Which place is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or Ankara?
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 Ankara or Kuala Lumpur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Ankara and Kuala Lumpur. We'll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Ankara or Kuala Lumpur?
Ankara
Located at the heart of Turkey near Central Anatolia, Ankara is the capital city and second largest city in the country after Istanbul. Formerly known for its long-haired goats and textiles, the city has since developed into a metropolitan mix of modern cultures with historic landmarks.
Kuala Lumpur
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 a fairly affordable city by global standards, 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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Budget Tours to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Turkey, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia.
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Ankara Prices
Turkey PricesKuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayAnkara $95Kuala Lumpur $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Ankara is $95, while the average daily cost in Kuala Lumpur is $85. 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 Ankara and Kuala Lumpur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personAnkara $39Kuala Lumpur $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomAnkara $78Kuala Lumpur $84
Compare Hotels in Ankara and Kuala Lumpur
Looking for a hotel in Ankara or Kuala Lumpur? 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: Ankara Hotel Prices and Kuala Lumpur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Ankara $25Kuala Lumpur $7.42
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Ankara
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Ankara:
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Metro Ride$0.03
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Short Taxi Ride$0.11
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Ankara
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Ankara:
- Private Transfers Between Ankara Esenboga Airport - Ankara City Centre: $75
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Kizilcahamam Town: $185
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Gordion Ancient City: $185
- Private Transfers Ankara City or Esenboga Airport to/from Beypazari Town: $185
- Private Transfer from Ankara Esenboga Airport (ESB) to Central Ankara: $53
- Private Transfer Ankara Esenboga Airport ESB to Keçiören Ankara: $40
- Private Airport Transfer From/To Ankara Airport to Cankaya Hotels: $41
- Ankara Private Transfer from central Ankara hotels to Ankara Airport (ESB): $53
- Ankara Esenboğa Airport From/To City Center Private Transfer: $50
- Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers to Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels: $111
- Ankara Esenboga Airport to City Hotels Transfer: $46
- Ankara City Center (Cankaya,Kizilay) Hotels to Ankara Esenboga Airport transfers: $111
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
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Taxi Ride$3.67
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.78
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Short Taxi Ride$3.67
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Taxi From Airport$22
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Bus from Airport$1.96
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.94
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Train to Airport$1.20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- °Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Transfer [Van]: $112
- 2 Way Transfer to or from Kuala Lumpur International Airport: $25
- AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort Hotel TO Kuala Lumpur Hotel Door to Door Transfer: $59
- AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort Hotel To Kuala Lumpur International Airport KLIA KLIA2 Transfer: $50
- Airport Transfer From KLIA T1 /KLIA T2 to KL City Centre: $25
- Airport Transfer Private From/To KLIA, KLIA2: $22
- Airport transfer: $100
- Arrival Private Transfers from Airport KUL to Kuala Lumpur in Business Car: $102
- Arrival Private Transfers from Airport KUL to Kuala Lumpur in Business Van: $140
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to IPOH: $200
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to Lumut Jetty: $186
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to Singapore: $270
Is it cheaper to fly into Ankara or Kuala Lumpur?
Prices for flights to both Kuala Lumpur and Ankara 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 dayAnkara $38Kuala Lumpur $30
Typical Food Prices in Ankara
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Ankara:
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A Quick Lunch$0.24
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Ankara
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Ankara.
- Baklava Cooking Class: $61
- Turkish Cuisine Cooking Class at Local Home with Family: $70
- Sustainable Home Cooking Class in Ankara: $85
Typical Food Prices in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Dinner at Ding Tai Fung$9.79
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Roti Bread$0.24
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Food Court Lunch$3.52
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$5.26
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Private Night Tour Batu Caves and South Indian Dinner: $20
- From Batu Caves Night Tour + Indian Set Dinner: $28
- Nightlife Street Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $41
- Authentic Malaysian Street Food Tour With 15+ Tastings Near KLCC: $42
- Sambal Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $52
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 12+ Authentic Dishes & Local Secrets: $54
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Laksa Lanes Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: $60
- Spiritual Healing and Authentic Cooking with Local Host: $61
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies & Blue Tears Guided Tour w Dinner (SIC): $62
- 'Kelip Kelip' Fireflies Tour include Dinner + Free Boat-Ride: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Ankara $23Kuala Lumpur $16
Typical Entertainment Prices in Ankara
Here are a few typical costs in Ankara for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Underground City$0.17
Tours and Activities in Ankara
Here are a few actual costs in Ankara for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Ankara : Highlights Walking Tour With A Guide: $34
- Ankara : Private Walking Tour With A Guide ( Private Tour ): $35
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Local: $27
- Ankara Private Walking Tour with a Professional Guide: $235
- Ankara Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $39
- 6-Hour Private Tour with Guide, Car, and Lunch: $175
- Private Guided Walking Tour: $35
- Private Walking Tour with a Local: $41
- Best of Private Walking Tour with a Local: $66
- Full Day Cappadocia Private Tour: $300
- Half Day Private Tour in Ankara: $225
- Private Ankara Sightseeing Tour: $300
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kuala Lumpur's activities, tours, and tickets:
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KL Tower Admission (for Two)$11
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Canopy Walk at FRIM Forest Reserve$1.22
Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Kuala Lumpur at Your Own Pace: The Complete Self-Guided Tour: $1.15
- Genting Highlands: Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park Entry Ticket: $6.38
- Genting Highlands Premium Outlets Cable Car Ticket: $6.40
- Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Pass: $7.41
- Kuala Lumpur Half Day City Guided Tour (SIC/Shared Tour): $8.00
- Kuala Lumpur Suburbs Batu Caves Half-Day Tour (SIC/Shared Tour): $8.00
- KL Tower Admission E-Ticket with Options: $8.65
- Kuala Lumpur Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.00
- Science Centre Visit Entry Ticket: $9.56
- Museum Of Illusions Standard Admission Ticket: $9.88
- Selangor: Zoo Negara E-Ticket: $11
- Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $11
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayAnkara $10Kuala Lumpur $6.77
Typical Alcohol Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
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Bottle of Wine$11
Sample the Local Flavors in Kuala Lumpur
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kuala Lumpur:
- Hidden Bar Hopping With A Local - Bar Crawl: $35
When comparing the travel costs between Ankara and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Ankara 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 Ankara is in Europe and Kuala Lumpur is in Asia, 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 Ankara Expensive? and Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Ankara or Kuala Lumpur?
Ankara has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Kuala Lumpur. When comparing the sizes of Ankara and Kuala Lumpur, 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.
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.