Which place is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or Eilat?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Eilat or Kuala Lumpur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Eilat or Kuala Lumpur? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Eilat or Kuala Lumpur?
Eilat
Eilat serves as the gateway to Israel from Egypt. It's located at the southern tip of the country and sits on the Red Sea with views of the Gulf of Aqaba. It's location in the Negev Desert along the beautiful coast make it appealing to both domestic and international vacationers.
Eilat is a resort town with many dive shops and snorkeling opportunities. The population of about 50,000 can easily be overshadowed by vacationers. With no shortage of sun, entertainment, bars, and partying, you will find both Israeli and international tourists looking for an oasis of fun and relaxation.
Although the area's coral reefs were being damaged by overuse, the removal of contraversial fish cages in 2008 has led to a slow recovery and an improvement in the quality of diving and snorkeling in the area. There are also less crowds than you will find in Sharm el-Sheikh or Dahab, Egypt.
Eilat has a hot desert climate. The summers are hot and dry and the winters are warm and dry. Temperatures in the winter can range from 52 to 73 degrees Fahrenheit and summer temperatures are usually between 79 and 104 degrees Fahrenheit.
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 10-Day Tours in Israel, The Best One Week (7-Day) Tours in Israel, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayEilat $140Kuala Lumpur $62
The average daily cost (per person) in Eilat is $140, 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 Eilat and Kuala Lumpur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personEilat $93Kuala Lumpur $36
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomEilat $186Kuala Lumpur $72
Compare Hotels in Eilat and Kuala Lumpur
Looking for a hotel in Eilat 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: Eilat Hotel Prices and Kuala Lumpur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Eilat $13Kuala Lumpur $6.41
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Eilat
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Eilat:
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Local Bus$3.71
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Eilat
Also for Eilat, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer From Ramon airport Eilat to Eilat Hotels or Arava Border : $70
- From Jerusalem: One-Way Shuttle Transfer to Eilat: $90
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$3.14
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.67
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Short Taxi Ride$3.14
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Taxi From Airport$19
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Bus from Airport$1.68
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- i-City Shah Alam Theme Park Adventure with Return Transfer: $59
- VIP Transfer by Mercedes Benz : Airport to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $75
- VIP Arrival Transfer : Kuala Lumpur Airport: $196
- VIP Airport Transfer - Departure: $183
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Kuala Lumpur APT-HTL (KUL): $19
- Transfer To Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort : $30
- Taman Negara Kuala Tahan Transfer Private Hyundai Starex: $120
- Sunway Lagoon: Ticket with Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $87
- Sunway Lagoon: Admission Ticket & 2-Way Transfer: $72
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park with Round-Trip Transfer: $83
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park Ticket and 1 WAY Transfer (SIC – shared transfer): $55
- Sunway Lagoon One-Day Admission Tickets Including Transfer: $68
Is it cheaper to fly into Eilat or Kuala Lumpur?
Prices for flights to both Kuala Lumpur and Eilat 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 dayEilat $35Kuala Lumpur $15
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$8.39
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Roti Bread$0.21
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Food Court Lunch$3.02
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$4.51
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: $28
- 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
- Petaling Street Heritage Food Tour: $62
- Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $63
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies Tour Include Seafood Dinner (Free Boat Ride): $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Eilat $16Kuala Lumpur $13
Tours and Activities in Eilat
For Eilat, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 1 Day Tour to Petra From Eilat: $217
- 2 day tour to Petra from Eilat: $299
- Day Tour to Petra from Eilat: $219
- From Timna Park Guided Jeep Tour: $63
- Full Day Petra Tour from Eilat: $289
- Full-Day Tour of Petra from Eilat: $199
- Glass Bottom Boat Cruise in Eilat: $30
- Jeep tour adventure Eilat mountains: $55
- Park Timna: Small Group Photo Tour: $130
- Petra 1-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Traditional Lunch: $199
- Petra 2-Day Tour from Eilat + FREE Authentic Lunch: $290
- Petra and Wadi Rum 2 day tour from Eilat: $299
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)$9.43
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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:
- Adventure Sports & Thrilling White-water Rafting in Kampar River: $241
- Batu Caves And Countryside Tour: $24
- Full Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour with Petronas Twin Tower Tickets: $95
- Full Day Melaka Tour with The Shore Sky Tower 43rd Floor - Unesco Heritage: $188
- Historic And Heritage Melaka Tour: $55
- History, Heritage & Culture Of Malaysia Tour: $62
- Ipoh "The Land Of Grace" + Orang Utan Island +Lunch(Guided Tour): $241
- Kuala Lumpur (Genting Highlands 7.5 hours Private Tour): $65
- Kuala Lumpur Full Day City & Shopping Tour with Lunch (PRIVATE TOUR): $77
- Malacca Instagram Tour: Most Famous Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $184
- Malaysia: Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $13
- *13 Hrs Kuala Lumpur & Melaka Van Tour from Bentong w' Tour Guide: $108
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayEilat $27Kuala Lumpur $6.21
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$9.43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Eilat and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Eilat is more expensive. And not only is Kuala Lumpur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Eilat is in Middle East 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 Eilat would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Eilat 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 Eilat Expensive? and Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Eilat or Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 30 times larger than the population of Eilat. When comparing the sizes of Eilat 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.
When is the best time to visit Eilat or Kuala Lumpur?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate with nice weather most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season.
Should I visit Eilat or Kuala Lumpur in the Summer?
Both Kuala Lumpur and Eilat are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Eilat throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Kuala Lumpur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kuala Lumpur. In July, Eilat usually receives less rain than Kuala Lumpur. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Kuala Lumpur receives 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.
It's quite sunny in Kuala Lumpur. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Eilat. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Kuala Lumpur during summer. Eilat gets 384 hours of sunny skies, while Kuala Lumpur receives 200 hours of full sun in the summer.
The heat can be very extreme in Eilat. In the summer, Eilat is a little warmer than Kuala Lumpur. Typically, the summer temperatures in Eilat in July average around 33°C (91°F), and Kuala Lumpur averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyEilat 33°C (91°F)Kuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Kuala Lumpur in the Autumn?
Both Kuala Lumpur and Eilat during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Eilat because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kuala Lumpur year-round.
Kuala Lumpur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. Eilat usually gets less rain in October than Kuala Lumpur. Eilat gets 1 mm (0 in) of rain, while Kuala Lumpur receives 280 mm (11 in) of rain this time of the year.
It's quite sunny in Eilat. In the autumn, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Kuala Lumpur. Eilat gets 295 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kuala Lumpur receives 169 hours of full sun.
In October, Eilat is generally around the same temperature as Kuala Lumpur. Daily temperatures in Eilat average around 26°C (79°F), and Kuala Lumpur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberEilat 26°C (79°F)Kuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Kuala Lumpur in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Eilat and Kuala Lumpur. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Eilat year-round. Kuala Lumpur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kuala Lumpur receives a lot of rain in the winter. In January, Eilat usually receives less rain than Kuala Lumpur. Eilat gets 2 mm (0.1 in) of rain, while Kuala Lumpur receives 239 mm (9.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
In Eilat, it's very sunny this time of the year. Eilat usually receives more sunshine than Kuala Lumpur during winter. Eilat gets 234 hours of sunny skies, while Kuala Lumpur receives 185 hours of full sun in the winter.
Eilat is much colder than Kuala Lumpur in the winter. The daily temperature in Eilat averages around 14°C (57°F) in January, and Kuala Lumpur fluctuates around 27°C (81°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryEilat 14°C (57°F)Kuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Eilat or Kuala Lumpur in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Eilat as well as Kuala Lumpur. Eilat attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kuala Lumpur throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Kuala Lumpur. Eilat usually gets less rain in April than Kuala Lumpur. Eilat gets 0 mm (0 in) of rain, while Kuala Lumpur receives 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Eilat this time of the year. In the spring, Eilat often gets more sunshine than Kuala Lumpur. Eilat gets 282 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kuala Lumpur receives 199 hours of full sun.
In the spring, Eilat is cooler than Kuala Lumpur. Typically, the spring temperatures in Eilat in April average around 24°C (75°F), and Kuala Lumpur averages at about 28°C (82°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilEilat 24°C (75°F)Kuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)
Typical Weather for Kuala Lumpur and Eilat
| Eilat | Kuala Lumpur | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 14°C (57°F) | 2 mm (0.1 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 239 mm (9.4 in) |
| Feb | 16°C (61°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) |
| Mar | 19°C (66°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) |
| Apr | 24°C (75°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) |
| May | 27°C (81°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) |
| Jun | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Jul | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) |
| Aug | 33°C (91°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Sep | 31°C (88°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) |
| Oct | 26°C (79°F) | 1 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) |
| Nov | 20°C (68°F) | 0 mm (0 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) |
| Dec | 15°C (59°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 250 mm (9.8 in) |
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.