Should you visit Bali or Kuala Lumpur?
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 Bali and Kuala Lumpur can help you decide which place is right for you.
Bali
Known as the "Island of the Gods," it's not difficult to see why the Gods would want to set up shop in Bali. With a beautifully diverse landscape of hills, mountains, coastlines, beaches, vibrant rice fields and volcanic hillsides, you'll easily go into sensory overload.
Bali is home to 4 million people who all hold true to a deeply spiritual and unique culture. With champion surfing, world class resorts and challenging hiking trails, this Indonesian island accommodates travelers from every walk of life. It's often called, "paradise on earth, " and no one disagrees.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or Bali?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Bali is $64, while the average daily cost in Kuala Lumpur is $53. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Bali and Kuala Lumpur in more detail.
Accommodation
Bali's average price for two people sharing a typical double-occupancy hotel room is $74. A typical place to stay for one person, per day is $37.
For a normal double-occupancy room in Kuala Lumpur, $64 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Kuala Lumpur, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $32, such as in a hostel.
Food
Bali food costs typically run travelers around $18 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
The average traveler spends about $11 per day in Kuala Lumpur for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
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Food
Meals for one day
Bali $18
Kuala Lumpur $11
Typical Food prices in Bali
Some typical examples of dining costs in Bali are as follows:
-
Coffee
$1.40
-
Lunch for Two
$15
-
Bali Cafe for Two
$30
-
Lunch for Two
$9.09
-
Lunch for 2
$10
-
Dinner for 2
$11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Bali
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Bali.
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Eat while chef is cooking in front of you:
$24
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Withlocals your Way: 100% Personalised Bali Private Food Tour:
$39
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Bali Cooking Class:
$39
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Romantic Dinner by Oceana Restaurant & Bar:
$74
Typical Food prices in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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:
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Amazing Local Food Tour in Kuala Lumpur:
$29
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Discover the Best Local Food Tour by Night in Kuala Lumpur:
$39
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Malaysian Ramadhan Buffet Dinner Cultural Show - nearby KLCC:
$40
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Small group epic food tour! Immerse yourself in the local culture too!:
$44
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Best Local Food Tour by Night at Kuala Lumpur:
$45
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Market Visit & Garden-to-Table Cooking Class:
$47
-
Yummy Yummy Street Food Tour - Kuala Lumpur By Night (Guided With Transport):
$53
-
Old Markets & Beyond: Kuala Lumpur Food Tour:
$55
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Cultural Night Tour with Dinner:
$55
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Kuala Lumpur Food Tour:
$59
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Withlocals The 10 Tastings: Kuala Lumpur Private Street Food Tour:
$61
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Fireflies Night Tour with Seafood Dinner:
$61
Local Transportation
The average price of local transportation around Bali is $8.14 per person, per day. As this average includes both taxis and public transport, keep in mind that the prices of private drivers and taxis are significantly more expensive than public transportation.
To get around in Kuala Lumpur, the average visitor spends $5.51 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Bali
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Bali:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Bali
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Bali:
-
Private Transfer from Bali to Sitia (JSH) Airport:
$394
-
Departure Private Transfer Nusa Dua or Seminyak to Bali Airport DPS by Minivan:
$52
-
Crete Private Transfer from Bali city to Heraklion (HER) Airport:
$108
-
Bali Departure Private Transfers from Bali Central to Bali Airport DPS:
$83
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Airport transfer and tour service:
$56
-
Airport Transfers:
$16
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Airport Transfer Service from Area Ubud / Tanah Lot / Pecatu (8 seater):
$41
-
Airport Transfer Service from Area Ubud / Tanah Lot / Pecatu (13 Seater):
$52
-
Airport Transfer Service from Area Ubud / Tanah Lot / Pecatu:
$23
Typical Local Transportation prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Private Transfer : Kuala Lumpur Attractions:
$7.84
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Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer:
$10
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Airport Transfer:
$11
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Kuala Lumpur Shared Attraction Transfers:
$11
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Kuala Lumpur Hotels to Sunway Lagoon Theme Park Transfer (1-way):
$12
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Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer- Departure:
$12
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Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer:
$12
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Budget Kuala Lumpur Airport Transfer-Departure:
$12
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Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer:
$12
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Private: Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer:
$13
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Departure Transfer : Kuala Lumpur International Airport:
$13
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Private Airport Transfer: from Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Lumpur Int. Airport (KUL):
$17
Entertainment
Bali's costs for entertainment, tickets, attractions, and tours will often cost around $9.76 per person, per day. This cost can vary widely by the type of activity, however, as this includes admission tickets, day tours, museums, and other things to do.
In Kuala Lumpur, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $12 per person, per day.
Typical Entertainment prices in Bali
Some typical examples of activities, tours, and entrance ticket prices in Bali are as follows:
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Spa for Two
$61
-
Snorkelling Trip
$14
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Cooking School
$31
Tours and Activities in Bali
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Bali are as follows:
-
2 Days Rinjani Trekking Tour:
$250
-
Amazing Nusa Penida Snorkeling Experience:
$63
-
Ancient Tour to Yeh Pulu and Goa Gajah:
$45
-
Bali - Kintamani Tour:
$65
-
Bali - Ubud Tour:
$60
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Bali 5 Days Tour & Activities - All Included:
$306
-
Bali ATV or Quad Bike Tandem Tour Package:
$101
-
Bali Alternative Temples Private Group Tour:
$74
-
Bali Countryside Bike Tour Package:
$101
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Bali Full-Day Private Customized Tour:
$50
-
Bali Hai - Island Discovery Cruise:
$60
-
Bali Instagram Tour Gate Of Heaven:
$92
Typical Entertainment prices in Kuala Lumpur
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kuala Lumpur's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Great Kuala Lumpur Tour with 21 Attractions:
$5.00
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Consultation Services for Your Tour Program:
$5.00
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City Highlights and Cultural Landmarks: An audio tour exploring KL's melting pot:
$5.99
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Skip the Line: Chocolate Factory Tour Ticket:
$7.74
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Skip the Line: KL Tower Mini Zoo Admission Ticket in Kuala Lumpur:
$8.19
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Laser Battle Experience in Kuala Lumpur:
$8.30
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Skip the Line: KL Tower Observation Deck Entry Ticket:
$9.00
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Kuala Lumpur City Tour:
$9.43
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KL Tower Admission Ticket:
$9.49
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KL Tower Admission Ticket:
$9.72
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KL Half Day City Tour SHARED:
$10
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Half Day City Tour-Xmas Special (25 Dec Only):
$10
Alcohol
The average person spends about $2.88 on alcoholic beverages in Bali per day. The more you spend on alcohol, the more fun you might be having despite your higher budget.
Typically, people visiting Kuala Lumpur spend on average $5.73 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Bali and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Bali is more expensive. And not only is Kuala Lumpur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Bali would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Bali than you might in Kuala Lumpur.
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