Which place is cheaper, Boquete or Kuala Lumpur?
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 Kuala Lumpur or Boquete?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the activities as well as the prices of travel for Kuala Lumpur and Boquete. 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, schedule, and interests. So, let's dig into it.
Where Should I go: Kuala Lumpur or Boquete?
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.
Boquete
Boquete is a village located in the pacific west of Panama. This town very recently became an attractive destination for tourists and expatriates. Before the early 2000's, it was a quiet town hidden away in the mountains with very little tourism. After the development of Valle Escondido, which is a largely residential area, many North Americans flocked to this town and an expat community developed. Boquete is known for it's near perfect year round temperature of about seventy degrees Fahrenheit, beautiful untouched nature, and world renowned coffee.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Panama, and The Best Adventure Tours to Panama.
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Kuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia PricesBoquete Prices
Panama Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKuala Lumpur $83Boquete $67
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $83, while the average daily cost in Boquete is $67. 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 Kuala Lumpur and Boquete in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKuala Lumpur $41Boquete $22
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKuala Lumpur $82Boquete $44
Compare Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Boquete
Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur or Boquete? 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 and Boquete Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kuala Lumpur $7.21Boquete $5.21
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$3.57
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.76
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Short Taxi Ride$3.57
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Taxi From Airport$21
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Bus from Airport$1.90
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $17
- Private Kuala Lumpur Airport Arrival Transfer: $17
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park to Kuala Lumpur Hotels Transfer: $17
- Private: Kuala Lumpur Departure Transfer: $17
- PVT Departure Transfer <> Kuala Lumpur to KLIA 1/2: $17
- PVT Arrival Transfer<>KLIA 1/2 to Kuala Lumpur: $17
- Kuala Lumpur Airport Arrival Transfer: $17
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park to Kuala Lumpur Hotels Transfer (1-way): $17
- Kuala Lumpur Hotels to Sunway Lagoon Theme Park Transfer (1-way): $17
- Kuala Lumpur City to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer: $18
- Kuala Lumpur Hotel to Airport Transfer: $18
- Kuala Lumpur Airport Arrival Transfer: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Boquete?
Prices for flights to both Boquete 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.
Food
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Food Meals for one dayKuala Lumpur $29Boquete $32
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$9.51
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Roti Bread$0.24
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Food Court Lunch$3.42
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$5.11
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
- Laksa Lanes Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $49
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Sambal Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $52
- Best Local Food Tour by Night at Kuala Lumpur : $55
- Glowing Firefly Private Tour With Dinner: $59
- Malaysia Cooking Classes With Local: $60
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: $60
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies and Blue Tears Tour with Dinner (SIC): $62
- Malaysian Hands-On Cooking Class : Masala Medley : $63
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kuala Lumpur $15Boquete $17
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$1.19
Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- A Self Guided Tropical Adventure at Kuala Lumpur Hidden Treasures: $3.59
- Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park Ticket with Unlimited Rides: $5.39
- Urban Museum at Toffee Raja Chulan Admission Ticket: $6.35
- Genting Highlands: Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park Entry Ticket: $6.39
- Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Pass: $7.41
- KL Tower Admission E-Ticket with Options: $8.65
- REXPERIENCE: Immersive Art Gallery at REXKL: $9.77
- Museum Of Illusions Standard Admission Ticket: $9.88
- Kuala Lumpur Suburbs Batu Caves Half-Day Tour (SIC/Shared Tour): $10
- Kuala Lumpur Half Day Guided City Tour (SIC/Shared Tour): $10
- Malaysia Cruise Tasik Putrajaya: $10
- Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $11
Tours and Activities in Boquete
Some specific costs of activities, tours, and entrance tickets for Boquete are as follows:
- Boquete E-bike Panoramic Tour: $65
- Ancestral Coffee Experience in Boquete: $45
- Boquete Adventure - E-Bike Tour (2 hrs.) (2 Person Min.): $55
- Boquete Panoramic Tour: $200
- Boquete Rock climbing tour: $80
- Cangilones Mini Canyons Tour: $38
- Cloud Forest Wildlife Hike Tour: $36
- Family Tour (Experiences in caldera): $85
- Guided E-Bike Panoramic Tour: $75
- Guided Hike and Coffee Farm Tour with Tasting: $99
- Hands-On Coffee Experience with Tasting: $40
- Coffee Tasting Experience-Los Molinos Hotel-Panama's Top Product: $25
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKuala Lumpur $6.58Boquete $4.44
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kuala Lumpur and Boquete, we can see that Kuala Lumpur is more expensive. And not only is Boquete much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Kuala Lumpur is in Asia and Boquete is in Central America, 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 Boquete would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Boquete 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 Boquete.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive? and Is Boquete Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kuala Lumpur or Boquete?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 240 times larger than the population of Boquete. When comparing the sizes of Kuala Lumpur and Boquete, 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.