Should you visit Luang Prabang or Kuala Lumpur?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Luang Prabang or Kuala Lumpur, this travel cost comparison can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Luang Prabang
Southeast Asia is a region full of mystical wonders and cultural charm, but nowhere is as charming as the city of Luang Prabang. As the former capital of Laos, Luang Prabang was reopened to tourism in 1989. With that move the city experienced an upswing in revenue and was able to restore and rebuild the beautiful colonial mansions to serve as guesthouses and hotels for the new swarm of tourists.
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.
Which city is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or Luang Prabang?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations.
The average daily cost (per person) in Luang Prabang is $24, while the average daily cost in Kuala Lumpur is $52. 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 Luang Prabang and Kuala Lumpur in more detail.
Accommodation
The prices for places to stay in Luang Prabang can vary by date, location, and type. Generally, the average cost for accommodation per person is $9.73, while a typical double-occupancy hotel room for two people will cost around $19.
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.
Food
Luang Prabang food costs typically run travelers around $9.25 per day. Eating every meal in a nicer restaurant will drive the cost up, and grabbing fast food or casual meals will help you save money.
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.
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Food
Meals for one day
Luang Prabang $9.25
Kuala Lumpur $11
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Luang Prabang
For Luang Prabang, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
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Cooking Class:
$35
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Authentic Lao Cooking Experience in Luang Prabang:
$38
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Luang Prang Cooking Class:
$40
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Day-time Bamboo weaving & Cooking Classes join-in:
$40
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Evening Bamboo weaving & Cooking classes join-in:
$42
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Mekong River Dinner Cruise:
$43
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Skip the Line: Traditional Lao Night - Dinner, Music & Dance Show Ticket:
$45
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Half Day bamboo weaving & Cooking classes with the visit to morning market:
$49
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Home-cooked dinner & Baci ceremony with Villagers in Ban Nasang:
$51
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Lao Cooking Class in Luang Prabang:
$57
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Traditional Market Tour and Private Laotian Cooking Class with a Local:
$57
-
Luang Prabang Bamboo Weaving and Cooking Class:
$65
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
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Cooking Class With Garden Tours in Penang:
$38
-
Discover the Best Local Food Tour by Night in Kuala Lumpur:
$39
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Local Evening Food Tour in Kuala Lumpur:
$40
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Malaysian Ramadhan Buffet Dinner Cultural Show - nearby KLCC:
$40
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Bayu Balau Beach Resort 2D1N Stay at Standard Room with Breakfast, Lunch, Dinner:
$41
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Kota Kinabalu City Night Tour with Seafood Dinner:
$43
Local Transportation
To get around in Luang Prabang, the average visitor spends $3.58 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.
To get around in Kuala Lumpur, the average visitor spends $5.44 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.
Typical Local Transportation prices in Luang Prabang
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Luang Prabang are as follows:
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Luang Prabang
Also for Luang Prabang, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
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private transfer luang prabang to vang vieng:
$150
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Shared transfer from Luang Prabang to Phonesavanh, Xieng Khouang:
$29
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Shared Wattay International Airport Transfers (VTE) for Vientiane:
$7.00
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Shared Transfers between Vientiane and Luang Prabang:
$23
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Shared Transfer from Luang Prabang to Vang Vieng:
$21
-
Shared Departure Transfer from Hotel to Luang Prabang Airport:
$6.67
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Shared City Transfers between Vientiane and Vang Vieng:
$12
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Shared City Transfers between Vang Vieng and Luang Prabang:
$14
-
Shared City Transfers between Luang Prabang and Vientiane:
$27
-
Shared City Transfers between Luang Prabang and Vang Vieng:
$14
-
Private transfer to Tad Sae Waterfalls:
$20
-
Private Wattay International Airport Transfers (VTE) for Vientiane:
$23
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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Private Snorkeling Tour with Transfers to Pulau Payar in Langkawi:
$743
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Hired And Drive - Transfer:
$730
-
KLIA Group Perway Private Transfer with VIP Meet and Greet:
$375
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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
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Land Transfer from Kuala Lumpur to Redang Island (Merang Jetty):
$348
-
Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Transfer [Car]:
$335
-
Kuala Lumpur To Singapore Transfer:
$309
-
Kuala Lumpur City Hotel to Penang Island (One Way Private Transfer):
$290
-
Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [Car]:
$289
-
KUL Hotel to Singapore(One Way Transfer):
$270
-
Cameron Highlands One Way Transfer:
$259
Is it cheaper to fly into Luang Prabang or Kuala Lumpur?
Prices for flights to both Kuala Lumpur and Luang Prabang 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 Luang Prabang, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $4.62 per person, per day.
In Kuala Lumpur, the costs for things to do, activities, admission tickets, and other sightseeing expenses are on average $12 per person, per day.
Tours and Activities in Luang Prabang
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Luang Prabang.
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1 DAY Mekong Cruise to Pak Ou Caves. Kuang Si Waterfalls . Local Villages:
$127
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1 day Mountain biking and kayaking adventure:
$101
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1 day Mountain biking to Kuang Si Waterfall with Mekong river cruise:
$117
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2 Days Cruise From Luang Prabang To Huayxai:
$192
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3-Day Laos Classic Tour:
$601
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3days tour around Luang Prabang:
$490
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4-Day Discover Luang Prabang City Tour:
$563
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5 April Shooting Range Experience in Vientiane:
$22
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A Venerable Cruise to the Pak Ou Caves:
$105
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Afternoon Luang Prabang Sightseeing And Local Food By Vintage Tuk Tuk:
$77
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Alms Giving Experience & Kuang Si Waterfall:
$24
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Beautiful 5 Day Sightseeing tour to Laos:
$500
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
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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
Alcohol
Alcoholic beverages can often be a significant portion of a traveler's budget, and the costs can vary greatly from person to person. In Luang Prabang, the average amount that a visitor spends on alcoholic beverages per day is $3.09.
Typically, people visiting Kuala Lumpur spend on average $5.66 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:
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Luang Prabang and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Kuala Lumpur is more expensive. And not only is Luang Prabang much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Luang Prabang would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Luang Prabang 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 Kuala Lumpur would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Kuala Lumpur than you might in Luang Prabang.
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