Which place is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or Mandalay?
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 Mandalay or Kuala Lumpur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
If you're trying to decide where to visit between Mandalay or Kuala Lumpur, this travel comparison, which includes costs, can help. The overall cost of travel is usually a consideration when deciding where to go next, and the cost comparison down below can help you decide based on the average prices from other travelers along with your own travel budget.
Where Should I go: Mandalay or Kuala Lumpur?
Mandalay
Located in Myanmar (formerly known as Burma) on the banks of the Irawaddy River, Mandalay is the nation's second largest city behind Yangon. It is centered on the restored Royal Palace and has a large population of Buddhist monks who frequent the city's many temples and monasteries.
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 Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia.
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Mandalay Prices
Myanmar PricesKuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayMandalay $19Kuala Lumpur $86
The average daily cost (per person) in Mandalay is $19, while the average daily cost in Kuala Lumpur is $86. 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 Mandalay and Kuala Lumpur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personMandalay $8.65Kuala Lumpur $43
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomMandalay $17Kuala Lumpur $86
Compare Hotels in Mandalay and Kuala Lumpur
Looking for a hotel in Mandalay 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: Kuala Lumpur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Mandalay -Kuala Lumpur $7.45
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Mandalay
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Mandalay:
- Private Transfer Of Mandalay To Bagan: $180
- Private Mandalay Airport Transfer: $27
- Private Land Transfer : Mandalay to Bagan: $139
- Mandalay To Bagan Transfer Tour: $180
- Mandalay Airport Private Transfer: $55
- Inle [Heho] Airport Private Transfer : $46
- From Mandalay To Kalaw-NyaungShwe-Inle Lake Private Transfer: $230
- Bagan Land Transfer form Mandalay: $103
- Around Mandalay in 2 Day and Next Day to Transfer Bagan: $200
- Airport Transfer, Paleik Snake Pagoda, a little bit of Bagan and to AVA: $50
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$3.69
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.79
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Short Taxi Ride$3.69
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Taxi From Airport$22
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Bus from Airport$1.97
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.95
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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:
- °Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Transfer [Van]: $111
- 2 Way Transfer To/From Kuala Lumpur International Airport: $60
- 2 Way Transfer to or from Kuala Lumpur International Airport: $25
- AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort Hotel To Kuala Lumpur International Airport KLIA KLIA2 Transfer: $50
- Airport Transfer Private From/To KLIA, KLIA2: $22
- Airport Transfer from KLIA or KLIA2 to KL Hotel (PRIVATE SHUTTLE): $55
- Airport Transfer: Kuala Lumpur to Airport KUL by Business Car: $101
- Airport to Hotel Private Transfer - Welcome to Malaysia: $53
- Aquaria KLCC E-Ticket With Transfer: $52
- Arrival Private Transfers from Airport KUL to Kuala Lumpur in Business Car: $101
- Arrival Private Transfers from Airport KUL to Kuala Lumpur in Business Van: $138
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to IPOH: $200
Is it cheaper to fly into Mandalay or Kuala Lumpur?
Prices for flights to both Kuala Lumpur and Mandalay 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 dayMandalay $10Kuala Lumpur $30
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Mandalay
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Mandalay.
- Myanmar traditional cooking class with local: $26
- Bamboo Bike Food Tour: $42
- Bicycle Food Tour in Mandalay: $45
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$9.83
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Roti Bread$0.25
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Food Court Lunch$3.54
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$5.28
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:
- Private Night Tour Batu Caves and South Indian Dinner: $20
- 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
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Laksa Lanes Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $55
- Malaysia Cooking Class With Local (Hands-On!): $60
- 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 Selangor Fireflies Tour Include Seafood Dinner (Free Boat Ride): $65
- 'Kelip Kelip' Fireflies & Batu Caves Tour include Seafood Dinner & Boat Ride: $65
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Mandalay -Kuala Lumpur $16
Tours and Activities in Mandalay
Here are a few actual costs in Mandalay for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- Kayah Villages Full Day Tour (Pan Pet & Hta Nee La): $260
- 1-night in Pyin Oo Lwin next day to Gokteik tour: $226
- A Little Adventure Village Explore: $17
- Amarapura,Mingun,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $110
- Amarapura,Sagaing,Innwa Sightseeing Tour: $95
- Amarapura,Sagging,Innwa/Ava Sightseeing: $75
- Ancient Cities, Pagodas, and Sunset Tour from Mandalay: $194
- Day Trip Tour From Mandalay To Pyin Oo Lwin: $130
- Full Day Adventure: $153
- Full day Adventure Trip in Mandalay & Amarapura: $61
- Full day Adventure Trip to Amarapura, Sagaing & Ava: $89
- Half day to Mandalay city tour: $88
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$1.23
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: $1.14
- Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park Ticket with Unlimited Rides: $5.54
- Genting Highlands Premium Outlets Cable Car Ticket: $6.40
- Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Pass: $7.41
- Kuala Lumpur Half Day City Guided Tour (SIC/Shared Tour): $8.00
- KL Tower Admission E-Ticket with Options: $8.65
- Museum Of Illusions Standard Admission Ticket: $9.88
- Selangor: Zoo Negara E-Ticket: $11
- Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $11
- Malaysia Cruise Tasik Putrajaya: $12
- Kuala Lumpur NU Sentral Breakout Escape Game Entry Ticket: $12
- Kuala Lumpur's Cultural Highlights and Landmarks: A Self-Guided Audio Tour: $12
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayMandalay -Kuala Lumpur $6.80
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Mandalay and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Kuala Lumpur is more expensive. And not only is Mandalay much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Mandalay would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Mandalay 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 Mandalay.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Mandalay Expensive? and Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Mandalay or Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 20% larger than the population of Mandalay. When comparing the sizes of Mandalay 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.