Which place is cheaper, Xiamen 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 Xiamen?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Johor Bahru or Xiamen? 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 Xiamen?
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.
Xiamen
Xiamen is a coastal city in the Fujian Province of China and has been a major port city and gateway to China for centuries. This vibrant and modern city was named the most livable city in the world in 2002 and one of the first cities to be named a Special Economic Zone. Xiamen is best known for being home to Gulangyu Island, a beautiful island full of historic colonial buildings and lovely walking paths.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
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Johor Bahru Prices
Malaysia PricesXiamen Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayJohor Bahru $64Xiamen $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $64, while the average daily cost in Xiamen is $84. 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 Xiamen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personJohor Bahru $40Xiamen $31
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomJohor Bahru $80Xiamen $62
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Xiamen
Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Xiamen? 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.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Johor Bahru $13Xiamen $6.08
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore Van Transfer: $38
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $99
- Universal Studios Singapore + Roundtrip Transfers: $119
- Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $208
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $164
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru City Center to Singapore Hotels: $99
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $131
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $103
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $125
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $182
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Xiamen
Also for Xiamen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Arrival Transfer from Gaoqi Airport to Xiamen City Hotel: $10
- Private Transfer from Xiamen North Railway Station to City Area: $19
- Xiamen Gaoqi International Airport Chauffeur Service ,Xiamen Airport Transfer: $25
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Arrival Transfer to City Area: $30
- Private Xiamen Gaoqi Airport Departure Transfer from City Areas: $33
- Private Transfer Service between Xiamen and Anxi : $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Tianluokeng Tulou Cluster : $89
- Private Transfer Between Xiamen City and HongKeng Hakka Tulou Cluster: $89
- Private Transfer between Xiamen City and Hui'an county in Quanzhou: $89
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng and HekengHakka Tulou fromXiamen: $90
- Private Transfer to Gaobei Tulou and Yunshuiyao Village from Xiamen City: $98
- Private Transfer to Tianluokeng Tulou and Hekeng Hakka Tulou from Xiamen City : $98
Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Xiamen?
Prices for flights to both Xiamen 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 $16Xiamen $46
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Johor Bahru $7.81Xiamen $16
Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:
- Adventure Cove Water Park Entry ticket sentosa Island singpore: $50
- Sentosa 4D Adventureland Admission Ticket in Singapore: $29
- #11Hrs Singapore Escorted Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $113
- *15Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $132
- Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Johor Admission Ticket: $35
- Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Ticket: $40
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour, Johor Bahru (Direct Entry): $25
- Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark Admission Ticket: $22
- Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.32
- HydroDash Singapore Ticket: $45
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour (Double): $86
Tours and Activities in Xiamen
For Xiamen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Sailing & Sea Experience.: $22
- Quanzhou Kaiyuan Temple & Luoyang Bridge Tour: $70
- Xiamen Private English Tour Guide Service: $93
- Xiamen Private Half Day Tour of Gulangyu Island and Shuzhuang Garden: $97
- A Night Tour to Xiamen Gulang Island: $100
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Local Food Market Experience: $103
- 4-hour Xiamen Private Flexible Tour in Your Way: $115
- 4-Hour Xiamen Private Shore Excursion Tour in Your Way: $121
- Shanghai Metro Tour: $127
- Xiamen Layover Day Tour-Gulangyu,Shuzhuang Garden And Piano Museum: $132
- Xiamen Half-Day Private Tour include Gulang Yu Island and Garden : $135
- Tour Guide and Car: Private Day Tour to Yunshuiyao Ancient Village from Xiamen: $140
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayJohor Bahru $5.09Xiamen $17
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Xiamen, we can see that Xiamen 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 Xiamen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Xiamen 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 Xiamen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Xiamen?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 39% larger than the population of Xiamen. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Xiamen, 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.