Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Saaremaa?
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 Saaremaa or Johor Bahru?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Saaremaa or Johor Bahru, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Saaremaa or Johor Bahru?
Saaremaa
Saaremaa is the largest island in Estonia and it has a unique and rural atmosphere that makes it an interesting place to visit. Saaremaa has remained rural and frozen in time due to its isolated location, particularly during Soviet occupation when it was used as a military base. The island still has working windmills, hand placed stone walls, and old stone churches that feel like you've stepped back in time.
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 2-Week Tours from Tallinn, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Estonia, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
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Saaremaa Prices
Estonia PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per daySaaremaa €128Johor Bahru €59
The average daily cost (per person) in Saaremaa is €128, while the average daily cost in Johor Bahru is €59. 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 Saaremaa and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personSaaremaa €36Johor Bahru €37
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomSaaremaa €72Johor Bahru €74
Compare Hotels in Saaremaa and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Saaremaa 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: Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Saaremaa €47Johor Bahru €12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Saaremaa
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Saaremaa:
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Rental Car and Gas for a Day€34
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $292
- Johor Bahru to Cameron Highland Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $235
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Transfer [Car]: $214
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $188
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Malacca Transfer [Car]: $161
- Johor Hotels to Malacca Hotels (Door to Door) Transfer: $141
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $136
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $125
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $125
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Van]: $122
- Universal Studios Singapore Tickets with Round-trip Transfers: $116
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
Is it cheaper to fly into Saaremaa or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Saaremaa 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 daySaaremaa €63Johor Bahru €15
Typical Food Prices in Saaremaa
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Saaremaa:
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Salmon€1.28
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Johor Bahru
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Johor Bahru.
- Singapore: Christmas Dinner Cruise with 7 Course XMAS Menu: $289
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Saaremaa €21Johor Bahru €7.17
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: $149
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Admission Ticket: $39
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Sentosa Island Singapore AdmissionTicket: $30
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Tickets: $49
- Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Tickets: $39
- Adventure Waterpark Ticket Desaru Coast: $19
- Dino Rescue Squad - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $19
- Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.53
- 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 - Lasertag, Eco Farm, Go Kart [Car]: $276
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one daySaaremaa €11Johor Bahru €4.67
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Saaremaa and Johor Bahru, we can see that Saaremaa is more expensive. And not only is Johor Bahru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Saaremaa is in Europe 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 Saaremaa would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Saaremaa 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 Saaremaa Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Saaremaa or Johor Bahru?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 50 times larger than the population of Saaremaa. When comparing the sizes of Saaremaa 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.