Which place is cheaper, Yakushima or Kuala Lumpur?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
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Should you visit Kuala Lumpur or Yakushima?
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 Yakushima. 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 Yakushima?
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.
Yakushima
Yakushima, Japan is a UNESCO World Heritage island located north of Okinawa and off the south east of of Kyushu. The island is well-known to Japanese tourists but not so much to international ones, making it a bit of a hidden gem to international tourists. This also means that English isn't spoken as much as in larger cities, so make sure to brush up on your Japanese and bring a dictionary.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, The Best Romantic Tours for Couples in Japan, and The Best Luxury Tours to Japan.
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Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKuala Lumpur $62Yakushima $116
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $62, while the average daily cost in Yakushima is $116. 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 Yakushima in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKuala Lumpur $36Yakushima $59
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKuala Lumpur $72Yakushima $118
Compare Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Yakushima
Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur or Yakushima? 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 Yakushima Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Kuala Lumpur $6.41Yakushima $49
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$3.14
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.67
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Short Taxi Ride$3.14
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Taxi From Airport$19
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Bus from Airport$1.68
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.52
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport Departure Transfer KLIA1/KLIA2: $13
- Exclusive Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer: $14
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer Services: $15
- Private Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $15
- Private: Kuala Lumpur Departure Transfer: $17
- Kuala Lumpur Airport Departure Transfer: $17
- Kuala Lumpur Hotels to Sunway Lagoon Theme Park Transfer (1-way): $17
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer to City Hotels: $17
- Kuala Lumpur Hotel to Airport Transfer: $18
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer : $18
- Kuala Lumpur City to Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer: $18
- Kuala Lumpur Airport Arrival Transfer: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Yakushima?
Prices for flights to both Yakushima 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 $15Yakushima $28
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$8.39
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Roti Bread$0.21
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Food Court Lunch$3.02
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$4.51
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: $28
- 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
- Petaling Street Heritage Food Tour: $62
- Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $63
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies Tour Include Seafood Dinner (Free Boat Ride): $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kuala Lumpur $13Yakushima $20
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)$9.43
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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:
- KL Tower Admission E-Ticket with Options: $3.92
- Malaysia: KL Tower Entry Ticket: $4.60
- Alive 3D Art Gallery Admission Ticket: $7.67
- Zoo Negara Instant Entry E-Ticket: $9.81
- Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $9.81
- KL Tower Observation Deck Entry Ticket: $11
- KL Tower Admission Ticket: $12
- Kuala Lumpur's Cultural Highlights and Landmarks: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
- Berjaya Times Square Theme Park Entry Ticket: $12
- Malaysia: Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $13
- KL Tower Admission Ticket: $13
- Half-Day City Tour: $13
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKuala Lumpur $6.21Yakushima $6.38
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$9.43
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Kuala Lumpur and Yakushima, we can see that Yakushima 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 Yakushima would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Yakushima 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 Yakushima Expensive?.
When is the best time to visit Kuala Lumpur or Yakushima?
Yakushima 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 Yakushima in the Summer?
The summer brings many poeple to Kuala Lumpur as well as Yakushima. Kuala Lumpur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the summer, Kuala Lumpur is around the same temperature as Yakushima. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Yakushima averages at about 27°C (81°F).
It's quite rainy in Yakushima. Kuala Lumpur receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kuala Lumpur usually gets less rain in July than Yakushima. Kuala Lumpur gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 189 mm (7.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Yakushima 27°C (81°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Yakushima in the Autumn?
Both Yakushima and Kuala Lumpur are popular destinations to visit in the autumn with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kuala Lumpur throughout the year.
In October, Kuala Lumpur is generally a little warmer than Yakushima. Daily temperatures in Kuala Lumpur average around 27°C (81°F), and Yakushima fluctuates around 22°C (71°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Yakushima. It's quite rainy in Kuala Lumpur. In October, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Kuala Lumpur gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 161 mm (6.3 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Yakushima 22°C (71°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Yakushima in the Winter?
Both Yakushima and Kuala Lumpur during the winter 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 Yakushima in the winter. The daily temperature in Kuala Lumpur averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Yakushima fluctuates around 11°C (52°F).
Yakushima 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 January than Yakushima. Kuala Lumpur gets 239 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 106 mm (4.2 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Yakushima 11°C (52°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Yakushima in the Spring?
The spring attracts plenty of travelers to both Kuala Lumpur and Yakushima. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kuala Lumpur year-round.
In the spring, Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Yakushima. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Yakushima averages at about 18°C (64°F).
Yakushima receives a lot of rain in the spring. Kuala Lumpur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In April, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Yakushima. Kuala Lumpur gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Yakushima receives 207 mm (8.1 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Yakushima 18°C (64°F)
Typical Weather for Yakushima and Kuala Lumpur
| Kuala Lumpur | Yakushima | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 239 mm (9.4 in) | 11°C (52°F) | 106 mm (4.2 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 105 mm (4.1 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 14°C (57°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 207 mm (8.1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 288 mm (11.3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 24°C (74°F) | 352 mm (13.9 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 189 mm (7.4 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 205 mm (8.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 26°C (78°F) | 253 mm (10 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) | 22°C (71°F) | 161 mm (6.3 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 18°C (64°F) | 118 mm (4.6 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 250 mm (9.8 in) | 13°C (55°F) | 93 mm (3.7 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.