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

Should you visit Johor Bahru or Sao Paulo?

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

Should I visit Johor Bahru or Sao Paulo? 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 Sao Paulo?

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.

Sao Paulo

With a population of around 11 million, and 20 million in the metropolitan area, Sao Paulo is the largest city in Brazil. It's also one of the wealthiest cities in the southern hemisphere, although you don't have to look far to see the income disparities and inequalities that exist. The city is diverse and culturally rich, with excellent food, music, and entertainment.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Malaysia, The Best 3-Day Tours from Manaus, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Brazil.


Which place is cheaper, Sao Paulo 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 Sao Paulo is $60. 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 Sao Paulo in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Johor Bahru $40
    Sao Paulo $28
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Johor Bahru $80
    Sao Paulo $56
Compare Hotels in Johor Bahru and Sao Paulo

Looking for a hotel in Johor Bahru or Sao Paulo? 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 Sao Paulo


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 and Sao Paulo Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Johor Bahru $13
    Sao Paulo $5.76

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Johor Bahru

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Johor Bahru:

  • Chauffeur: Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Transfer [Car]: $249
  • Johor Bharu to KUL Hotel (One Way Transfer): $237
  • Singapore Universal Studio & S.E.A Aquarium-COMBO One-Day Pass(Shared transfer): $208
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $182
  • Johor Bahru to Genting Highlands Hotels (Door to Door) Private Transfer: $180
  • Private Transfer from Legoland (Malaysia) to Singapore Changi Airport (SIN): $164
  • Private Transfer : Johor Bharu (JB) to Kuala Lumpur (KL): $131
  • Legoland Johor Bahru to Kuala Lumpur 1-way Transfer: $125
  • Universal Studios Singapore + Roundtrip Transfers: $119
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City One-way Transfer: $105
  • Johor Bahru City Hotels to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105
  • LEGOLAND Malaysia to Kuala Lumpur City Hotels One-way Transfer: $105

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Sao Paulo

Also for Sao Paulo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Private Transfer from Rio de Janeiro Airport (GIG) (SDU): $16
  • Sao Paulo Airport (GRU) Private Transfer to Sao Paulo City/Hotels: $27
  • Transfer CGH Airport Congonhas <> Sao Paulo city / Hotel: $38
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Congonhas Airport to São Paulo Hotels: $39
  • Private Departure Transfer: São Paulo Hotels to Congonhas Airport: $39
  • Receptive and Transfer Airports, Cities and Coast: $42
  • Private Arrival Transfer: Guarulhos International Airport to São Paulo Hotels: $47
  • Transfer GRU airport Guarulhos <> Sao Paulo / Hotel / CGH airport: $65
  • Try find your better than us! Airport transfer service in Sao Paulo APT-HTL(GRU): $67
  • Transfer (Taxi) airport to Sao Paulo: $77
  • Sao Paulo Guarulhos Airport (GRU) to Sao Paulo Private Transfer: $79
  • Private Transfer from Guarulhos to Santos: $80

Is it cheaper to fly into Johor Bahru or Sao Paulo?

Prices for flights to both Sao Paulo 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
    Sao Paulo $24

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Sao Paulo

For Sao Paulo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • Make 9 Brazilian Faves in a 4-Hour Cooking Workshop in Sao Paulo: $85
  • Authentic Brazilian Cooking Experience in SP: Feijoada & Moqueca: $189

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Johor Bahru $7.81
    Sao Paulo $3.89

Tours and Activities in Johor Bahru

Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Johor Bahru are as follows:

  • Adventure Cove Water Park Entry ticket sentosa Island singpore: $50
  • Sentosa 4D Adventureland Admission Ticket in Singapore: $29
  • #11Hrs Singapore Escorted Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $113
  • *15Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Johor Bahru w' Tour Guide: $132
  • Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Johor Admission Ticket: $35
  • Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Ticket: $40
  • Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour, Johor Bahru (Direct Entry): $25
  • Desaru Coast Adventure Waterpark Admission Ticket: $22
  • Experience Brooklyn Cruise at Puteri Harbour: $21
  • Firefly Tour Johor Bahru@Kota Tinggi Firefly Park: $6.32
  • HydroDash Singapore Ticket: $45
  • Johor Bahru : Seadoo JetSki 30mins Self Ride Tour (Double): $86

Tours and Activities in Sao Paulo

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Sao Paulo.

  • Sao Paulo Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
  • Downtown-Center History Walking Tour - in English: $31
  • São Paulo: 2 Hour Immersion Waling Tour in Paulista Avenue: $34
  • São Paulo Must-see Attractions Walking Tour with a Guide: $48
  • Boat Trip Billings Dam and Experience Bororé Island: $50
  • São Paulo: 2 Hours - Liberdade "Street Food" Tour - In English: $55
  • Sao Paulo, Pinheiros - Food & Graffiti Tour - In English: $65
  • São Paulo Highlights Walking Tour with a Guide: $66
  • City Tour Meet São Paulo Half-Day: $68
  • Sao Paulo Culture Walking Tour: $69
  • Shared tour of the tourist attractions of São Paulo: $77
  • São Paulo’s Full Day City Tour: Main City Sights in 7 Hours – (Shared Group): $79

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Johor Bahru $5.09
    Sao Paulo $3.38

Sample the Local Flavors in Sao Paulo

Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Sao Paulo:

  • Fine wine tastings in São Roque - Tour with local guides: $192


When comparing the travel costs between Johor Bahru and Sao Paulo, we can see that Johor Bahru 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. Even though Johor Bahru is in Asia and Sao Paulo is in South America, both of these destinations have relatively similar prices of travel. Generally, the levels of luxury and expenses are the same for these cities even though they are geographically far apart.

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 Sao Paulo Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Johor Bahru or Sao Paulo?

Sao Paulo has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Johor Bahru. When comparing the sizes of Johor Bahru and Sao Paulo, 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.