Which place is cheaper, Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu?
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 Machu Picchu. 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 Machu Picchu?
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.
Machu Picchu
Machu Picchu is a site of ancient Inca ruins located about 50 miles (80 km) northwest of Cuzco, Peru, in the Cordillera de Vilcabamba of the Andes Mountains. It is perched above the Urubamba River valley in a narrow saddle between two sharp peaks, Machu Picchu ("Old Peak") and Huayna Picchu ("New Peak"), at an elevation of 7,710 feet (2,350 metres). One of the few major pre-Columbian ruins found nearly intact, Machu Picchu was designated a UNESCO World Heritage site in 1983. Thus, Machu Picchu is not only an impressive remnant of the Inca civilization, it is also one of the world's most important archaeological sites. A stop at Machu Picchu is an essential part of any traveler's itinerary in Peru, as it is one of the seven wonders of the world.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, The Best Eco Tours in Peru, and The Best Sightseeing Tours in Peru.
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Kuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia PricesMachu Picchu Prices
Peru Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKuala Lumpur $88Machu Picchu $125
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $88, while the average daily cost in Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKuala Lumpur $44Machu Picchu $45
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKuala Lumpur $88Machu Picchu $90
Compare Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Machu Picchu
Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur or Machu Picchu? 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 Machu Picchu Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kuala Lumpur $7.63Machu Picchu $32
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$3.78
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.81
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Short Taxi Ride$3.78
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Taxi From Airport$23
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Bus from Airport$2.01
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$3.02
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Train to Airport$1.23
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
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [MPV]: $269
- Chauffeur: KLIA to Singapore Car Transfer: $250
- Private Transfer : Kuala Lumpur to Jetty for Redang Island: $238
- 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
- KL City Hotels to Singapore City Hotels One-way Transfer: $230
- Kuala Lumpur Hotels to Singapore Hotels One-way Transfer: $230
- Pangkor Laut Transfer from KLIA (Per Car Basis): $226
- Kuala Lumpur to Legoland Johor Bahru 2-way Transfers: $200
- Private Transfer from Kuala Lumpur to Malacca: $200
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Machu Picchu?
Prices for flights to both Machu Picchu 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 $31Machu Picchu $36
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$10
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Roti Bread$0.25
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Food Court Lunch$3.63
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$5.41
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
- 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
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Laksa Lanes Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: $60
- Spiritual Healing and Authentic Cooking with Local Host: $61
- 'Kelip Kelip' Fireflies Tour include Dinner + Free Boat-Ride: $65
- 'Kelip Kelip' Fireflies & Batu Caves Tour include Seafood Dinner & Boat Ride: $65
- Firefly Tour en-route Batu Caves Include Dinner + Boat-Ride: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kuala Lumpur $16Machu Picchu $80
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$1.26
Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Malacca After Dark: A Nighttime Adventure Through History": $63
- (Base On Per Vehicle Price) Private Kuala Lumpur KL City Tour: $185
- *13 Hrs Kuala Lumpur & Melaka Van Tour from Bentong w' Tour Guide: $114
- *14 Hrs Melaka Ultimate Van Tour from Port Dickson w' Tour Guide: $84
- *14Hrs Melaka Excitements Car Tour from Port Dickson w' TourGuide: $294
- *15 Hrs Melaka Exclusive Van Tour from Bentong w' Tour Guide: $96
- *16 Hrs Best of Melaka Van Tour from Fraser's Hill w' Tour Guide: $126
- 1 Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour (Private) {23 Attractions}: $68
- 13 Attractions Half-Day Kuala Lumpur SIC City Tour - (Self-Guided): $19
- 14 Attractions Full-Day Malacca Historical Tour: $67
- 14 Attractions Full-Day Putrajaya City Tour: $68
- 15 Hrs Melaka Exclusive Escorted Van Tour from Kuala Lumpur: $69
Typical Entertainment Prices in Machu Picchu
For Machu Picchu, here are some examples of average entertainment and activity prices from previous travelers:
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Gardens of Mandor$2.94
Tours and Activities in Machu Picchu
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Machu Picchu.
- Machu Picchu Morning Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus and Guide: $196
- Machu Picchu Small-Group Combo: Entrance Ticket, Bus & Guide: $196
- Private Tour Guide Service: $98
- Private & Flexible 3-Hour Guided Tour of Machu Picchu: $60
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKuala Lumpur $6.97Machu Picchu $7.47
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 Machu Picchu, we can see that Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu is in South 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 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 Machu Picchu would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Machu Picchu 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 Machu Picchu Expensive?.
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.