Which place is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or Arusha?
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 Arusha 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 Arusha 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: Arusha or Kuala Lumpur?
Arusha
Arusha is a city in East Africa's Tanzania, located at the base of volcanic Mt. Meru. It’s a gateway to safari destinations and to Africa’s highest peak, Mt. Kilimanjaro, lying some 100 kilometers northeast. To the west lies Serengeti National Park, home to wildlife including lions, rhinoceros, giraffes and leopards. Annual migrations feature huge herds of wildebeests crossing its plains. Arusha is Tanzania’s gateway to the northern circuit of stellar national parks and the starting point of many a memorable safari. It’s also a large, sprawling city which offers a nice break from the rigors of life on the African road – it has excellent places to stay and eat and, for the most part, it’s lush and green and enjoys a temperate climate throughout the year. Arusha is a great destination, and you're sure to enjoy your time here, no matter what your interests are.
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 G Adventures Tours to Tanzania, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Tanzania, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia.
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Arusha Prices
Tanzania PricesKuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayArusha $188Kuala Lumpur $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Arusha is $188, 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 Arusha and Kuala Lumpur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personArusha $125Kuala Lumpur $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomArusha $250Kuala Lumpur $84
Compare Hotels in Arusha and Kuala Lumpur
Looking for a hotel in Arusha 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: Arusha Hotel Prices and Kuala Lumpur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Arusha $13Kuala Lumpur $7.42
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Arusha
Also for Arusha, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Moshi - Arusha Transfer: $149
- Kilimanjaro International Airport to Arusha City Center Transfer: $60
- Kilimanjaro Airport and Arusha Private Transfer: $59
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:KLIA Airport to Kuala Lumpur City Centre Van Transfer: $144
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [MPV]: $270
- i-City Shah Alam Theme Park Adventure with Return Transfer: $63
- Welcome to City Highlights & Arrival Transfer: $62
- Transfer To Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort: $30
- Sunway Lagoon: Ticket with Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $99
- Sunway Lagoon: Admission Ticket & 2-Way Transfer: $70
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park with Round-Trip Transfer: $94
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park to Kuala Lumpur Hotels Transfer (1-way): $17
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park 2-Way Transfer: $20
- Sunway Lagoon One-Day Admission Tickets Including Transfer At KL: $98
- Royal Belum Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $161
Is it cheaper to fly into Arusha or Kuala Lumpur?
Prices for flights to both Kuala Lumpur and Arusha 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 dayArusha $40Kuala Lumpur $30
Typical Food Prices in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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A Quick Lunch (for 2)$2.08
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Arusha
For Arusha, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Traditional Tanzania Cooking Class & Food Market Tour: $45
- NGO Lifted Strong - Traditional Tanzanian Cooking Class: $50
- Local Tanzanian Food Cooking Class by Kingstone Asilia (Arusha): $75
- Homestay + Cooking + Animal Care + Fruit Harvesting + Much More: $192
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
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies & Blue Tears Guided Tour w Dinner (SIC): $50
- 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
- Best Local Food Tour by Night at Kuala Lumpur: $55
- Laksa Lanes Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- Malaysia Cooking Class With Local (Hands-On!): $60
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: $60
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Arusha $44Kuala Lumpur $16
Tours and Activities in Arusha
For Arusha, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Tour Hot Spring (Majimoto): $80
- 1 Day trip to Materuni Waterfalls & Coffee Tour: $127
- 1 day trip Materuni Waterfall, Village & Coffee Walking Tour: $127
- 1-Day Trip Tarangire N.P Small group Tour Tanzania sharing Safari: $270
- A Day at Materuni Waterfalls and Coffee Tour in Mt Kilimanjaro: $160
- Arusha Bike Town Tour Experience: $55
- Arusha City Culture and Historical Walking Tour: $40
- Arusha City Tour Markets Culture and Maasai Experiences: $22
- Arusha City Tour: Where Continents Collide & Cultures Dance: $30
- Arusha Guided City Tour &Hotel Pickup (History, Culture &Market: $21
- Arusha Guided Tour: Culture, History, Markets&Hidden Gems+pickup: $19
- Arusha Mountain Village and Coffee Tour: $24
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:
- °10 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Flexible Van Tour w' Tour Guide: $108
- "Malacca After Dark: A Nighttime Adventure Through History": $63
- *12 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Port Dickson w' Tour Guide: $96
- *13 Hrs Kuala Lumpur & Melaka Van Tour from Bentong w' Tour Guide: $114
- *14 Hrs Melaka Ultimate Van Tour from Port Dickson w' Tour Guide: $84
- *14Hrs Melaka Excitements Car Tour from Port Dickson w' TourGuide: $295
- *16 Hrs Best of Melaka Van Tour from Fraser's Hill w' Tour Guide: $126
- 1 Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour (Private) {23 Attractions}: $68
- 15 in 1 Kuala Lumpur Tropical Fruit Food and Drinks Tour: $150
- 20 Attractions Kuala Lumpur City Tour Include Petronas Twin Tower Tickets: $103
- 23 Attractions: Guided Full Day Kuala Lumpur Customizable Orientation Tour: $99
- 3 Culture & Nature Experiences in 1 Tour: $87
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayArusha $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 we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Arusha and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Arusha is more expensive. And not only is Kuala Lumpur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Arusha is in Africa and Kuala Lumpur is in Asia, this is one of the main reasons why the costs are so different, as different regions of the world tend to have overall different travel costs. So, traveling to Kuala Lumpur would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Kuala Lumpur and be able to afford a more luxurious travel style by staying in nicer hotels, eating at more expensive restaurants, taking tours, and experiencing more activities. The same level of travel in Arusha would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Arusha than you might in Kuala Lumpur.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Arusha Expensive? and Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Arusha or Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 4 times larger than the population of Arusha. When comparing the sizes of Arusha 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.