Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Vang Vieng?
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 Vang Vieng or Johor Bahru?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Vang Vieng or Johor Bahru? 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: Vang Vieng or Johor Bahru?
Vang Vieng
Vang Vieng is a town in the Vientiane province of Laos that sits along the banks of the Nam Song River. With its beautifully carved karst topography cliffs towering over the winding river, the area has become very tourist-oriented for those seeking to explore the outdoor wonders. People from all over come to engage in the unique landscape-mountain biking, trekking, kayaking, caving, swimming, and rock climbing, amongst others.
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 Adventure Tours to Laos, The Best Budget Tours to Laos, The Best Luxury Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia.
-
Vang Vieng Prices
Laos PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayVang Vieng $18Johor Bahru $66
The average daily cost (per person) in Vang Vieng is $18, while the average daily cost in Johor Bahru is $66. 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 Vang Vieng and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personVang Vieng $4.09Johor Bahru $41
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomVang Vieng $8.18Johor Bahru $82
Compare Hotels in Vang Vieng and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Vang Vieng 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: Vang Vieng Hotel Prices and Johor Bahru Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Vang Vieng $3.00Johor Bahru $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vang Vieng
Also for Vang Vieng, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Vang Vieng Private Transfer: Hotel - Railway Station - Vientiane: $11
- Shared transfer from Vang Vieng to Luang Prabang city: $20
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): $291
- Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $275
- °Sit Back & Relax - JB to Malacca MPV Transfer: $241
- Private Transfer from Johor Bahru city to Malacca Cruise Port: $240
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Transfer [Car]: $214
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $188
- Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $180
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Penang Island Transfer [Van]: $157
- Johor Hotels to Malacca Hotels (Door to Door) Transfer: $141
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Kuala Besut Transfer [Van]: $136
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $136
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur City 1-way Transfer: $125
Is it cheaper to fly into Vang Vieng or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Vang Vieng 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 dayVang Vieng $10Johor Bahru $16
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
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Vang Vieng $4.59Johor Bahru $8.04
Tours and Activities in Vang Vieng
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vang Vieng.
- Nam Song River Kayak Tour: $18
- Tham Nangfar and Tham Nam Day Tour with Kayaking: $24
- Get Your Laos–China Train Ticket Fast – No Waiting, No Worries: $30
- Vang Vieng Nam Xay Top View, Blue Lagoon and Cave Tour: $36
- Blue Lagoon and Countryside Bike Tour with Lunch: $38
- Vang Vieng Jung Cave, Blue Lagoon 2 and 3 Guided Tour: $45
- One Day Guided Tour: Kayaking, Zipline & Tubing In The Cave from Vang Vieng: $50
- Vang Vieng Zipline & Kayaking Cave Adventure: $50
- Kayaking&Zipline&Cave Tubing&cave tour: $51
- Vang Vieng Day Tour: Zipline, Water Cave, Kayak & Blue Lagoon 3: $52
- Vang Vieng Discovery Tour 4 Caves and 2 Villages: $53
- Vang Vieng Tour B - Nam Xay Viewpoint Hike & Blue Lagoon 1 Tour: $55
Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Admission Ticket: $39
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Sentosa Island Singapore AdmissionTicket: $30
- Adventure Cove Waterpark Tickets: $49
- Adventure Waterpark Ticket Desaru Coast: $19
- DaVinci & The Wheel of Time - Cinematic Walkthrough VR Experience: $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
- Johor Day Tour - Ostrich Farm, Beach, Waterfall, Fireflies [Car]: $279
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayVang Vieng $1.07Johor Bahru $5.25
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Vang Vieng and Johor Bahru, we can see that Johor Bahru is more expensive. And not only is Vang Vieng much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Vang Vieng would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Vang Vieng 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 Vang Vieng.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Vang Vieng Expensive? and Is Johor Bahru Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Vang Vieng or Johor Bahru?
Johor Bahru has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Vang Vieng. When comparing the sizes of Vang Vieng 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.