Which place is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or Bagan?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Bagan or Kuala Lumpur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city is more affordable and which is best for your travel style? If you're trying to figure out where to go next, comparing the travel costs between Bagan and Kuala Lumpur can help you decide which place is right for you.
Where Should I go: Bagan or Kuala Lumpur?
Bagan
Located in central Myanmar (formerly Burma), Bagan is an ancient city best known as the home to the largest and densest concentration of Buddhist temples, pagodas, stupas, and ruins in the world with many dating from the 11th and 12th centuries.
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 2-Week Tours from Kuala Lumpur, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayBagan $19Kuala Lumpur $69
The average daily cost (per person) in Bagan is $19, while the average daily cost in Kuala Lumpur is $69. 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 Bagan and Kuala Lumpur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personBagan $4.76Kuala Lumpur $40
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomBagan $9.52Kuala Lumpur $80
Compare Hotels in Bagan and Kuala Lumpur
Looking for a hotel in Bagan 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: Kuala Lumpur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Bagan $2.31Kuala Lumpur $7.06
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bagan
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bagan:
- From Bagan City To Mandalay Private Transfer: $150
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$3.46
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.74
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Short Taxi Ride$3.46
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Taxi From Airport$21
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Bus from Airport$1.85
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.77
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport to Genting Highlands (1 way transfer): $28
- *Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Car Transfer: $280
- *Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Transfer [Van]: $181
- 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
- Airport Private Transfer: KLIA/ KLIA 2 to or from Hotel (6 seater): $48
- Airport to Hotel Drop Off Transfer (Kuala Lumpur): $40
- Airport transfer: $27
- Aquaria KLCC E-Ticket with One Way Transfer: $42
- Arrival Private Transfer Kuala Lumpur Airport KUL to Kuala Lumpur by Minivan: $48
- Arrival Private Transfers from Airport KUL to Kuala Lumpur in Business Van: $119
- Arrival Transfer - Kuala Lumpur Airport To Genting Highlands: $41
Is it cheaper to fly into Bagan or Kuala Lumpur?
Prices for flights to both Kuala Lumpur and Bagan 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 dayBagan $3.85Kuala Lumpur $16
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bagan
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bagan.
- Romantic Sunset Dinner At Bagan Viewing Tower: $91
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$9.24
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Roti Bread$0.23
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Food Court Lunch$3.33
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$4.96
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: $31
- Nightlife Street Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $36
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $51
- Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Cultural Night Experience with Buffet Dinner : $53
- Cultural Night Tour with Dinner: $55
- From Kuala Selangor Fireflies Tour with Dinner: $59
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: $59
- Malaysia Cooking Classes With Local: $60
- 3 Hour Kuala Lumpur Private Food Tour With A Guide: $63
- Private Kuala Lumpur Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $63
- Firefly Park Kuala Selangor Seafood Dinner and Free Boat Ride: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Bagan $37Kuala Lumpur $15
Tours and Activities in Bagan
Here are a few actual costs in Bagan for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Amazing Bagan, full day tour by car and guide: $90
- BAGAN TEMPLES FULL DAY GUIDED BY ELECTRIC BIKE ( Private Tour ): $64
- Bagan Antique Day Tour in Bagan: $86
- Bagan Fullday Sightseeing by Car and Horse-cart: $184
- Bagan Horse Cart Ride Tour with Puppet Show: $160
- Bagan Instagram Photo Tour: $179
- Bagan Sightseeing Tour with Horse Cart: $86
- Bagan and Mount Popa Private Tour (2 Days): $90
- Full Day Bagan Tour: $160
- Best Bagan One Day Tour With Tour Guide: $48
- Day Cruise Bagan to Mandalay: $31
- Excellent Private Guided Tour Around Bagan With Lunch: $88
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)$10
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Canopy Walk at FRIM Forest Reserve$1.15
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: $4.35
- Breakout Escape Game Entrance Ticket: $8.46
- Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Pass: $8.64
- Zoo Negara Instant Entry E-Ticket: $8.95
- Museum Of Illusions Standard Admission Ticket: $9.43
- Big Bounce Admission Ticket: $9.67
- Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $11
- KL Tower Admission Ticket: $12
- KL Tower Admission Ticket: $13
- Cruise Tasik Putrajaya Admission Ticket: $13
- Country & Batu Cave Half Day Tour (SIC - Join In Tour): $13
- Malaysia: Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayBagan -Kuala Lumpur $6.84
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$10
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bagan and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Kuala Lumpur is more expensive. And not only is Bagan much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Bagan would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Bagan 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 Kuala Lumpur would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kuala Lumpur than you might in Bagan.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Bagan Expensive? and Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Bagan or Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 4850 times larger than the population of Bagan. When comparing the sizes of Bagan 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.