Which place is cheaper, Kingston 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 Kingston?
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 Kingston. 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 Kingston?
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 a fairly affordable city by global standards, 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.
Kingston
Kingston is Jamaica's capital city with a population of about 579,000. For being located on an island, Kingston is a very large city with several different zip codes. Not only is Kingston the cultural capital of the country, but also the commercial one as well.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia.
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Kuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia PricesKingston Prices
Jamaica Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKuala Lumpur $86Kingston $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $86, while the average daily cost in Kingston is $125. 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 Kingston in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKuala Lumpur $43Kingston $62
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKuala Lumpur $86Kingston $124
Compare Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Kingston
Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur or Kingston? 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 Kingston Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kuala Lumpur $7.51Kingston $29
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$3.71
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.79
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Short Taxi Ride$3.71
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Taxi From Airport$22
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Bus from Airport$1.98
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.97
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Train to Airport$1.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- °Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Transfer [Van]: $113
- 2 Way Transfer to or from Kuala Lumpur International Airport: $25
- AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort Hotel TO Kuala Lumpur Hotel Door to Door Transfer: $60
- AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort Hotel To Kuala Lumpur International Airport KLIA KLIA2 Transfer: $51
- Airport Transfer From KLIA T1 /KLIA T2 to KL City Centre: $25
- Airport Transfer Private From/To KLIA, KLIA2: $22
- Airport transfer: $100
- Aquaria KLCC Admission Ticket with One-Way or Round-Trip Transfer: $38
- Arrival Private Transfers from Airport KUL to Kuala Lumpur in Business Van: $135
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to IPOH: $200
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to Johor Bharu: $237
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to Lumut Jetty: $186
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kingston
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Kingston:
- VIP Private Airport Transfer: Norman Manley to Montego Bay Hotels: $123
- Transfer from Norman Manley Airport (KIN) to Kingston Hotels: $150
- Transfer for Kingston Airport to or from Hotels in Falmouth Area: $173
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport Across Jamaica: $49
- Private Transfers To/From Kingston & Airport (KIN) Across Jamaica: $25
- Private Transfer to and from Kingston International Airport: $73
- Private Transfer from Montego Bay Cruise Port to Kingston Hotels: $267
- Private Transfer from Kingston hotel to Falmouth Cruise Port: $200
- Private Transfer from Kingston Airport (KIN) to Falmouth Port: $200
- Private Transfer To & From New Kingston to Norman Manley Airport: $40
- Private Transfer Kingston Airport (KIN) To & From Sandals South Coast: $240
- Private Transfer From Norman Manley Airport to Kingston one way: $48
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Kingston?
Prices for flights to both Kingston 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 $30Kingston $45
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$9.90
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Roti Bread$0.25
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Food Court Lunch$3.57
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$5.32
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:
- From Batu Caves Night Tour + Indian Set Dinner: $28
- Nightlife Street Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $41
- Authentic Malaysian Street Food Tour With 15+ Tastings Near KLCC: $42
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies & Blue Tears Guided Tour w Dinner (SIC): $50
- Sambal Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $52
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 12+ Authentic Dishes & Local Secrets: $54
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: $54
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Best Local Food Tour by Night at Kuala Lumpur: $55
- Malaysia Cooking Class With Local (Hands-On!): $60
- Spiritual Healing and Authentic Cooking with Local Host: $61
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies Tour Include Seafood Dinner (Free Boat Ride): $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kuala Lumpur $16Kingston $12
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$1.24
Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Kuala Lumpur at Your Own Pace: The Complete Self-Guided Tour: $3.56
- Genting Highlands Premium Outlets Cable Car Ticket: $6.40
- Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Pass: $7.41
- Kuala Lumpur Half Day City Guided Tour (SIC/Shared Tour): $8.50
- KL Tower Admission E-Ticket with Options: $8.65
- Museum Of Illusions Standard Admission Ticket: $9.88
- Genting Highlands Premium Outlets Cable Car Ticket: $9.99
- Selangor: Zoo Negara E-Ticket: $11
- Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $11
- Kuala Lumpur's Cultural Highlights and Landmarks: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Malaysia Genting Highlands Hoverland Entry Ticket: $12
- Kuala Lumpur NU Sentral Breakout Escape Game Entry Ticket: $12
Tours and Activities in Kingston
Here are a few actual costs in Kingston for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Art Walk, Bob Marley Museum Kingston City Tour: $130
- Bamboo Rafting Adventure in Ocho Rios: $62
- Bamboo Rafting and Boston Jerk Centre Tour in Portland Jamaica: $220
- Black River Safari Tour from Kingston: $272
- Blue Mountain Bicycle Tour from Kingston: $231
- Blue Mountain Coffee Tasting & Farm Tour from Kingston: $150
- Blue Mountain Craighton Estate Coffee Tasting Tour / Devon House: $180
- Blue Mountain Waterfall and Sightseeing Ecotour: $200
- Bluehole, Dunn's River Falls and Port Royal all in one tour: $690
- Bob Marley Guided City Tour: $95
- Bob Marley House and Dunns River Falls Private Tour: $150
- Bob Marley Museum Entry Ticket: $30
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKuala Lumpur $6.85Kingston $11
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
Sample the Local Flavors in Kuala Lumpur
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kuala Lumpur:
- Hidden Bar Hopping With A Local - Bar Crawl: $36
Sample the Local Flavors in Kingston
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Kingston:
- Worthy Park Estate Rum Distillery Tour with Tasting: $144
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kuala Lumpur and Kingston, we can see that Kingston 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 Kingston is in Caribbean Islands, 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 Kingston would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kingston 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 Kuala Lumpur Expensive? and Is Kingston Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kuala Lumpur or Kingston?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 55% larger than the population of Kingston. When comparing the sizes of Kuala Lumpur and Kingston, 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 Kuala Lumpur or Kingston?
Both destinations experience a warmer climate most of the year. Instead of summer and winter seasons, they usually have a rainy season and a dry season. Although in the rainy season, it doesn't necessarily rain every day.
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Kingston in the Summer?
Both Kingston and Kuala Lumpur during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kuala Lumpur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kingston year-round.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in July than Kingston. Kuala Lumpur gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 40 mm (1.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
In Kingston, it's very sunny this time of the year. It's quite sunny in Kuala Lumpur. In the summer, Kuala Lumpur often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Kuala Lumpur gets 200 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 254 hours of full sun.
In July, Kuala Lumpur is generally around the same temperature as Kingston. Daily temperatures in Kuala Lumpur average around 28°C (82°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 29°C (83°F).
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Kingston 29°C (83°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Kingston in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kuala Lumpur and Kingston. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kuala Lumpur year-round. Kingston attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
Kingston receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kuala Lumpur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Kingston. Kuala Lumpur gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Kingston this time of the year. Kuala Lumpur usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during autumn. Kuala Lumpur gets 169 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 229 hours of full sun in the autumn.
Kuala Lumpur is around the same temperature as Kingston in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kuala Lumpur averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Kingston fluctuates around 28°C (82°F).
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Kingston 28°C (82°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Kingston in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kuala Lumpur as well as Kingston. Kuala Lumpur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kingston throughout the year.
Kuala Lumpur receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in January than Kingston. Kuala Lumpur gets 239 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 18 mm (0.7 in) of rain this time of the year.
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kingston. In the winter, Kuala Lumpur often gets less sunshine than Kingston. Kuala Lumpur gets 185 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Kingston receives 257 hours of full sun.
In the winter, Kuala Lumpur is around the same temperature as Kingston. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Kingston averages at about 26°C (79°F).
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Kingston 26°C (79°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Kingston in the Spring?
Both Kingston and Kuala Lumpur are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kuala Lumpur throughout the year. Plenty of visitors come to Kingston because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
It's quite rainy in Kuala Lumpur. In April, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Kingston. Kuala Lumpur gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Kingston receives 27 mm (1.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
It's quite sunny in Kingston. Kuala Lumpur usually receives less sunshine than Kingston during spring. Kuala Lumpur gets 199 hours of sunny skies, while Kingston receives 251 hours of full sun in the spring.
In April, Kuala Lumpur is generally around the same temperature as Kingston. Daily temperatures in Kuala Lumpur average around 28°C (82°F), and Kingston fluctuates around 26°C (80°F).
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Kingston 26°C (80°F)
Typical Weather for Kingston and Kuala Lumpur
| Kuala Lumpur | Kingston | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 239 mm (9.4 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 18 mm (0.7 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 16 mm (0.6 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 14 mm (0.6 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 26°C (80°F) | 27 mm (1.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 100 mm (3.9 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 83 mm (3.3 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 40 mm (1.6 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 107 mm (4.2 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 250 mm (9.8 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 31 mm (1.2 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.