Should you visit Kuala Lumpur or Berlin?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Kuala Lumpur and Berlin. We’ll break down costs for accommodation, food, transportation and more to help you learn more about these two destinations. Then, you can figure out if either of these two places are accessible based on your travel budget. So, let's dig into it.
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.
Berlin
Berlin is the capital and largest city in Germany. As such, travelers can expect typical European prices for everything from hotels to food to sights and attractions. While it's possible to experience this city on a cheaper budget, don't expect to get much without paying a decent amount.
With a population of about 4.5 million, Berlin is a very international city that is well known for its high level of tolerance, an eclectic nightlife, an artistic vibe and many historical sights. There are museums, palaces and landmarks spread throughout the city. Despite having a significant amount of damage during the last few years of World War II, Berlin has been rebuilt with an interesting diversity of architecture styles. This is particularly true after the fall of the Berlin Wall in 1989. Architecture in the city represents many different historical periods ranging from medieval buildings through modern, glass structures.
Which city is cheaper, Berlin or Kuala Lumpur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $53, while the average daily cost in Berlin is $130. 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 Kuala Lumpur and Berlin in more detail.
Accommodation
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.
The prices for places to stay in Berlin can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $60, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $120.
Food
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.
In Berlin travelers spend around $49 a day on food. You can save money by choosing casual restaurants or food stalls, or you can spend plenty more by dining in nicer restaurants at every meal.
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Food
Meals for one day
Kuala Lumpur $11
Berlin $49
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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Bachelor's Pizza Co. at EPiC Food Hall:
$1.75
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US PIZZA in Malaysia:
$3.70
-
US PIZZA in Malaysia:
$3.70
-
US PIZZA in Malaysia:
$3.70
-
Pizza Mansion in Klang Valley:
$19
-
Amazing Local Food Tour in Kuala Lumpur:
$29
-
Cooking Class With Garden Tours in Penang:
$38
-
Discover the Best Local Food Tour by Night in Kuala Lumpur:
$39
-
Local Evening Food Tour in Kuala Lumpur:
$40
-
Malaysian Ramadhan Buffet Dinner Cultural Show - nearby KLCC:
$40
-
Bayu Balau Beach Resort 2D1N Stay at Standard Room with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner:
$41
-
Kota Kinabalu City Night Tour with Seafood Dinner:
$43
Typical Food prices in Berlin
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Berlin:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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English Comedy Ticket including Pizza in Berlin Mitte:
$16
-
English Comedy Showcase Including Pizza in Berlin Mitte:
$25
-
Bitemojo Self Guided Food Tour New To Berlin:
$40
-
Dinner Cruise – “This is the CHEF talking”:
$49
-
Berlin Kreuzberg - Food Tour:
$53
-
Berlin Mitte - Food Tour:
$53
-
Berlin Food Tour:
$55
-
Withlocals 10 Tastings: Covid-19 Regulated Private Food Tour:
$57
-
History Bites: The Berlin History and Food Tour:
$61
-
Berlin Dinner Cruise.:
$61
-
Fun Dinner and Dancing by Gaiety in Berlin:
$84
-
Vegan Food Tour Experience in Berlin:
$87
Local Transportation
To get around in Kuala Lumpur, the average visitor spends $5.50 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.
Public transportation tends to be much less expensive in Berlin than paying for a taxi or private car service, as is expected. Typically, people spend $17 on transportation in Berlin on average per day.
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 Snorkeling Tour with Transfers to Pulau Payar in Langkawi:
$743
-
Hired And Drive - Transfer:
$730
-
KLIA Group Perway Private Transfer with VIP Meet and Greet:
$375
-
Private Land Transfer from KL Hotels and KLIA to Taman Negara:
$361
-
Private Transfer to Singapore with sightseeing in Putra Mosque and Malacca:
$353
-
Land Transfer from Kuala Lumpur to Redang Island (Merang Jetty):
$348
-
Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Transfer [Car]:
$335
-
Kuala Lumpur To Singapore Transfer:
$309
-
Kuala Lumpur City Hotel to Penang Island (One Way Private Transfer):
$290
-
Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [Car]:
$289
-
KUL Hotel to Singapore(One Way Transfer):
$270
-
Cameron Highlands One Way Transfer:
$259
Typical Local Transportation prices in Berlin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Berlin:
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Short Trip Metro Ticket
$1.65
-
Bahn Ticket
$3.54
-
Short Taxi Ride
$24
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Berlin
Also for Berlin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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VIP transfer from Berlin to Warsaw - Mercedes E-Class with private driver:
$703
-
VIP transfer from Berlin to Munich - Mercedes E-Class with private driver:
$1,359
-
Transfer from Berlin to Munich: Private sightseeing daytrip with 2 stops:
$355
-
Transfer from Berlin Tegel Airport to Berlin city (any hotel or address):
$32
-
Transfer from Berlin Tegel Airport (TXL) to Berlin city Hotels - ROUND TRIP:
$63
-
Transfer from Berlin Schönefeld Airport (SXF) to Berlin city Hotels - ROUND TRIP:
$83
-
Transfer by Private Vehicle from Hotel in Berlin to Schoenefeld Airport:
$125
-
Transfer Berlin-Prague or Prague-Berlin, with optional 2 hours visit to Dresden:
$740
-
Round Trip Tegel Airport (TXL) Transfer to Berlin City Center:
$48
-
Round Trip Schönefeld Airport (SXF) Transfer to Berlin City Center:
$71
-
Private transfer from Berlin to Prague with stops at Potsdam + Sanssouci Palace:
$266
-
Private transfer from Berlin to Prague with Terezin Concentration Camp stop:
$266
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Berlin?
Prices for flights to both Berlin and Kuala Lumpur 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.
Entertainment
In Kuala Lumpur, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $12 per person, per day.
Sightseeing expenses in Berlin, including the cost of admission tickets for day tours, museums, and attractions, usually cost an average of $21 per day, per person.
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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Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Ticket in Johor:
$12
-
Binsuluk River Cruise Tour:
$40
-
Dinawan Island Experience from Kota Kinabalu:
$46
-
Heritage Staycation at Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion with Breakfast & Guided House Tour:
$100
-
Historical Klang & Orchard City of Selangor Walking Tour:
$64
-
Ice Skating Experience with Blue Ice Skating Rink in Johor:
$4.85
-
Langkawi Private Guided Mangrove River Cruise Tour:
$116
-
Little India & Mah Meri Cultural Village Tour:
$126
-
Private Island Adventure at Paradise 101 in Langkawi:
$49
-
Putrajaya Islamic Walking Tour from Kuala Lumpur:
$64
-
Sepanggar Island Diving Experience:
$67
-
The Sheep Sanctuary Admission Ticket at Cameron Highland:
$1.95
Typical Entertainment prices in Berlin
For Berlin, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
Tours and Activities in Berlin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Berlin.
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1-Hour Segway Discovery Tour Berlin:
$47
-
2 Hour Berlin Small Group Segway Tour:
$65
-
2 Hours Private Custom Berlin Tour With A Local Guide:
$70
-
2 hour 15 min Berlin Wall Self Drive Trabant Tour:
$106
-
2-Hour Island Landscapes Boattour from Berlin:
$20
-
2-Hour Segway Discovery Tour Berlin:
$66
-
2.5-Hour Berlin Center Boat Cruise on the River Spree:
$31
-
2.5-Hour Berlin City Tour of Famous Attractions by Minibus:
$51
-
2.5-Hour Berlin Wall and Memorial Sites Walking Tour:
$23
-
2h Berlin Discovery Tour in an Vintage Volkswagen Beetle:
$81
-
3 Hours Segway Discovery Tour Berlin:
$93
-
3 hours Berlin 100% Personalized City Tour:
$58
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Kuala Lumpur spend on average $5.73 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Berlin, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $15.
Typical Alcohol prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
Typical Alcohol prices in Berlin
Here are a few samples of the prices for alcohol and nightlife in Berlin from other travelers:
Sample the Local Flavors in Berlin
Also in Berlin, these are the prices for nightlife and alcohol related activities from various tour providers:
-
Berlin Pub Crawl And Night Life Tour:
$15
-
#1 Berlin Pub Crawl:
$25
-
Sean's Wine Tasting Events:
$66
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Welcome to Berlin tour! Sightseeing, souvenirs and visit of a German brewery:
$236
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kuala Lumpur and Berlin, we can see that Berlin is more expensive. And not only is Kuala Lumpur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kuala Lumpur is in Asia and Berlin is in Europe, 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 Berlin would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Berlin than you might in Kuala Lumpur.
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