A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Johor Bahru vs. Tianjin for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Johor Bahru or Tianjin?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Johor Bahru or Tianjin? 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 Tianjin?

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.

Tianjin

Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.

Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Tianjin or Johor Bahru?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $52, while the average daily cost in Tianjin is $76. 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 Tianjin in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Johor Bahru $36
    Tianjin $34
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Johor Bahru $72
    Tianjin $68
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Tianjin

Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Tianjin? 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.

Hotels in Johor Bahru


Hotels in Tianjin


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.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Johor Bahru $11
    Tianjin $36

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:

  • Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuantan Transfer [Car]: $266
  • Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
  • Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $197
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $177
  • Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Car]: $150
  • Universal Studios Singapore (Shared Transfer): $144
  • Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $125
  • Private Transfer from Senai International Airport Johor to Singapore Hotels: $125
  • Private Singapore Departure Airport Transfer from Sentosa Island to Airport: $119
  • Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Ipoh Transfer [Van]: $115
  • Johor Hotels to Malacca Hotels (Door to Door) Transfer: $108
  • Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $108

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin

Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Tianjin Airport Chauffeur Service, Tianjin Airport Transfer: $13
  • Tianjin Airport Chauffeur Service, Tianjin Airport Transfer: $18
  • Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
  • Private Arrival Transfer:Any Tianjin Railway Station to City Hotel: $30
  • Private Departure Transfer: Bejing City Hotel to Airport: $32
  • Private Transfer from Tianjin Binhai Airport TSN to Tianjin Port: $33
  • Private Transfer from Tianjin Port to Tianjin Binhai Airport TSN: $33
  • Private Transfer from Tianjin Binhai Airport to Tianjin Port: $36
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Tianjin Binhai International Airport (TSN) to Hotel: $39
  • Tianjin Airport (TSN) to Tianjin RoundTrip Private Transfer: $50
  • Tianjin Port Private transfers to Tianjin train station: $50
  • Private Transfer from Tianjin City Hotels to Tianjin Cruise Port: $52

Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Tianjin?

Prices for flights to both Tianjin 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Johor Bahru $8.39
    Tianjin $20

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
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Johor Bahru $6.89
    Tianjin $10

Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:

  • *15Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $125
  • 4-Hour Private Luxurious Sentosa Walking Tour in Singapore: $286
  • Breakfast Cruise with International Breakfast (Buffet): $134
  • Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour, Johor Bahru (Direct Entry): $25
  • Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark Admission Ticket: $34
  • Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
  • Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $4.30
  • Fun and Adventurous Experience at Cove Water Park : $42
  • Hassle Free Universal Studios Singapore - One-Day Ticket: $65
  • HeadRock VR Admission Ticket: $11
  • Johor Day Tour - Ostrich Farm, Beach, Waterfall, Fireflies [Car]: $261
  • Johor Tour ends in Singapore - Ostrich Farm, Waterfall, Go Kart [Car]: $298

Tours and Activities in Tianjin

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.

  • Tianjin Private Walking Tour Guided by a Lady Worked in Europe: $151
  • Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Hotel With the English Speaking Driver: $160
  • 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
  • Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Capital Airport With the English Speaking Driver: $187
  • Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
  • Tianjin Cruise Port To Beijing Daxing Airport With the English Speaking Driver: $203
  • Bullet Train Private Tour: Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Temple of Heaven: $219
  • 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
  • Tianjin Private Tour to Eastern Qing Tombs with Flexible Departure time: $237
  • Private Tianjin Day Tour to Huangyaguan Great Wall and Dule Temple: $238
  • Tianjin Shore Excursion: Huangyaguan Great Wall Private Day Tour: $238
  • Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Johor Bahru $4.49
    Tianjin $11


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Tianjin, we can see that Tianjin 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 Tianjin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tianjin 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 Tianjin Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Tianjin?

Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Johor Bahru. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Tianjin, 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.