Which place is cheaper, Datong 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 Datong?
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 Datong. 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 Datong?
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.
Datong
If you're looking for an old world city, with a renovated feel, you might want to spend some time in Datong, China. This city was once walled-in and the newest initiative is to rebuild their great wall to maintain their old world charm. Datong is definitely done a lot to make itself a contender in the world of vacation destinations.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, The Best Cultural Tours in China, and The Best Luxury Tours to China.
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Kuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia PricesDatong Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKuala Lumpur $83Datong $71
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $83, while the average daily cost in Datong is $71. 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 Datong in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKuala Lumpur $41Datong $23
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKuala Lumpur $82Datong $46
Compare Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Datong
Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur or Datong? 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.Kuala Lumpur $7.21Datong $13
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:
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to Singapore: $270
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to Penang: $270
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [MPV]: $268
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Penang Island Transfer [Car]: $266
- Cameron Highlands Transfer Private (Per Vehicle): $260
- Cameron Highlands One Way Transfer: $259
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Desaru Transfer [Car]: $240
- Private Transfer from Shah Alam city to Malacca Cruise Port: $239
- KUL Hotel to Johor Bharu(One Way Transfer): $237
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to Johor Bharu: $237
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Car]: $234
- Kuala Lumpur City Hotels to Singapore City Hotels 1-way Transfer: $230
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Datong
Also for Datong, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Transfer from Datong Railway Stations to Hotels in City Center: $35
- Private Transfer Service from Yungang Airport to Datong Hotel: $29
- Private Round-Trip Transfer Service to Hanging Temple and Hengshan from Datong: $118
- Private One Way Transfer from Datong to Beijing : $211
- From 4-Day Private Tour to Pingyao with Transfer: $988
- Dunhuang Private Round Trip Transfer to Jiayuguan and Xuanbi Great Wall : $100
- Transfer or Tour to Yungang Grottoes&Hanging Temple: $102
- Datong Yungang Airport Chauffeur Service , to Datong Transfer: $12
- Datong Hanging Temple Private Transfer from Hotel or Station: $69
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Datong?
Prices for flights to both Datong 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 $29Datong $35
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
- 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: $53
- 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
- Firefly Park Kuala Selangor Seafood Dinner and Free Boat Ride: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kuala Lumpur $15Datong $25
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:
- Adventure Sports & Thrilling White-water Rafting in Kampar River: $182
- Cameron Highland Day Tour From Kuala Lumpur By Group: $155
- Full Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour with Petronas Twin Tower Tickets: $95
- Half Day Kuala Lumpur Culture And Communities Exploration Tour: $30
- Historic And Heritage Melaka Tour: $55
- KL Tour with Petronas Twin Towers Observation Deck & Batu Cave: $145
- KLCC Lake Symphony & The River of Life Tour from Kuala Lumpur: $33
- Kuala Lumpur (Genting Highlands 7.5 hours Private Tour): $61
- Kuala Lumpur Full Day City Tour Cruise Excursion from Port Klang: $65
- Kuala Lumpur Half Day Family Tour With Aquaria KLCC : $105
- Malacca Instagram Tour: Most Famous Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $184
- Petronas Twin Tower Tickets with City Tour: $80
Tours and Activities in Datong
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Datong.
- 1 Day Datong Yungang Grottoes & Hanging Temple Tour/from Beijing: $275
- 1-Day Pingyao tour from Datong and ends of Beijing or Xi'an by Bullet Train: $267
- 2-Day Private Datong Tour:Hanging Temple, Yugang Grottoes,Wooden Pagoda and More: $298
- 4-8 hours Private Datong Great Wall Tour: $99
- All Inclusive Private Day Tour to Hanging Temple at Hengshan from Datong : $188
- All-Inclusive Private Day Tour to Wooden Pagoda and Hanging Temple from Datong: $220
- All-Inclusive Private Tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple from Datong: $220
- Datong Classic Day Tour: $208
- Datong Day Tour to Yungang Grottoes and Hanging Temple: $203
- Datong Hanging Temple Wooden Pagoda Self-guided Tour by Car: $95
- Datong Private Day Tour to Deshengbu and Zhenchuankou Great Wall with Lunch: $190
- Datong Private Day Tour to Yanmenguan Great Wall and Yingxian Wooden Pagoda: $258
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKuala Lumpur $6.58Datong $12
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 comparing the travel costs between Kuala Lumpur and Datong, we can see that Kuala Lumpur is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
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 Datong Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kuala Lumpur or Datong?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 38% larger than the population of Datong. When comparing the sizes of Kuala Lumpur and Datong, 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.