Which place is cheaper, Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen?
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 Shenzhen. 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 Shenzhen?
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.
Shenzhen
Located in the Guangdong Province of southeastern China, Shenzhen is a metropolis that connects Hong Kong to China's mainland. It is one of China's most populous cities, inhabited by vast array of people from other Chinese regions. It is perhaps best known for it shopping, collection of amusement parks, green parks, museums and galleries, and a few historic sites. It is on UNESCO's Creative Cities list.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
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Kuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia PricesShenzhen Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKuala Lumpur $83Shenzhen $140
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $83, while the average daily cost in Shenzhen is $140. 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 Shenzhen in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKuala Lumpur $41Shenzhen $91
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKuala Lumpur $82Shenzhen $182
Compare Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Shenzhen
Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur or Shenzhen? 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 $7.21Shenzhen $15
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:
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $77
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [MPV]: $268
- VIP Transfer by Mercedes Benz : Airport to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $87
- VIP Departure Transfer : Kuala Lumpur Airport: $202
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Kuala Lumpur APT-HTL (KUL): $28
- Transfer To Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort : $30
- Taman Negara Kuala Tahan Transfer Private Hyundai Starex: $120
- Sunway Lagoon: Ticket with Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $99
- Sunway Lagoon: Admission Ticket & 2-Way Transfer: $72
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park with Round-Trip Transfer: $94
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park to Kuala Lumpur Hotels Transfer (1-way): $17
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park to Kuala Lumpur Hotels Transfer: $17
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Shenzhen
Also for Shenzhen, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- shenzhen airport private transfer: $31
- [Airport Transfer] Shenzhen Airport 送 迎 Shenzhen City Transfer High reputation for service! : $32
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Hong Kong HTL-APT (HKG): $78
- Transfer Hong Kong Airport to Hong Kong by Luxury Van or Sedan: $112
- Stress-Free Hong Kong Airport Transfer to HK downtown: Meet&Greet: $57
- Private Transfers to/from Bao'an Airport(SZX): $20
- Shenzhen Private Transfer from Shenzhen central to Shenzhen Bao'an Airport (SZX): $86
- Shenzhen Private Transfer from Shenzhen Bao'an Airport (SZX) to central Shenzhen: $86
- Shenzhen Private Transfer and Ongoing Travel Assistance: $39
- Shenzhen Customized Local Tour with Transfer : $299
- Shenzhen Baoan Airport to Shenzhen Hotel Private Transfer: $73
- Shenzhen Bao'an Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Center: $49
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Shenzhen?
Prices for flights to both Shenzhen 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 $29Shenzhen $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
- From Batu Caves Night Tour + Indian Set Dinner: $28
- 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: $52
- 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
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Locals - Dim Sum, Wonton & more: $53
- Wet market tour & cooking class with local mum: $98
- Explore Hong Kong: Mid-Autumn Festival Food Tour: $103
- Discover Hong Kong’s Hidden Eats on a Tin Hau Food Tour: $109
- Small-Group Hong Kong Island Food Tour: $116
- Traditional Chinese Pun Choi cooking class in Hong Kong: $146
- Private Food Tour in Hong Kong: $148
- Hong Kong Street Food Tour with Local Guide: $149
- The 10 Tastings of Hong Kong With Locals: Private Street Food Tour : $176
- Hong Kong Private & Personalized Food Tour with a Local: $177
- Asian Favorites Cooking Class in Hong Kong (4-Course Meal): $184
- Hong Kong Style Noodles Cooking Class (Includes 4-Course Meal): $184
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kuala Lumpur $15Shenzhen $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$1.19
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 Shenzhen
For Shenzhen, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Custom private tour of Hong Kong Island - Half day: $228
- Ngong Ping 360 Cable Car Ticket in Hong Kong: $24
- Seat-in-Coach: Macau Day Tour with Simple Lunch from Hong Kong: $185
- Shenzhen Self-Guided Flexible Tour with Private Car and Driver : $87
- (Private class) Hong Kong gourmet baking experience class: Hong Kong-style egg tart + custard mooncake: $89
- 4-Hour Private Hong Kong Layover Tour: $280
- 4-Hour Small Group Kowloon Sightseeing Tour: $103
- Aberdeen Fishing Village Private Tour by Minivan: $232
- Aberdeen fisherman cultural tour+dim sum by local: $140
- Afternoon Hiking Tour Sharp Island Geopark: $40
- Aqua Luna: Symphony of Lights Cruise in Hong Kong: $49
- Best Seller: VIP Lantau Tai O Tour Priority Cable Car, Big Buddha: $95
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKuala Lumpur $6.58Shenzhen $19
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 Shenzhen
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Shenzhen:
- Hong Kong Pub Crawl at Lan Kwai Fong (LKF): $46
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kuala Lumpur and Shenzhen, we can see that Shenzhen is more expensive. And not only is Kuala Lumpur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. 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 Shenzhen would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kuala Lumpur or Shenzhen?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 45% larger than the population of Shenzhen. When comparing the sizes of Kuala Lumpur and Shenzhen, 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 Shenzhen?
Shenzhen 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 Shenzhen in the Summer?
Both Shenzhen 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 July, Kuala Lumpur is generally around the same temperature as Shenzhen. Daily temperatures in Kuala Lumpur average around 28°C (82°F), and Shenzhen fluctuates around 30°C (85°F).
It's quite sunny in Shenzhen. The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur usually receives less sunshine than Shenzhen during summer. Kuala Lumpur gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Shenzhen receives 231 hours of full sun in the summer.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Shenzhen. It's quite rainy in Kuala Lumpur. In July, Kuala Lumpur usually receives less rain than Shenzhen. Kuala Lumpur gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 323 mm (12.7 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Shenzhen 30°C (85°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Shenzhen in the Autumn?
Both Shenzhen 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.
Kuala Lumpur is around the same temperature as Shenzhen in the autumn. The daily temperature in Kuala Lumpur averages around 27°C (81°F) in October, and Shenzhen fluctuates around 26°C (78°F).
In the autumn, Kuala Lumpur often gets less sunshine than Shenzhen. Kuala Lumpur gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shenzhen receives 190 hours of full sun.
Shenzhen gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in October than Shenzhen. Kuala Lumpur gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 143 mm (5.6 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Shenzhen 26°C (78°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Shenzhen in the Winter?
The winter attracts plenty of travelers to both Kuala Lumpur and Shenzhen. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kuala Lumpur year-round.
In the winter, Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Shenzhen. Typically, the winter temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in January average around 27°C (81°F), and Shenzhen averages at about 16°C (60°F).
Kuala Lumpur usually receives more sunshine than Shenzhen during winter. Kuala Lumpur gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Shenzhen receives 140 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 Shenzhen. Kuala Lumpur gets 239 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 26 mm (1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Shenzhen 16°C (60°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Shenzhen in the Spring?
The spring brings many poeple to Kuala Lumpur as well as Shenzhen. Kuala Lumpur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In April, Kuala Lumpur is generally a little warmer than Shenzhen. Daily temperatures in Kuala Lumpur average around 28°C (82°F), and Shenzhen fluctuates around 23°C (73°F).
In the spring, Kuala Lumpur often gets more sunshine than Shenzhen. Kuala Lumpur gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Shenzhen receives 95 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Shenzhen. Kuala Lumpur receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in April than Shenzhen. Kuala Lumpur gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Shenzhen receives 154 mm (6.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Shenzhen 23°C (73°F)
Typical Weather for Shenzhen and Kuala Lumpur
| Kuala Lumpur | Shenzhen | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 239 mm (9.4 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 26 mm (1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 16°C (61°F) | 48 mm (1.9 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 19°C (66°F) | 67 mm (2.6 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 154 mm (6.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 325 mm (12.8 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 29°C (83°F) | 382 mm (15 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 30°C (85°F) | 323 mm (12.7 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 29°C (85°F) | 393 mm (15.5 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 28°C (83°F) | 300 mm (11.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 143 mm (5.6 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 35 mm (1.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 250 mm (9.8 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 27 mm (1.1 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.