A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Antananarivo vs. Kuala Lumpur for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Antananarivo or Kuala Lumpur?

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

Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Antananarivo and Kuala Lumpur can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.

Where Should I go: Antananarivo or Kuala Lumpur?

Antananarivo

Antananarivo is the capital of Madagascar; it is also sometimes referred to as Tana. This city is the cultural and political center of Madagascar as a whole. There are multiple universities, museums, and other social venues in the city, as well as a national rugby team. This city has a very apparent French influence.

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 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.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Wildlife Tours to Madagascar, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in Madagascar, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia.


Which place is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or Antananarivo?

These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.

The average daily cost (per person) in Antananarivo is $72, while the average daily cost in Kuala Lumpur is $62. 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 Antananarivo and Kuala Lumpur in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Antananarivo $30
    Kuala Lumpur $36
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Antananarivo $60
    Kuala Lumpur $72
Compare Hotels in Antananarivo and Kuala Lumpur

Looking for a hotel in Antananarivo 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.

Hotels in Antananarivo


Hotels in Kuala Lumpur


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: Antananarivo Hotel Prices and Kuala Lumpur Hotel Prices.

Local Transportation
  • Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.
    Antananarivo $14
    Kuala Lumpur $6.45

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Antananarivo

Some specific examples of transportation prices in Antananarivo:

  • Private Airport Transfert Ivato Antananarivo: $43

Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kuala Lumpur

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $3.16
  • Metro Ride (for Two)
    $0.68
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $3.16
  • Taxi From Airport
    $19
  • Bus from Airport
    $1.69
  • Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam
    $2.53

Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur

Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer KLIA1/KLIA2: $13
  • Exclusive Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer: $14
  • Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer Services: $15
  • Private Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $15
  • Private: Kuala Lumpur Departure Transfer: $17
  • PVT Arrival Transfer<>KLIA 1/2 to Kuala Lumpur: $17
  • Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $17
  • Kuala Lumpur Hotels to Sunway Lagoon Theme Park Transfer (1-way): $17
  • Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer to City Hotels: $17
  • Kuala Lumpur City to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer: $18
  • Kuala Lumpur Airport Transfer to Kuala Lumpur City: $18
  • Kuala Lumpur Hotel to Airport Transfer: $18

Is it cheaper to fly into Antananarivo or Kuala Lumpur?

Prices for flights to both Kuala Lumpur and Antananarivo 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
    Antananarivo $29
    Kuala Lumpur $15

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Antananarivo

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

  • Cooking And Cuisine Tasting From Tana-Malagasy Fine Foodie Madagascar Tour: $245

Typical Food Prices in Kuala Lumpur

For Kuala Lumpur, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:


  • Dinner at Ding Tai Fung
    $8.44
  • Roti Bread
    $0.21
  • Food Court Lunch
    $3.04
  • Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)
    $4.54

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:

  • ARAS Restaurant at KL Tower Buffet Dinner: $29
  • Nightlife Street Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $43
  • Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
  • Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
  • Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Cultural Night Experience with Buffet Dinner : $53
  • From Kuala Selangor Fireflies Tour with Dinner: $53
  • Cultural Night Tour with Dinner: $55
  • Malaysia Cooking Classes: $60
  • Kuala Lumpur by Night and Malaysian Food Tour: $61
  • Eat Like a Local: Kuala Lumpur Hawker Center and Street Food Tour by Night: $62
  • Petaling Street Heritage Food Tour: $63
  • Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $64

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Antananarivo $24
    Kuala Lumpur $13

Tours and Activities in Antananarivo

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

  • 3 days -Wildlife and Lemur discovery Tour to Andasibe: $861
  • Antananarivo Like a Local: Customized Guided Tour: $25
  • Private Walking Tour with a Local Guide: $30
  • Antanavario: Private custom tour with a local guide: $24
  • Day - Tour Ampefy: $145
  • From 9 days unique adventure trip to Tulear: $1,991
  • Full Day Private Tour in Antananarivo: $203
  • Half-Day Private Tour in Lemur's Park: $150
  • Lemur Day Tour at Andasibe Rainforest and Vakona Lodge Reserve: $299
  • Madagascar Adventures on Tana, West, East, North, and South: $3,000
  • Madagascar: Andasibe and Nosy Be Tour in one week: $2,240
  • Private Ambohimanga and Ironwork Shop Tour from Antananarivo: $87

Typical Entertainment Prices in Kuala Lumpur

Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kuala Lumpur's activities, tours, and tickets:


  • KL Tower Admission (for Two)
    $9.49
  • Canopy Walk at FRIM Forest Reserve
    $1.05

Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur

For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:

  • KL Tower Admission E-Ticket with Options: $3.95
  • Malaysia: KL Tower Entry Ticket: $4.60
  • Alive 3D Art Gallery Admission Ticket: $7.67
  • Zoo Negara Instant Entry E-Ticket: $8.12
  • Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $9.87
  • KL Tower Observation Deck Entry Ticket: $11
  • KL Tower Admission Ticket: $12
  • Kuala Lumpur's Cultural Highlights and Landmarks: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
  • Berjaya Times Square Theme Park Entry Ticket: $13
  • Malaysia: Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $13
  • KL Tower Admission Ticket: $13
  • Half-Day City Tour: $13

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Antananarivo $9.65
    Kuala Lumpur $6.25

Typical Alcohol Prices in Kuala Lumpur

Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:


  • Bottle of Wine
    $9.49


When comparing the travel costs between Antananarivo and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Antananarivo 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 Antananarivo is in Africa 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 Antananarivo Expensive? and Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Antananarivo or Kuala Lumpur?

Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 4% larger than the population of Antananarivo. When comparing the sizes of Antananarivo 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.