Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Kanchanaburi?
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 Kanchanaburi or Johor Bahru?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Kanchanaburi and Johor Bahru. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Kanchanaburi or Johor Bahru?
Kanchanaburi
If the hustle and bustle of the big city of Bangkok is just getting to you, there's an easy escape. Kanchanaburi, Thailand is a city located at the meeting of Kwai Noi and Kwai Yai, and is ideal for backpackers looking to reflect and relax. With easily accessible waterfalls and national parks, you'll wonder why anyone ever leaves.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Thailand, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Thailand, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
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Kanchanaburi Prices
Thailand PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKanchanaburi $57Johor Bahru $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Kanchanaburi is $57, while the average daily cost in Johor Bahru is $68. 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 Kanchanaburi and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKanchanaburi $22Johor Bahru $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKanchanaburi $44Johor Bahru $84
Compare Hotels in Kanchanaburi and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Kanchanaburi or Johor Bahru? 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: Kanchanaburi Hotel Prices and Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kanchanaburi $14Johor Bahru $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kanchanaburi
Also for Kanchanaburi, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kanchanaburi River Kwai SUP Experience with Hotel Transfers: $39
- Private Transfer from Ratchaburi to Suvarnabhumi (BKK) Airport: $98
- Private Bangkok Airport Transfer to/from Kanchanaburi: $117
- Private Transfer from Kanchanaburi to Don Mueang (DMK) Airport: $185
- Private Erawan Falls & River Kwai with Transfer from Kanchanaburi: $222
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $100
- Universal Studios Singapore Tickets with Round-trip Transfers: $116
- Sit Back & Relax - JB to Malacca MPV Transfer: $228
- Singapore Universal Studio with Optional One Way Transfer: $100
- Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $209
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $162
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru city to Malacca Cruise Port: $248
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru City Center to Singapore Hotels: $103
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $137
- Malaysia：Senai International Airport（JHB）One-Way Transfer: $80
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $125
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
Is it cheaper to fly into Kanchanaburi or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Kanchanaburi 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 dayKanchanaburi $24Johor Bahru $17
Typical Food Prices in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Casual Lunch$4.60
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Thai Cooking Class: $39
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kanchanaburi $10Johor Bahru $8.28
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kanchanaburi
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kanchanaburi's activities, tours, and tickets:
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Entry Park TreeHouse$6.14
Tours and Activities in Kanchanaburi
For Kanchanaburi, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Discovery Bike Tour: $18
- Best Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi River: $27
- River Kwai Paddleboarding Experience in Kanchanaburi: $30
- Fun Tree Top Zipline Adventure and Challenge in Kanchanaburi: $37
- Kanchanaburi Tree Top Adventure Park Tours: $40
- Half Day Kanchanaburi Bike Tour with History and Local Life: $52
- WWII History Bike Tour in Kanchanaburi with Local Guide: $58
- Kanchanaburi Countryside Cycling Adventure: $58
- Kanchanaburi Morning Countryside Bike Experience: $62
- Full Day Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Historical Sites Tour: $78
- Kanchanaburi Erawan Waterfall and Death Railway Full Day Tour: $80
- Kanchanaburi Tour Hellfire Pass History tour: $106
Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:
- *15 Hrs Melaka Escorted Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $116
- Adventure Cove WaterPark Sentosa Island Singpore optional ticket: $33
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Admission Ticket Singapore: $45
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.57
- Harry Potter Visions of Magic Singapore Entry Ticket with Voucher: $74
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour (Double): $86
- Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour(Single): $62
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Johor Day Tour - Ostrich Farm, Beach, Waterfall, Fireflies [Car]: $277
- Johor Day Tour - Southernmost Tip, Eco Farm, Go Kart [Car]: $269
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- JungleWalla Desaru Mangrove Afterdark | Firefly Cruise Tour: $259
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKanchanaburi $9.03Johor Bahru $5.40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kanchanaburi and Johor Bahru, we can see that Johor Bahru is more expensive. And not only is Kanchanaburi much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Kanchanaburi would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kanchanaburi 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 Johor Bahru would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Johor Bahru than you might in Kanchanaburi.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kanchanaburi Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kanchanaburi or Johor Bahru?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Kanchanaburi. When comparing the sizes of Kanchanaburi and Johor Bahru, 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.