Johor Bahru: $7.06
- HeadRock VR Admission Ticket: $11
- Singapore: Wings of Time Entry Ticket: $13
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $18
- Sentosa: HydroDash Singapore Entry Ticket: $20
- Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
- Sailing along Straits of Johor: Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $22
- Malaysia: Legoland Entry Ticket: $22
- Magical Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $22
- Sentosa 4D AdventureLand Singapore: $22
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Ticket: $23
Typical Entertainment Prices in Taupo
Here are a few typical costs in Taupo for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Bungy Jumping$152
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Jet Boating$56
Tours and Activities in Taupo
Here are a few actual costs in Taupo for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Taupo Self-Guided Audio Tour: $14
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Marvelous Circus: $22
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Candy Cottage: $22
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - Cabin in the Woods: $23
- Escape Room Experience Taupo - The Hunting Lodge: $23
- Lake 1.5-Hour Maori Rock Carvings 5:00 PM Cruise: $27
- Maori Rock Carvings Scenic Cruise: $27
- Lake Maori Rock Carvings 10.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $29
- Lake Māori Rock Carvings Scenic Boat Cruise: $29
- Lake Maori Rock Carvings 8.30 AM 1.5-Hour Cruise: $29
- Orakei Korako Geothermal Park and Cave Entry Ticket: $29
- Daily Scenic Maori Rock Carving Cruise Taupo: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $4.49Taupo $13
Typical Alcohol Prices in Taupo
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Taupo from other travelers:
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Wine$5.05
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Taupo, we can see that Taupo 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 Taupo is in Pacific, 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 Taupo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taupo 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 Taupo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Taupo?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 40 times larger than the population of Taupo. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Taupo, 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.