Which place is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or Manama?
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 Manama or Kuala Lumpur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Trying to figure out where to travel next? This travel comparison between Manama and Kuala Lumpur can help. It includes a travel cost comparison in addition to other factors. For many travelers, the cost of a destination is a primary consideration when choosing where to go.
Where Should I go: Manama or Kuala Lumpur?
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 a fairly affordable city by global standards, 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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best 2-Week Tours from Kuala Lumpur, and The Best Family-Friendly Tours to Malaysia.
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Manama Prices
Bahrain PricesKuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayManama $189Kuala Lumpur $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Manama is $189, while the average daily cost in Kuala Lumpur is $85. 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 Manama and Kuala Lumpur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personManama $66Kuala Lumpur $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomManama $132Kuala Lumpur $84
Compare Hotels in Manama and Kuala Lumpur
Looking for a hotel in Manama or Kuala Lumpur? 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: Manama Hotel Prices and Kuala Lumpur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Manama $30Kuala Lumpur $7.42
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$3.67
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.78
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Short Taxi Ride$3.67
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Taxi From Airport$22
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Bus from Airport$1.96
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.94
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Train to Airport$1.20
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
- KUL Airport Private Transfer to/from City Center: $16
- Exclusive Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer: $17
- Private Kuala Lumpur Airport Arrival Transfer: $17
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park to Kuala Lumpur Hotels Transfer: $17
- Kuala Lumpur Hotels to Sunway Lagoon Theme Park Transfer: $17
- PVT Departure Transfer Kuala Lumpur to KLIA 1/2: $17
- Private Hotel Transfer to Kuala Lumpur Attractions: $17
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park to Kuala Lumpur Hotels Transfer (1-way): $17
- Kuala Lumpur Hotel to Airport Transfer: $18
- Kuala Lumpur International Airport Transfer: $18
- Kuala Lumpur Airport Arrival Transfer: $18
Is it cheaper to fly into Manama or Kuala Lumpur?
Prices for flights to both Kuala Lumpur and Manama 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 dayManama $97Kuala Lumpur $30
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$9.79
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Roti Bread$0.24
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Food Court Lunch$3.52
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$5.26
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:
- From Batu Caves Night Tour + Indian Set Dinner: $28
- Nightlife Street Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $41
- Sambal Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $52
- Best Local Food Tour by Night at Kuala Lumpur: $55
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: $60
- Spiritual Healing and Authentic Cooking with Local Host: $61
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies & Blue Tears Guided Tour w Dinner (SIC): $62
- Kuala Lumpur Best Food Tour With A Guide: $64
- 'Kelip Kelip' Fireflies & Batu Caves Tour include Seafood Dinner & Boat Ride: $65
- Kuala Selangor Firefly & Batu Caves Tour include Dinner+Boat-Ride: $65
- Malaysian Hands-On Cooking Class : Masala Medley: $66
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Manama $34Kuala Lumpur $16
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$1.22
Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- Kuala Lumpur at Your Own Pace: The Complete Self-Guided Tour: $1.12
- Sunway Lagoon Ticket: $3.76
- Genting Highlands Awana SkyWay Cable Car Ticket: $4.01
- Genting Highlands Premium Outlets Cable Car Ticket: $6.40
- Genting Highlands: Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park Entry Ticket: $6.42
- Urban Museum at Toffee Raja Chulan Admission Ticket: $6.53
- Podcast Tour Kuala Lumpur The Sensory and Spiritual Tapestry: $6.85
- Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Pass: $7.41
- KL Tower Admission E-Ticket with Options: $8.65
- Kuala Lumpur KL Tower Entry Ticket: $9.49
- Museum Of Illusions Standard Admission Ticket: $9.88
- Kuala Lumpur Suburbs Batu Caves Half-Day Tour (SIC/Shared Tour): $10
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayManama $11Kuala Lumpur $6.77
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 Kuala Lumpur
Some specific costs for nightlife related activities in Kuala Lumpur:
- Hidden Bar Hopping With A Local - Bar Crawl: $35
- Kuala Lumpur Nightlife Pub Crawl with 4 Venues and Drinks: $41
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Manama and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Manama is more expensive. And not only is Kuala Lumpur much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Manama is in Middle East and Kuala Lumpur is in Asia, 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 Manama would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Manama 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 Manama Expensive? and Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Manama or Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Manama. When comparing the sizes of Manama and Kuala Lumpur, 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.
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.