Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Masai Mara?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Masai Mara 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 Masai Mara 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: Masai Mara or Johor Bahru?
Masai Mara
Masai Mara National Reserve is a beautiful, scenic, nature reserve in southwest Kenya, just west of the capital city, Nairobi. The reserve belongs to the Masai people and was created in order to protect the land and the people and animals living on it. Masai Mara is considered to be one of the best reserves in all of Africa, offering the quintessential African safari experience.
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 Budget Safaris in Kenya, The Best Luxury Tours to Kenya, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
-
Masai Mara Prices
Kenya PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMasai Mara $133Johor Bahru $68
The average daily cost (per person) in Masai Mara is $133, 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 Masai Mara and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMasai Mara $37Johor Bahru $42
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMasai Mara $74Johor Bahru $84
Compare Hotels in Masai Mara and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Masai Mara 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: Masai Mara Hotel Prices and Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Masai Mara $47Johor Bahru $14
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Masai Mara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Masai Mara:
- Nairobi Airport (NBO) Private Transfer to Nairobi City/Hotels: $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Transfer [Van]: $73
- Malaysia：Senai International Airport（JHB）One-Way Transfer: $80
- Johor Bahru to Mersing jetty Private Transfer: $95
- ~Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Singapore MPV Transfer: $100
- Singapore Universal Studio with Optional One Way Transfer: $100
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru City Center to Singapore Hotels: $103
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $103
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $105
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur Airport One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru City to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
Is it cheaper to fly into Masai Mara or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Masai Mara 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 dayMasai Mara $57Johor Bahru $17
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Masai Mara $60Johor Bahru $8.28
Tours and Activities in Masai Mara
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Masai Mara are as follows:
- Cultural Day Tour to Bomas of Kenya Nairobi: $51
- David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Half-Day Tour in Nairobi: $55
- Guided "Matatu" Experience Half Day Tour Within Nairobi.: $60
- Bomas of Kenya cultural Dance and Acrobatic Show Tour: $64
- Giraffe Center Guided Tour from Nairobi: $65
- Half Day Giraffe Center,Baby Elephant&Karen Blixxen Guided Tour: $70
- Giraffe Center and David Sheldrick Elephant Orphanage Tour: $72
- Half Day Private Tour to Lake Nakuru National Park: $80
- Nairobi City Tour and Afternoon Visit to Bomas of Kenya: $80
- Nairobi National Park Guided Day Tour From Nairobi: $95
- Day tour to Giraffe center and Karen Blixen Nairobi: $95
- Tour to Fairview Coffee Farm Tour with Coffee Testing: $98
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: $6.57
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Wings of Time Admission Ticket: $14
- Universal Studios Ticket Singapore: $16
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $17
- Wings of Time Fireworks Symphony Tickets: $18
- Malaysia: Johor Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Entry Ticket: $18
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Singapore: Madame Tussauds Sentosa E-Ticket: $22
- Legoland Malaysia Admission Ticket (All Rides & Attractions): $24
- Legoland Malaysia Theme Park E-Tickets: $25
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayMasai Mara $26Johor Bahru $5.40
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Masai Mara and Johor Bahru, we can see that Masai Mara is more expensive. And not only is Johor Bahru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Masai Mara is in Africa and Johor Bahru is in Asia, 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 Masai Mara would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Masai Mara 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 Masai Mara Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
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.