A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Johor Bahru vs. Nanjing for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Johor Bahru or Nanjing?

Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?

Should I visit Johor Bahru or Nanjing? 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: Johor Bahru or Nanjing?

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.

Nanjing

Nanjing is the capital city of the Jiangsu Province on the central eastern coast of China, just north of Shanghai. This historically and culturally rich city lies at the lower end of the Yangtze river, resulting in lush and scenic landscapes. Nanjing is well-known for having many popular historical sites, some of which have been listed as UNESCO World Heritage sites.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Nanjing or Johor Bahru?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.

The average daily cost (per person) in Johor Bahru is $64, while the average daily cost in Nanjing is $118. 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 Johor Bahru and Nanjing in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Johor Bahru $40
    Nanjing $47
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Johor Bahru $80
    Nanjing $94
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Nanjing

Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Nanjing? 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.

Hotels in Johor Bahru


Hotels in Nanjing


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
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Johor Bahru $13
    Nanjing $39

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

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Nanjing

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Nanjing:

  • [Airport transfer] Nanjing Lukou International Airport ⇔ Nanjing city transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter>: $27
  • Nanjing Lukou Airport Chauffeur Service, Nanjing Airport Transfer, Pickup: $30
  • Private Arrival Transfer to Nanjing City from Railway Station : $32
  • Nanjing Railway Station Private Arrival Transfer to City Hotels: $35
  • Tangshan Hot Spring Spa Resorts Private Transfer from Nanjing City : $44
  • Private Departure Transfer from Nanjing City Center to Lukou Int'l Airport: $45
  • Private Transfer to Nanjing Railway Station from Lukou Airport : $45
  • Nanjing Lukou International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $45
  • Private Nanjing Airport Transfer from City Hotels or Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts: $45
  • Nanjing Airport (NKG) to Nanjing - Arrival Private Transfer : $45
  • Private Nanjing Airport Transfer to City Center or Tangshan Hot Spring Resorts: $46
  • Nanjing Downtown hotels to Lukou Intl Airport (NKG) - Departure Private Transfer: $47

Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Nanjing?

Prices for flights to both Nanjing and Johor Bahru 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 day
    Johor Bahru $16
    Nanjing $49

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Nanjing

Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Nanjing.

  • 3-Hour Nanjing Authentic Local Food Tour by Public Transportation: $93
  • Flexible Private Nanjing City Night Tour with Dinner Option : $112
  • Private Amazing Nanjing Airport Layover Tour with Lunch or Dinner: $181

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Johor Bahru $7.81
    Nanjing $9.41

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

Tours and Activities in Nanjing

Here are a few actual costs in Nanjing for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:

  • Qixia Mountain Ticket for Adult: $20
  • Night Cruise on Outer Qinhuai River for Adults: $20
  • Flexible Private Nanjing Independent Tour : $63
  • Nanjing Self-Guided Day Tour with Private Car and Driver Service: $72
  • Nanjing Private English Tour Guide Service: $75
  • Private Amazing Nanjing City Day Tour in Your Way: $75
  • Nanjing Professional English Tour Guide Service: $91
  • 3-Hour Local Food Tasting Tour: $93
  • Nanjing Private Day Tour With Must-Visit Attractions: $100
  • Half-Day Nanjing City Private Flexible Tour : $109
  • 4-Hour Nanjing City Private Tailor-Made Tour in Your Way : $109
  • 6-Hour Private Tour of Xiaoling Tomb,City Wall & Memorial Hall : $115

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Johor Bahru $5.09
    Nanjing $9.61


When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Johor Bahru and Nanjing, we can see that Nanjing is more expensive. And not only is Johor Bahru much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Nanjing would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Nanjing 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 Johor Bahru Expensive? and Is Nanjing Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Nanjing?

Nanjing has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Johor Bahru. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Nanjing, 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.