Which place is cheaper, Vancouver or Kuala Lumpur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
Jump to 
Should you visit Kuala Lumpur or Vancouver?
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 Vancouver. 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 Vancouver?
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.
Vancouver
Vancouver is a beautiful and cosmopolitan city in Western Canada. It is also the largest city in British Columbia, and is dramatically positioned between the coast and mountains. It's a very international city, with a high level of energy and countless activites that you can enjoy while you're in town. In addition to offering all of the activities and entertainment of a modern city, it is also in jumping off distance to any number of outdoor activities.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, The Best 10-Day Tours from Vancouver, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Canada.
-
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKuala Lumpur $62Vancouver $142
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $62, while the average daily cost in Vancouver is $142. 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 Vancouver in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKuala Lumpur $36Vancouver $87
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKuala Lumpur $72Vancouver $174
Compare Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Vancouver
Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur or Vancouver? 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 Vancouver Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kuala Lumpur $6.45Vancouver $12
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride$3.16
-
Metro Ride (for Two)$0.68
-
Short Taxi Ride$3.16
-
Taxi From Airport$19
-
Bus from Airport$1.69
-
Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.53
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 Penang: $270
- *Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Car Transfer: $268
- Cameron Highlands One Way Transfer: $259
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [MPV]: $257
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Besut Transfer [Car]: $251
- Chauffeur: KLIA to Singapore Car Transfer: $238
- KUL Hotel to Johor Bharu(One Way Transfer): $237
- Marina Island Jetty/ Lumut Jetty Transfer From/To KLIA or Kuala Lumpur: $230
- Kuala Lumpur City Hotels to Singapore City Hotels 1-way Transfer: $230
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Desaru Transfer [Car]: $226
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Mersing Transfer [Car]: $225
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Car]: $220
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Vancouver
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Vancouver are as follows:
-
SkyTrain from Airport$6.40
-
Taxi from Airport to Downtown$21
-
15 min Taxi Ride$8.78
-
SkyTrain DayPass$6.58
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Vancouver
Also for Vancouver, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Yvr Airport to Whistler and Whistler to Yvr Airport transfers: $111
- White Rock to Vancouver Airport (YVR) - Departure Private Transfer: $46
- Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver and Tofino: $248
- Seaplane Transfer between Vancouver & Nanaimo: $108
- Private Transfer from YVR Airport To Whistler: $511
- City Highlights Tour with Hotel Transfers: $61
- Vancouver, BC: Scenic Seaplane Transfer to Seattle, WA: $258
- Vancouver to Victoria: Ferry with Bus Transfer: $73
- Vancouver to Victoria, Coach Bus Transfer: $74
- Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Hotel Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $83
- Vancouver to Victoria - Vancouver Cruise Terminal Pickup - Coach Bus Transfer: $87
- Vancouver hotels to Canada Place Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $93
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Vancouver?
Prices for flights to both Vancouver 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
-
Food Meals for one dayKuala Lumpur $15Vancouver $31
Typical Food Prices in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Dinner at Ding Tai Fung$8.44
-
Roti Bread$0.21
-
Food Court Lunch$3.04
-
Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$4.54
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:
- ARAS Restaurant at KL Tower Buffet Dinner: $29
- Nightlife Street Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $43
- Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Kuala Lumpur Malaysian Cultural Night Experience with Buffet Dinner : $53
- From Kuala Selangor Fireflies Tour with Dinner: $53
- Cultural Night Tour with Dinner: $55
- Malaysia Cooking Classes: $60
- Kuala Lumpur by Night and Malaysian Food Tour: $61
- Eat Like a Local: Kuala Lumpur Hawker Center and Street Food Tour by Night: $62
- Petaling Street Heritage Food Tour: $63
- Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $64
Typical Food Prices in Vancouver
Here are some examples of typical meal expenses from previous travelers to Vancouver:
-
All You Can Eat Sushi Lunch$8.87
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Vancouver
For Vancouver, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- A Wok Around Food Tour of the Granville Island Public Market: $84
- The Gastown Experience Walking Food Tour: $94
- Gastown Historic Walking Food Tour: $100
- Vancouver Walking Food Tour With Secret Food Tours: $100
- North Vancouver Shipyards Food Tour: $108
- Vancouver Authentic Chinese Food Tour: $134
- VIP Granville Island Market Vancouver - Walking Food Tour: $138
- Authentic Asian Eats Walking Food Tour: $142
- 3-Hour Bowen Island Boat Cruise with Dinner: $153
- Evening Cruise with Dinner Buffet: $153
- Vancouver Evening Dinner Cruise: $157
- Granville Island Uncorked Walking Food Tour: $161
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kuala Lumpur $13Vancouver $36
Typical Entertainment Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Below are a few sample prices from actual travelers for Kuala Lumpur's activities, tours, and tickets:
-
KL Tower Admission (for Two)$9.49
-
Canopy Walk at FRIM Forest Reserve$1.05
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: $241
- Batu Caves And Countryside Tour: $24
- Full Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour with Petronas Twin Tower Tickets: $95
- Full Day Melaka Tour with The Shore Sky Tower 43rd Floor - Unesco Heritage: $188
- Historic And Heritage Melaka Tour: $55
- History, Heritage & Culture Of Malaysia Tour: $62
- Ipoh "The Land Of Grace" + Orang Utan Island +Lunch(Guided Tour): $241
- Kuala Lumpur (Genting Highlands 7.5 hours Private Tour): $65
- Kuala Lumpur Full Day City & Shopping Tour with Lunch (PRIVATE TOUR): $77
- Malacca Instagram Tour: Most Famous Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $184
- Malaysia: Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $13
- Shah Alam Islamic Arts and Culture Tours : $31
Tours and Activities in Vancouver
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Vancouver.
- Guided Bike /E-bike Tour in Whistler From Vancouver: $219
- Sunshine Coast Escape (Around Vancouver) Small Group Tour: $145
- $99 Vancouver 2 Hours City Tour Private: $102
- 2 Days Leavenworth Christmastown Tour from Vancouver (Chn&Eng): $192
- 2-in-1 Vancouver city Tour: $234
- 3-Day Vancouver City Tour Package With Whistler & Victoria: $2,413
- 3hr Private Sightseeing Tour Vancouver (from Vancouver City): $456
- 3hr Private Sightseeing Tour-Vancouver City (fr YVR/Cruise): $583
- 4-Hour Private Tour of Vancouver's Gardens: $334
- 5 Days in Vancouver Multiactivity Adventure Tour: $2,413
- 5hr Private Sightseeing Tour-Vancouver (from Vancouver City): $710
- 5hr Private Sightseeing Tour-Vancouver City (fr YVR/Cruise): $837
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayKuala Lumpur $6.25Vancouver $16
Typical Alcohol Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of the costs for nightlife and alcohol in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
-
Bottle of Wine$9.49
Sample the Local Flavors in Vancouver
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Vancouver:
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl ROUTE B: $18
- Gastown Pub Crawl: $22
- Vancouver - Granville Pub Crawl: $26
- 3.5-Hour Craft Brewery Tour: $88
- Fraser Valley Wine Tour with a light Lunch from Vancouver: $134
- Vancouver Wine Tour (Fraser Valley): $134
- From Half-Day Fraser Valley Wine Tour: $138
- From Fraser Valley Wine Tour with Local Tastings: $139
- Taste of the Valley Wine Tour: $148
- Stawamus Chief Hike and Local Brewery Tasting: $165
- Fraser Valley & White Rock Premium Public Wine Tour: $166
- Stawamus Chief Hike & Local Brewery Tasting : $167
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kuala Lumpur and Vancouver, we can see that Vancouver 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 Vancouver 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 Vancouver would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Vancouver 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 Vancouver Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kuala Lumpur or Vancouver?
Vancouver has a larger population, and is about 26% larger than the population of Kuala Lumpur. When comparing the sizes of Kuala Lumpur and Vancouver, 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 Vancouver?
Vancouver 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 Vancouver in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kuala Lumpur and Vancouver. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kuala Lumpur year-round.
Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Vancouver in the summer. The daily temperature in Kuala Lumpur averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Vancouver fluctuates around 18°C (64°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Vancouver this time of the year. In Kuala Lumpur, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kuala Lumpur usually receives less sunshine than Vancouver during summer. Kuala Lumpur gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 296 hours of full sun in the summer.
Kuala Lumpur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Vancouver. Kuala Lumpur gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 54 mm (2.1 in) of rain each month for the summer.
-
Summer Average Temperatures JulyKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Vancouver 18°C (64°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Vancouver in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kuala Lumpur as well as Vancouver. Kuala Lumpur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Vancouver. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Vancouver averages at about 11°C (51°F).
In the autumn, Kuala Lumpur often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Kuala Lumpur gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 124 hours of full sun.
It's quite rainy in Vancouver. Kuala Lumpur receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in October than Vancouver. Kuala Lumpur gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 164 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Vancouver 11°C (51°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Vancouver in the Winter?
Both Vancouver and Kuala Lumpur are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kuala Lumpur throughout the year.
Vancouver can get quite cold in the winter. In January, Kuala Lumpur is generally much warmer than Vancouver. Daily temperatures in Kuala Lumpur average around 27°C (81°F), and Vancouver fluctuates around 4°C (40°F).
Kuala Lumpur usually receives more sunshine than Vancouver during winter. Kuala Lumpur gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Vancouver receives 55 hours of full sun in the winter.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Vancouver. It's quite rainy in Kuala Lumpur. In January, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Vancouver. Kuala Lumpur gets 239 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 167 mm (6.6 in) of rain each month for the winter.
-
Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Vancouver 4°C (40°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Vancouver in the Spring?
Both Vancouver and Kuala Lumpur during the spring 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 much warmer than Vancouver in the spring. The daily temperature in Kuala Lumpur averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Vancouver fluctuates around 9°C (49°F).
In the spring, Kuala Lumpur often gets more sunshine than Vancouver. Kuala Lumpur gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Vancouver receives 172 hours of full sun.
Vancouver 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 April than Vancouver. Kuala Lumpur gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Vancouver receives 110 mm (4.3 in) of rain this time of the year.
-
Spring Average Temperatures AprilKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Vancouver 9°C (49°F)
Typical Weather for Vancouver and Kuala Lumpur
| Kuala Lumpur | Vancouver | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 239 mm (9.4 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 167 mm (6.6 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 6°C (42°F) | 179 mm (7.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 7°C (45°F) | 142 mm (5.6 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 9°C (49°F) | 110 mm (4.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 16°C (60°F) | 66 mm (2.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 54 mm (2.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 45 mm (1.8 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 73 mm (2.9 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 164 mm (6.5 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 7°C (44°F) | 234 mm (9.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 250 mm (9.8 in) | 4°C (40°F) | 198 mm (7.8 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.