Which place is cheaper, Malmo 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 Malmo?
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 Malmo. 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 Malmo?
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.
Malmo
Located on the southern tip of Sweden, in the province of Skane, Malmo is Sweden's third largest city. It has a very international population with about a third of the residents being from countries other than Sweden. This diversity is evident within Malmo, which is rich in culture, interesting food, and an array of entertainment options. Historically, Malmo was an industrial city with a ship building company, Kockums being the area's largest employer. Today, however, the city is much more economicaly diverse with many eco friendly neighborhoods and plenty of suburban style housing.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Kuala Lumpur, The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia, Tours for Outdoor and Nature Lovers in Sweden, and The Best Coach Bus Tours in Sweden.
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Kuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia PricesMalmo Prices
Sweden Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKuala Lumpur $85Malmo $109
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $85, while the average daily cost in Malmo is $109. 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 Malmo in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKuala Lumpur $42Malmo $52
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKuala Lumpur $84Malmo $104
Compare Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Malmo
Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur or Malmo? 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 Malmo Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kuala Lumpur $7.42Malmo $8.63
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$3.67
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.78
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Short Taxi Ride$3.67
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Taxi From Airport$22
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Bus from Airport$1.96
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.94
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Train to Airport$1.20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ~Chauffeur:KLIA Airport to Kuala Lumpur City Centre Van Transfer: $144
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $77
- i-City Shah Alam Theme Park Adventure with Return Transfer: $63
- Welcome to City Highlights & Arrival Transfer: $62
- Transfer: Kuala Lumpur Airport (KLIA/KLIA2 : Arrival/Departure): $151
- Transfer To Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort: $30
- Taman Negara Kuala Tahan Transfer Private Hyundai Starex: $85
- Sunway Lagoon: Ticket with Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $99
- Sunway Lagoon: Admission Ticket & 2-Way Transfer: $70
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park with Round-Trip Transfer: $94
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park Ticket and 1 WAY Transfer (SIC – shared transfer): $71
- Sunway Lagoon One-Day Admission Tickets Including Transfer At KL: $98
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Malmo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for transportation costs in Malmo:
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Malmö Bus Card$20
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Malmo
Also for Malmo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Direct Transfer From Malmo to Copenhagen: $160
- Malmo Private Transfer from Malmo airport to Central Malmo: $97
- Malmo Private Transfer from Central Malmo to Malmo Airport: $97
- Malmo City to Malmo Airport (MMX) - Departure Private Transfer: $65
- Malmo Airport (MMX) to Malmo City - Arrival Private Transfer: $65
- Malmö City to Kastrup hotel/address - Private Car Transfer: $100
- Malmö City to Copenhagen hotel/address Private Departure Transfer: $128
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Malmo?
Prices for flights to both Malmo 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 $30Malmo $48
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$9.79
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Roti Bread$0.24
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Food Court Lunch$3.52
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$5.26
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
- Sambal Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $52
- Best Local Food Tour by Night at Kuala Lumpur: $55
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: $60
- Spiritual Healing and Authentic Cooking with Local Host: $61
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies & Blue Tears Guided Tour w Dinner (SIC): $62
- Kuala Lumpur Best Food Tour With A Guide: $64
- 'Kelip Kelip' Fireflies & Batu Caves Tour include Seafood Dinner & Boat Ride: $65
- Kuala Selangor Firefly & Batu Caves Tour include Dinner+Boat-Ride: $65
- Malaysian Hands-On Cooking Class : Masala Medley: $66
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Malmo
For Malmo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Taysta's Food Tour i Malmö: $41
- Self-guided Food Tour in Malmö: $86
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kuala Lumpur $16Malmo $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$1.22
Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- °10 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Flexible Van Tour w' Tour Guide: $109
- °12Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Genting Highlands w' Tour Guide: $109
- °14 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Fraser's Hill w' Tour Guide: $138
- "Malacca After Dark: A Nighttime Adventure Through History": $63
- (Base On Per Vehicle Price) Private Kuala Lumpur KL City Tour: $185
- *12 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Port Dickson w' Tour Guide: $96
- *13 Hrs Bentong Van tour from Kuala Lumpur w' Tour Guide: $86
- *13 Hrs KL & Melaka Van Tour from Genting Highlands w' Tour Guide: $116
- *13Hrs KL&GentingHighlands Van Tour frm Port Dickson w' TourGuide: $124
- *14 Hrs Melaka Ultimate Van Tour from Port Dickson w' Tour Guide: $85
- *14Hrs Melaka Excitements Car Tour from Port Dickson w' TourGuide: $296
- 1 Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour (Private) {23 Attractions}: $68
Tours and Activities in Malmo
For Malmo, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Half Day Self-Guided Audio Walking Tour in Cosmopolitan Malmö: $15
- Lund's Medieval and Modern History: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $9.99
- Malmö Highlights Walking Tour: $31
- Malmö Outdoor Escape Game: Self-Guided City Adventure: $23
- Malmö Photography Tour: $64
- Malmo Private Walking Tour with a Local: $44
- Malmo Walking Tour, 3 hours (small group): $69
- Malmo Walking Tour: Explore Top Sights & Hidden Gems: $75
- Self Guided Walking Tour of Malmö with Audio Guide: $5.71
- Self-Guided Podcast Tour Möllan's Radical Heart: $5.47
- Skip the Line: Disgusting Food Museum Entrance Ticket: $24
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKuala Lumpur $6.77Malmo $39
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: $35
- Kuala Lumpur Nightlife Pub Crawl with 4 Venues and Drinks: $41
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kuala Lumpur and Malmo, we can see that Malmo 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 Malmo 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 Malmo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Malmo 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 Malmo Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kuala Lumpur or Malmo?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 6 times larger than the population of Malmo. When comparing the sizes of Kuala Lumpur and Malmo, 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 Malmo?
Malmo has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kuala Lumpur experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Malmo in the Summer?
Both Malmo and Kuala Lumpur are popular destinations to visit in the summer with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kuala Lumpur throughout the year.
In the summer, Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Malmo. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Malmo averages at about 17°C (62°F).
It's quite sunny in Malmo. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur usually receives less sunshine than Malmo during summer. Kuala Lumpur gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Malmo receives 247 hours of full sun in the summer.
It's quite rainy in Kuala Lumpur. In July, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Malmo. Kuala Lumpur gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 52 mm (2 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Malmo 17°C (62°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Malmo in the Autumn?
Both Malmo and Kuala Lumpur during the autumn are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kuala Lumpur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
In October, Kuala Lumpur is generally much warmer than Malmo. Daily temperatures in Kuala Lumpur average around 27°C (81°F), and Malmo fluctuates around 10°C (50°F).
In the autumn, Kuala Lumpur often gets more sunshine than Malmo. Kuala Lumpur gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Malmo receives 104 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in October than Malmo. Kuala Lumpur gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 46 mm (1.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Malmo 10°C (50°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Malmo in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kuala Lumpur and Malmo. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kuala Lumpur year-round.
It's quite cold in Malmo in the winter. Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Malmo in the winter. The daily temperature in Kuala Lumpur averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Malmo fluctuates around 0°C (32°F).
Kuala Lumpur usually receives more sunshine than Malmo during winter. Kuala Lumpur gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Malmo receives 36 hours of full sun in the winter.
Kuala Lumpur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In January, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Malmo. Kuala Lumpur gets 239 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 37 mm (1.4 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Malmo 0°C (32°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Malmo in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kuala Lumpur as well as Malmo. Kuala Lumpur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the spring, Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Malmo. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Malmo averages at about 5°C (42°F).
In the spring, Kuala Lumpur often gets more sunshine than Malmo. Kuala Lumpur gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Malmo receives 173 hours of full sun.
Kuala Lumpur receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in April than Malmo. Kuala Lumpur gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Malmo receives 35 mm (1.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Malmo 5°C (42°F)
Typical Weather for Malmo and Kuala Lumpur
| Kuala Lumpur | Malmo | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 239 mm (9.4 in) | 0°C (32°F) | 37 mm (1.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | -0°C (32°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 2°C (35°F) | 32 mm (1.3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 5°C (42°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 38 mm (1.5 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 44 mm (1.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 52 mm (2 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 17°C (62°F) | 50 mm (2 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) | 10°C (50°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 46 mm (1.8 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 250 mm (9.8 in) | 2°C (36°F) | 41 mm (1.6 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.