How much does it cost to travel to Kuala Lumpur?
You should plan to spend around $62 (RM294) per day on your vacation in Kuala Lumpur. This is the average daily price based on the expenses of other visitors.
Past travelers have spent, on average for one day:
- $15 (RM71) on meals
- $6.45 (RM31) on local transportation
- $72 (RM341) on hotels
A one week trip to Kuala Lumpur for two people costs, on average, $870 (RM4,123). This includes accommodation, food, local transportation, and sightseeing.
All of these average travel prices have been collected from other travelers to help you plan your own travel budget.
Independent Travel
Traveling Independently to Kuala Lumpur has many benefits including affordabilty, freedom, flexibility, and the opportunity to control your own experiences.
All of the travel costs below are based on the experiences of other independent travelers.
Is Kuala Lumpur expensive to visit?
Kuala Lumpur is a reasonably affordable place to visit. Located in Malaysia, which is a reasonably affordable country, visitors will appreciate the relatively low cost of this destination. It falls in the average range in the country for its prices. If you're traveling on a budget, then this is a good destination with affordable accommodation, food, and transportation.
Within Asia, Kuala Lumpur is a moderately priced destination compared to other places. The overall cost of travel here is fair for the region and comparable to Xigatse or Hefei.
For more details, and to find out if it's within your travel budget, see Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive?
How much money do I need for a trip to Kuala Lumpur?
The average Kuala Lumpur trip cost is broken down by category here for independent travelers. All of these Kuala Lumpur travel prices are calculated from the budgets of real travelers.
Category
|
Cost
|
Accommodation 1
(Double Occupancy)
|
RM341
($72)
|
Local Transportation 1
|
RM31
($6)
|
Food 2
|
RM71
($15)
|
Entertainment 1
|
RM64
($13)
|
Tips and Handouts 1
|
RM2 -
5
($0 - 1)
|
Alcohol 2
|
RM15 -
44
($3 - 9)
|
Accommodation Budget in Kuala Lumpur
Calculated from travelers like you
The average price paid for one person for accommodation in Kuala Lumpur is $36 (RM170). For two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room, the average price paid for a hotel room in Kuala Lumpur is $72 (RM341). This cost is from the reported spending of actual travelers.
Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur? Prices vary by location, date, season, and the level of luxury. See below for options.
Transportation Budget in Kuala Lumpur
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The cost of a taxi ride in Kuala Lumpur is significantly more than public transportation. On average, past travelers have spent $6.45 (RM31) per person, per day, on local transportation in Kuala Lumpur.
-
Transportation1
Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
$6.45
RM31
How much does it cost to go to Kuala Lumpur? Naturally, it depends on the dates. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all airlines.
The price of renting a car in Kuala Lumpur will depends on dates, the type of car, the location, and your age. We recommend Kayak because they can find the best deals across all car rental companies.
Typical prices for Transportation in Kuala Lumpur are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Kuala Lumpur, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Food Budget in Kuala Lumpur
Calculated from travelers like you
-
While meal prices in Kuala Lumpur can vary, the average cost of food in Kuala Lumpur is $15 (RM71) per day. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out an average meal in Kuala Lumpur should cost around $5.99 (RM28) per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Kuala Lumpur is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
-
Food2
Meals for one day
$15
RM71
Typical prices for Food in Kuala Lumpur are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Kuala Lumpur, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Entertainment Budget in Kuala Lumpur
Calculated from travelers like you
-
Entertainment and activities in Kuala Lumpur typically cost an average of $13 (RM64) per person, per day based on the spending of previous travelers. This includes fees paid for admission tickets to museums and attractions, day tours, and other sightseeing expenses.
-
Entertainment1
Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
$13
RM64
Typical prices for Entertainment in Kuala Lumpur are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Kuala Lumpur, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Tips and Handouts Budget in Kuala Lumpur
Calculated from travelers like you
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Alcohol Budget in Kuala Lumpur
Calculated from travelers like you
-
The average person spends about $6.25 (RM30) on alcoholic beverages in Kuala Lumpur per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
-
Alcohol2
Drinks for one day
$6.25
RM30
Typical prices for Alcohol in Kuala Lumpur are listed below. These actual costs are from real travelers and can give you an idea of the prices in Kuala Lumpur, but your costs will vary based on your travel style and the place where the purchase was made.
Water Budget in Kuala Lumpur
Calculated from travelers like you
-
On average, people spend $1.03 (RM4.87) on bottled water in Kuala Lumpur per day. The public water in Kuala Lumpur is considered safe to drink.
-
Water2
Bottled water for one day
$1.03
RM4.87
Last Updated: Feb 28, 2024
Kuala Lumpur On a Budget
Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Kuala Lumpur, often referred to as KL, is the cosmopolitan capital of Malaysia. It is also the largest city in the country, having grown out of a small Chinese mining village. Today Kuala Lumpur is a microcosm of the country of Malaysia. The population is split between the Malay, Chinese, and Indian cultures which you can see reflected in the city's neighborhoods, cuisine, and entertainment. It's also an incredibly affordable city, even if you're looking for the comforts of a five star hotel or a luxury restaurant. Prices are almost always a fraction of what you would pay in Europe or the United States.
Kuala Lumpur has a tropical rainforest climate. The northeast monsoon season is from October to March and brings plenty of rain. Temperatures are relatively constant year around. Highs can climb into the low 90 degrees Fahrenheit but rarely reach the triple digits. Lows typically drop into the 70s. June and July are relatively dry, but rain can occur year around.
Sights
The sights in Kuala Lumpur reflect the city's diverse population and colonial past. Make sure you visit Chinatown, Dataran Merdeka, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building, and the Islamic Arts Museum. Also head to the iconic Petronas Twin Towers, which at one time were the world's tallest buildings. They are quite impressive and a trip to the top is enjoyable. Other notable museums around town include the National Museum and the Bank Negara Malaysia Museum and Art Gallery.
Neighborhoods
Kuala Lumpur is a large and sprawling city with many diverse and interesting neighborhoods. In general, the city can be divided into the Old City, Golden Triangle, Tuanku Abdul Rahman, Brickfields, Bangsar and Midvalley, Damansara and Hartamas, and Ampang. There are also northern and southern suburbs.
The Old City is the traditional heart of the city. This is where you'll find Merdeka Square, the Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Selangor Club. It also includes Chinatown. The Golden Triangle is essentially the city's central business district. There are many malls and high end hotels as well as the Petronas Twin Towers. Tuanku Abdul Rahman is a traditional shopping area with many festivals and budget accommodation options. Brickfields is the city's Little India.
Activities
Shopping is a national past time in Kuala Lumpur. There are endless markets and malls around town. Other activities include attending a sporting event, going to a museum, seeing a show or concert, or visiting a spa. Many of the high end five star hotels have excellent, world class, spas attached.
Food and Dining
Food in Kuala Lumpur is very cheap, but also very delicious. If you're on a particularly tight budget, you can get all kinds of great local specialties at the many street stalls around town. There is also plenty of Chinese and Indian food, both of which are good and affordable. Of course, there is also no shortage of Malaysian cuisine, so whatever your style, you should be pleasantly surprised with your food selection.
Curry houses, or kedai mamk are very common, particularly at Jalan Doraisamy near the Heritage Row. Dishes available include full curries or snacks of roti canai. The many shopping malls around Kuala Lumpur also have food courts. The prices can be more expensive but the dishes are fresh and quite good.
In general, you'll find Malay food in Jalan Masjid India and Kampung Baru in the Tuanku Abdul Rahman district. Chinatown has the best Chinese food and Lebug Ampang and Brickfields have great Indian food. For high end western food head to Bangsar.
Transportation
Kuala Lumpur is a major transportation center for the country. You're likely to find yourself passing through this city on bus, train, or plane transfers during your time in Malaysia. There are incredibly affordable flights out of Kuala Lumpur, so if you are choosing to explore Asia by air, this will likely be a stop off for you on several occasions.
Within Kuala Lumpur, public transportation is quite convenient. The city continues to upgrade its train system, and you are likely to see ongoing improvements. There are several different train systems that are not fully integrated, so you should fully understand your route and ticketing situation in advance. Buses travel throughout the city but the frequency is low. The Go KL system has two routes that run through the central business district and is free.
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We've been gathering travel costs from tens of thousands of actual travelers since 2010, and we use the data to calculate average daily travel costs for destinations around the world. We also systematically analyze the prices of hotels, hostels, and tours from travel providers such as Kayak, HostelWorld, TourRadar, Viator, and others. This combination of expenses from actual travelers, combined with pricing data from major travel companies, gives us a uniqe insight into the overall cost of travel for thousands of cities in countries around the world. You can see more here: How it Works.