Which place is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Halong Bay?
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 Halong Bay or Johor Bahru?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Halong Bay and Johor Bahru can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Halong Bay or Johor Bahru?
Halong Bay
Halong Bay is a UNESCO World Heritage Site in the north of Vietnam, near the Chinese border. Known for its thousands of beautiful limestone karsts and stalactite-filled caves, it is one of the most visited destinations in Vietnam. If you appreciate natural scenery and want an adventure at sea, you'll love cruising among more than 1,900 islands in Ha Long Bay.
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 Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Vietnam, The Best Coach Bus Tours in Vietnam, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, and The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia.
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Halong Bay Prices
Vietnam PricesJohor Bahru Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayHalong Bay $66Johor Bahru $64
The average daily cost (per person) in Halong Bay is $66, while the average daily cost in Johor Bahru is $64. 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 Halong Bay and Johor Bahru in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personHalong Bay $27Johor Bahru $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomHalong Bay $54Johor Bahru $80
Compare Hotels in Halong Bay and Johor Bahru
Looking for a hotel in Halong Bay 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.Halong Bay $13Johor Bahru $13
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Halong Bay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Halong Bay:
- Transfer Ha Long and Ninh Binh by Limousine Bus: $18
- Bus Transfer From Cat Ba Island To Ninh Binh/Ninh binh To Cat Ba: $19
- Transfer from Cat Ba Island to Ninh Binh with D-Class Limousine: $20
- Transfer From Halong to Ninh Binh: $25
- Transfer Ha Long to Ha Noi Super Limousine Morning Bus: $33
- Halong Bay Full Day Cruise from Hanoi by Transfer Expressway: $42
- From Hanoi with Expessway Transfer to Halong Bay 1 Day Trip: $42
- Halong Bay Day Tour Roundtrip Transfer by Expressway 2024 - 2025: $43
- Halong Bay 1 Day Tour Included Limousine Bus Transfer from Hanoi: $48
- Full-Day Halong Bay Islands and Cave Tour by Transfer Expressway: $48
- Best Seller Halong Full Day Tour All Included Expressway Transfer: $48
- Halong Bay Full Day With Cave, Kayaking,Swimming,Highway Transfer: $49
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Fraser's Hill Transfer [Van]: $104
- Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]: $249
- Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
- Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $180
- Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur Airport 1-way Transfer: $103
- Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
- LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $182
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
- LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $103
- Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $125
- Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $131
Is it cheaper to fly into Halong Bay or Johor Bahru?
Prices for flights to both Johor Bahru and Halong Bay 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 dayHalong Bay $26Johor Bahru $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Halong Bay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Halong Bay.
- Cat Ba Paradise Cave Experience with Dinner and Live Music: $41
- Paradise Cave Dinner with Live Music and Tasting in Cat Ba: $42
- Halong's Hidden Gem: Dragon Pearl Cave Tour with Dinner: $47
- Halong Bay Luxury Dinner Cruise - Ambassador: $51
- Best 2D1N Lan Ha Bay Cruise: BBQ dinner, Viet Hai Ancient Village: $210
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Halong Bay $16Johor Bahru $7.81
Tours and Activities in Halong Bay
Here are a few actual costs in Halong Bay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- City Sightseeing Ha Long Hop-On Hop-Off Bus Tour: $19
- JADESAILS CRUISE-The Most Luxurious Day Tour in Ha Long Bay & Lan Ha Bay: $20
- Sun World Halong Admission Ticket: $20
- Ha Long Bay Cruise Day Tour - best selling: Kayaking, Swimming, hiking & Lunch: $25
- Breathtaking Sunset Boat Tours to Lan Ha Bay from Cat Ba Island : $27
- Majestic Sunset Boat Tour: Explore Lan Ha Bay’s Stunning Scenery: $27
- From Cat Ba Island: Majestic Sunset Boat Tour Explore Lan Ha Bay : $27
- Majestic Sunset Boat Tour Explore the Stunning Lan Ha Bay, Cat Ba: $27
- From Cat Ba Island: Amazing Sunset Tour in Lan Ha Bay, Kayaking: $28
- Half-Day Lan Ha Bay Adventure: Boat Jumping, Kayaking, Sunset : $28
- Magical Sunset Tour: Kayaking & Swimming in Lan Ha Bay: $28
- From Cat Ba: Amazing Sunset Boat Tour in Lan Ha Bay: $28
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: $6.32
- Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $11
- Singapore: Wings of Time Show Entry Ticket: $17
- Malaysia: Johor Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Entry Ticket: $18
- Singapore Sentosa: Trick Eye 3D Museum Entrance Ticket: $21
- Johor: LEGOLAND Malaysia Resort Entry Ticket: $21
- Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
- Singapore Sentosa Cable Car Sky Pass E-Tickets: $21
- Magical Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $22
- Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark Admission Ticket: $22
- Legoland Malaysia Ticket: $23
- Legoland Malaysia Theme Park E-Tickets: $23
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayHalong Bay $12Johor Bahru $5.09
When comparing the travel costs between Halong Bay and Johor Bahru, we can see that Halong Bay is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Halong Bay 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.