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Johor Bahru vs Siem Reap cost of living 2026
Which is cheaper, what exactly is cheaper, and how it feels on your money ยท Updated October 2026
๐ฒ๐พ Johor Bahru
๐ฐ๐ญ Siem Reap
At a glance
- Where Siem Reap is clearly cheaper: Beer (73%โ), Massage (57%โ), Cocktail & wine (50%โ)
- Where Johor Bahru is clearly cheaper: Entry ticket (81%โ), Bottled water (30%โ), Convenience store (30%โ)
By category
Salary equivalence
Travel difficulty
Johor Bahru is easier to travel (2.4 vs 3.0). Biggest gap: rip-offs & haggling โ Johor Bahru 3 vs Siem Reap 4. Closer to 1 is easier. Difficulty ranking โบ
Item by item
| Item | Johor Bahru | Siem Reap | Cheaper |
|---|---|---|---|
| Local mealper person | RM 14$3.26 | $ 3.5$3.5 | Johor Bahru โ7% |
| Street food1 item | RM 6$1.4 | $ 1.75$1.75 | Johor Bahru โ20% |
| Restaurant dinnerper person | RM 55$12.8 | $ 10$10 | Siem Reap โ22% |
| Coffeeone cup | RM 13$3.02 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Siem Reap โ17% |
| Beerone bottle | RM 20$4.65 | $ 1.25$1.25 | Siem Reap โ73% |
| Cocktail & wineone cup | RM 30$6.98 | $ 3.5$3.5 | Siem Reap โ50% |
| Bottled water | RM 1.5$0.35 | $ 0.5$0.5 | Johor Bahru โ30% |
| Convenience store1 snack or drink | RM 3$0.7 | $ 1$1 | Johor Bahru โ30% |
| Taxi5 km in town | RM 10$2.33 | $ 2.5$2.5 | Johor Bahru โ7% |
| Tuk-tuk / moto taxishort hop | RM 7$1.63 | $ 1.5$1.5 | Siem Reap โ8% |
| Transitone ride | RM 2$0.47 | $ 0.5$0.5 | Johor Bahru โ7% |
| Scooter rentalper day | RM 50$11.6 | $ 9$9 | Siem Reap โ23% |
| Hotel night3-star | RM 180$41.9 | $ 35$35 | Siem Reap โ16% |
| Studio rent (month) | RM 1,500$349 | $ 350$350 | similar |
| Laundry | RM 5$1.16 | $ 1.5$1.5 | Johor Bahru โ22% |
| SIM card1 week data | RM 30$6.98 | $ 6$6 | Siem Reap โ14% |
| Haircutcut | RM 20$4.65 | $ 3$3 | Siem Reap โ36% |
| Massage1 hour | RM 80$18.6 | $ 8$8 | Siem Reap โ57% |
| Half-day tourper person | RM 100$23.3 | $ 25$25 | Johor Bahru โ7% |
| Entry ticketTourist town | RM 30$6.98 | $ 37$37 | Johor Bahru โ81% |
Reference prices start as estimates from published price levels; items with 3+ traveler reports use the median of real reports. Hostels and local eateries cut both by 30%+.
FAQ
Which is cheaper, Johor Bahru or Siem Reap?
Johor Bahru and Siem Reap cost about the same. Daily budget $77.8 vs $67.6; a month $1,383 vs $1,451.
Which is easier to travel, Johor Bahru or Siem Reap?
Johor Bahru is easier: Johor Bahru 2.4/5 vs Siem Reap 3.0/5 (average of rip-offs, language, transport, payments and safety).
How do monthly costs compare between Johor Bahru and Siem Reap?
With a short-term studio and living costs, Johor Bahru is about $1,383 and Siem Reap about $1,451 per month.
Where do the numbers come from?
They start as estimates informed by published price levels; any item with 3+ traveler reports switches to the median of real reports. Live reports are in the app.