Should you visit Kuala Lumpur or Tokyo?
Which city should you visit? Read on to compare the prices of travel for Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo. 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.
Tokyo
Tokyo, the capital of Japan, is by far the most populous city in the world with a staggering 37 million people. As a worldwide hub for technology and business, it hosts millions of visitors annually. But Tokyo is not just a place for business trips. With its incredible mixture of historical temples and shrines, remarkably beautiful parks, endless shopping malls, and genuinely wonderful people, Tokyo is a terrific place to visit and to explore.
Which city is cheaper, Tokyo or Kuala Lumpur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $52, while the average daily cost in Tokyo is $177. 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 Tokyo in more detail.
Accommodation
For a normal double-occupancy room in Kuala Lumpur, $62 is the average cost for a hotel room. Also in Kuala Lumpur, the typical price for a place to stay for one person is $31, such as in a hostel.
An average hotel room with basic furnishings costs about $166 in Tokyo 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.
The price of a meal in Tokyo can vary widely. However, the average price for food per day is $41 per person, and a typical meal will cost around $16 based on the spending of previous visitors. Less expensive dining options can be found by eating street food or at fast food restaurants.
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Food
Meals for one day
Kuala Lumpur $11
Tokyo $41
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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Amazing Local Food Tour in Kuala Lumpur:
$29
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Discover the Best Local Food Tour by Night in Kuala Lumpur:
$39
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Malaysian Ramadhan Buffet Dinner Cultural Show - nearby KLCC:
$40
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Small group epic food tour! Immerse yourself in the local culture too!:
$44
-
Best Local Food Tour by Night at Kuala Lumpur:
$45
-
Market Visit & Garden-to-Table Cooking Class:
$47
-
Yummy Yummy Street Food Tour - Kuala Lumpur By Night (Guided With Transport):
$53
-
Old Markets & Beyond: Kuala Lumpur Food Tour:
$55
-
Cultural Night Tour with Dinner:
$55
-
Kuala Lumpur Food Tour:
$59
-
Withlocals The 10 Tastings: Kuala Lumpur Private Street Food Tour:
$61
-
Fireflies Night Tour with Seafood Dinner:
$61
Typical Food prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Tokyo:
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Tokyo
For Tokyo, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
-
West-Side Walking & Street Food Tour:
$45
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West-Side Cycling and Food Tour with Guide:
$65
-
Wagyu & Kaiseki Cooking Class:
$73
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Tempura Cooking Class at Japan Culinary School:
$74
-
2-Hour Tokyo Bay Dinner Cruise and Oiran Show:
$78
-
Unique Private Cooking Class with a Tokyo Local Emi:
$78
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Cook & Enjoy Japanese Home-Style Cooking:
$79
-
Wagashi Japanese Sweets Cooking Experience:
$79
-
Local Food Tour on Sunamachi Ginza Street:
$90
-
Vegan and Organic Food Tour:
$92
-
Private Ramen and Gyoza Cooking Class from Central Tokyo:
$108
-
Private Japanese Cooking Class in a Local Home:
$108
Local Transportation
To get around in Kuala Lumpur, the average visitor spends $5.43 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.
Tokyo'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 $22 per person, per day on transportation in Tokyo.
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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Hired And Drive - Transfer:
$730
-
KLIA Group Perway Private Transfer with VIP Meet and Greet:
$375
-
Private Land Transfer from KL Hotels and KLIA to Taman Negara:
$361
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Private Transfer to Singapore with sightseeing in Putra Mosque and Malacca:
$353
-
Land Transfer from Kuala Lumpur to Redang Island (Merang Jetty):
$348
-
Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Transfer [Car]:
$335
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Kuala Lumpur To Singapore Transfer:
$309
-
Kuala Lumpur City Hotel to Penang Island (One Way Private Transfer):
$290
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Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [Car]:
$289
-
KUL Hotel to Singapore(One Way Transfer):
$270
-
Cameron Highlands One Way Transfer:
$259
-
Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Car Transfer:
$259
Typical Local Transportation prices in Tokyo
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Tokyo:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tokyo
Also for Tokyo, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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Yokohama Private Arrival Transfer : Tokyo Hotels to Yokohama Port or Hotels:
$230
-
Yokohama Port Shared Transfer : from Yokohama Port to Tokyo Hotels:
$133
-
Yokohama Port Shared Transfer : from Tokyo Hotels to Yokohama Port:
$133
-
Shared Transfer to/from Narita Airport:
$48
-
Shared Transfer to/from Haneda (HND) Airport:
$57
-
Private transfer to/from Yokohama Osanbashi Port:
$261
-
Private Transfer to/from Haneda Airport (HND):
$159
-
Haneda Airport Transfer w/ a Private Van:
$260
-
Haneda Airport Private Transfer:
$123
-
Tokyo to Tokyo Narita Airport (NRT) - Departure Private Car Transfer:
$141
-
Tokyo to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) - Departure Private Car Transfer:
$80
-
Tokyo hotel/address to Tokyo Haneda Airport (HND) - Departure Private Transfer:
$80
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Tokyo?
Prices for flights to both Tokyo 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 Tokyo can vary widely by price. On average, visitors spend around $79 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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"Port Weld"+ Orang Utan Island + Eagle Feeding + Charcoal Factory (Private Tour):
$234
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"Waterfall In The Rainforest" Templer Park, Batu Caves & Natural Hotspring Tour:
$46
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(Base On Per Vehicle Price) KL Private City Tour:
$123
-
11 Hours Nostalgic Urban Car Tour to Sekinchan from Kuala Lumpur:
$195
-
11 Hours Nostalgic Urban Van Tour to Sekinchan from Kuala Lumpur:
$56
-
11 Top Attractions: Guided Kuala Lumpur City Tour:
$45
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11 Top Attractions: Kuala Lumpur City Tour:
$21
-
12 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Flexible Full Day & Night Van Tour:
$65
-
12 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Ultimate Full Day & Night Car Tour:
$193
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13 Attractions Half-Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour - SIC:
$10
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13 Attractions Half-day Kuala Lumpur City Tour - Sic:
$10
-
13 Attractions: Kuala Lumpur Half-Day City Tour:
$23
Tours and Activities in Tokyo
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tokyo.
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Akihabara: Anime & Gaming Adventure Tour:
$72
-
Ancient Meets Ultra-Modern - Tokyo History Experience:
$83
-
Asakusa & Ryogoku Walking Tour with Sumo Wrestler:
$145
-
Asakusa: 2-Hour Photographic Walking Tour:
$123
-
Asakusa: Cultural & Street Food Walking Tour:
$99
-
Asakusa: History Tour and Live Performance with Lunch:
$129
-
Asakusa: Kimono Makeover with Photoshoot Tour:
$96
-
Asakusa: Private Tour for Families with Amusement Park Visit:
$254
-
Christmas In Private Experience With A City Host:
$83
-
Customize your 8-hours private tour with a local guide Tokyo:
$81
-
Day Trip from Nikko Guided Tour by Bullet Train:
$241
-
Discover Japan Tour: 15-day Small Group:
$8,972
Alcohol
Typically, people visiting Kuala Lumpur spend on average $5.66 on alcoholic beverages per person, per day.
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Tokyo, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $37.
Typical Alcohol prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
Typical Alcohol prices in Tokyo
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for alcohol and nightlife costs in Tokyo:
Sample the Local Flavors in Tokyo
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Tokyo:
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Tokyo Pub Crawl:
$22
-
Sake Brewery Tour with Sake Tasting:
$307
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kuala Lumpur and Tokyo, we can see that Tokyo 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 Tokyo would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Tokyo than you might in Kuala Lumpur.
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