Should you visit Kuala Lumpur or Mexico City?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Kuala Lumpur and Mexico City. 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. So, let's dig into it.
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.
Mexico City
Mexico City is one of the largest and most populated cities in the world. There are an estimated 26 million people living in the greater Mexico City metropolitan area. The area is about 60 kilometers by 40 kilometers and is surrounded by tall mountains and volcanoes on three sides. Mexico City proper has about 8.8 million people and is the capital of the country. More than a third of the country's economy is based here, making it the wealthiest city in all of Latin America.
Which city is cheaper, Mexico City or Kuala Lumpur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $53, while the average daily cost in Mexico City is $138. 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 city. Below is a breakdown of travel costs for Kuala Lumpur and Mexico City in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Kuala Lumpur, $64 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Kuala Lumpur, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $32, such as in a hostel.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $44 in Mexico City For the most convenient locations and nicer amenities you can expect to pay a bit more.
Food
The average traveler spends about $11 per day in Kuala Lumpur for food, but obviously this is dependent on the type of restaurant and the amount of food ordered. To save money you can grab a lighter lunch or dinner, or you can try fast food or street food.
While meal prices in Mexico City can vary, the average travelers spends about $18 per day on food. Based on the spending habits of previous travelers, when dining out, an average meal in Mexico City should cost around $7.20 per person. Breakfast prices are usually a little cheaper than lunch or dinner. The price of food in sit-down restaurants in Mexico City is often higher than fast food prices or street food prices.
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Food
Meals for one day
Kuala Lumpur $11
Mexico City $18
Typical Food prices in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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:
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Bachelor's Pizza Co. at EPiC Food Hall:
$1.75
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US PIZZA in Malaysia:
$3.70
-
US PIZZA in Malaysia:
$3.70
-
US PIZZA in Malaysia:
$3.70
-
Pizza Mansion in Klang Valley:
$19
-
Amazing Local Food Tour in Kuala Lumpur:
$29
-
Cooking Class With Garden Tours in Penang:
$38
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Discover the Best Local Food Tour by Night in Kuala Lumpur:
$39
-
Local Evening Food Tour in Kuala Lumpur:
$40
-
Malaysian Ramadhan Buffet Dinner Cultural Show - nearby KLCC:
$40
-
Bayu Balau Beach Resort 2D1N Stay at Standard Room with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner:
$41
-
Kota Kinabalu City Night Tour with Seafood Dinner:
$43
Typical Food prices in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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Lunch for Two
$11
-
Coffee and Snacks
$3.92
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
Traveling Spoon Mexican Tacos and Tortillas Private Online Cooking Class:
$27
-
Withlocals The 10 Tastings: Mexico City Private Food Tour:
$60
-
Private Contemporary Mexican Cooking Class Inspired by Family Recipes:
$68
-
Mexico City Private Traditional Pre-Hispanic Cooking Class:
$83
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Private Mexican Cooking Lesson in a Coyoacan Apartment:
$86
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Wrestling show and a Mexican dinner:
$101
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Private Market Tour and Authentic Mexican Cooking Class with a Local in Coyoacan:
$105
-
Mexican Cooking Lesson in a Local Home:
$106
-
Authentic Mexican Cooking Lesson With a Gastronomic Historian in Mexico City:
$109
-
Taco Night Private Food Tour in Mexico City:
$112
-
Traditional Mexican Cooking Class in a Beautiful Home:
$119
-
Private Market Tour and Hands-On Home Cooking With a Local in Mexico City:
$123
Local Transportation
To get around in Kuala Lumpur, the average visitor spends $5.50 per day, per person. This includes the costs of taxi rides and private drivers as well as public transportation, which tends to be much more affordable.
Mexico City's transportation costs can vary by the type of transport chosen by visitors. Naturally, taxis and private drivers cost much more than public transportation options. On average, visitors spend $8.84 per person, per day on transportation in Mexico City.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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i-City Shah Alam Theme Park Adventure with Return Transfer:
$60
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[Exclusive Sale] Private Langkawi International Airport Transfers (LGK) for Langkawi:
$12
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[6% Flash Sales] Private City Transfers for Ipoh and Surrounding Cities:
$134
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[23% Flash Sales] Private Transfers between Desaru and Kuala Lumpur :
$194
-
VIP Departure Transfer : Kuala Lumpur Airport:
$196
-
Upside Down House Gallery and Busquarium Tickets with Transfers in Langkawi:
$11
-
Tanjung Rhu Mangrove Tour with Lunch and Transfers in Langkawi:
$24
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Sunway Lagoon Theme Park Ticket With Return Transfer:
$144
-
Sunway Lagoon One-Day Admission Tickets Including Transfer:
$91
-
Sunway Lagoon Admission Ticket with Return Transfer from Kuala Lumpur:
$68
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Sunset Mangrove Cruise Experience with Transfers and Meal in Langkawi:
$35
-
Sungai Lebam River Cruise Tour with Transfer within Desaru:
$36
Typical Local Transportation prices in Mexico City
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Mexico City:
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Metro
$1.01
-
Uber Ride
$3.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mexico City
Also for Mexico City, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Transfer in private vehicle from México City to México Airport:
$24
-
Transfer in Private Minivan from México City to México Airport:
$47
-
Transfer AICM Airport - any Hotel in CD Mexico:
$24
-
Shared Transfer Mexico city Airport - Mexico city Downtown hotels:
$16
-
Shared Arrival Transfer from Mexico City Airport:
$38
-
Sedan Car Private MX Airport Transfer:
$84
-
Round Trip Mexico City Airport (MEX) Transfer to Mexico City Center:
$45
-
Private Transfer: Mexico to Mexico Juarez Airport (MEX):
$50
-
Private Transfer: Benito Juarez Airport (MEX) to Mexico:
$50
-
Private Transfer From Mexico City Airport to Downtown:
$42
-
Private Round Transfer from Mexico City Airport:
$74
-
Private Departure transfer from Mexico City Center to Mexico City Airport (MEX):
$21
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Mexico City?
Prices for flights to both Mexico City 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.
Entertainment
In Kuala Lumpur, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $12 per person, per day.
Sightseeing, admission tickets, things to do, and other entertainment expenses in Mexico City can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $10 per person, per day on entertainment and sightseeing here.
Typical Entertainment prices in Kuala Lumpur
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kuala Lumpur's activities, tours, and tickets:
Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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Adventure Waterpark Desaru Coast Ticket in Johor:
$12
-
Binsuluk River Cruise Tour:
$40
-
Dinawan Island Experience from Kota Kinabalu:
$46
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Heritage Staycation at Cheong Fatt Tze Mansion with Breakfast & Guided House Tour:
$100
-
Historical Klang & Orchard City of Selangor Walking Tour:
$64
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Ice Skating Experience with Blue Ice Skating Rink in Johor:
$4.85
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Langkawi Private Guided Mangrove River Cruise Tour:
$116
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Little India & Mah Meri Cultural Village Tour:
$126
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Private Island Adventure at Paradise 101 in Langkawi:
$49
-
Putrajaya Islamic Walking Tour from Kuala Lumpur:
$64
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Sepanggar Island Diving Experience:
$67
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The Sheep Sanctuary Admission Ticket at Cameron Highland:
$1.95
Tours and Activities in Mexico City
For Mexico City, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
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15-Day Trip in Mexico: North 2 South Adventures:
$1,553
-
2 Days Private Guided Tour: City of the Gods, Xochimilco:
$192
-
6-Night Best of Central Mexico Tour: Teotihuacan Pyramids, Taxco, Cuernavaca and Puebla from Mexico City:
$575
-
7 Day-Monarch Butterfly Ecofriendly Tour in Mexico:
$2,369
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8-Day Best of Mexico Tour: Mexico City to Cancun:
$1,475
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Afternoon Private Tour: Teotihuacan:
$132
-
Amazing 5 day Cycling & Adventure trip in Veracruz with NOMAD Adventures:
$2,254
-
Anthropology Museum Teotihuacan Pyramids and Mexico City Private Tour:
$221
-
Artist Studio Tour in Mexico City:
$140
-
Atvforestal Special 2 to 3 hour Tour (2 Atv´s, 2 Riders):
$270
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Best of Mexico City Private Tour:
$129
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Buenos Aires by Night Private City Tour with Tango Show:
$190
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Kuala Lumpur spend on average $5.73 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typically, people visiting Mexico City spend on average $14 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Typical Alcohol prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
Sample the Local Flavors in Mexico City
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Mexico City:
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Full-Day Peña de Bernal Wine Tours:
$220
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kuala Lumpur and Mexico City, we can see that Mexico City 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 Mexico City is in North 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 Mexico City would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Mexico City than you might in Kuala Lumpur.
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