Which place is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or Taipei?
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 Taipei or Kuala Lumpur?
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 Taipei and Kuala Lumpur. 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: Taipei or Kuala Lumpur?
Taipei
Few cities in the world are full of more diverse opportunities than the cultural crosshairs city of Taipei. As the capital of Taiwan, this 300-year-old city is the financial, cultural and governmental center of Taiwan. Located in the northern part of the island between the Yangming Mountains and Central Mountains, this city of 2.6 million people is always ready to welcome more visitors.
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.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Cultural Tours in Taiwan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Taiwan, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia.
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Taipei Prices
Taiwan PricesKuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTaipei $206Kuala Lumpur $83
The average daily cost (per person) in Taipei is $206, while the average daily cost in Kuala Lumpur is $83. 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 Taipei and Kuala Lumpur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTaipei $155Kuala Lumpur $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaipei $310Kuala Lumpur $82
Compare Hotels in Taipei and Kuala Lumpur
Looking for a hotel in Taipei 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: Taipei Hotel Prices and Kuala Lumpur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Taipei $11Kuala Lumpur $7.21
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Taipei
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Taipei:
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Easycard$2.15
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Easycard$9.92
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taipei
Also for Taipei, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Taoyuan Airport (TPE) Return Bus Transfer: $9.26
- Taipei City to Taoyuan Airport Private Transfer: $46
- Taipei Arrival Private Transfer: Taiwan Taoyuan (TPE) to Hotel: $55
- TPE Airport: one-way private transfer to or from Taipei City: $40
- Private Transfer from Taoyuan airport Taiwan to Taipei: $52
- Keelung: one-way private transfer to or from Taipei City: $42
- Jiufen: one-way private transfer to or from Taipei City: $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$3.57
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.76
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Short Taxi Ride$3.57
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Taxi From Airport$21
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Bus from Airport$1.90
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.85
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $77
- VIP Transfer by Mercedes Benz : Airport to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $88
- VIP Departure Transfer : Kuala Lumpur Airport: $202
- Try find your better than us ! Airport transfer in Kuala Lumpur APT-HTL (KUL): $28
- Transfer To Avani Sepang Goldcoast Resort : $30
- Sunway Lagoon: Ticket with Transfer from Kuala Lumpur: $99
- Sunway Lagoon: Admission Ticket & 2-Way Transfer: $72
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park with Round-Trip Transfer: $94
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park Ticket and 1 WAY Transfer (SIC – shared transfer): $55
- Seamless Transfer: Kuala Lumpur City Hotel to KLIA (KUL) Airport: $22
- Private: Kuala Lumpur Departure Transfer: $17
- Private transfers from Kuala Lumpur International Airport to your Hotel : $45
Is it cheaper to fly into Taipei or Kuala Lumpur?
Prices for flights to both Kuala Lumpur and Taipei 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 dayTaipei $29Kuala Lumpur $29
Typical Food Prices in Taipei
For Taipei, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
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EasyCard$17
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Lunch at The Can$7.28
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EasyCard$33
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Lunch$3.14
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Lunch$1.98
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Dinner$6.62
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Lunch$3.80
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Lunch$4.96
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Louisa coffee$3.14
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Taipei
For Taipei, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Food Tours w/ Top 10 Taiwan Food (Breakfast/Dinner): $45
- Taipei Food Tour: Night Market & Convenience Store(Food Included): $45
- Street Food & Hidden Eats Night Market Food Tour: $55
- Iconic Food Tour: Local Street Food, Drinks & Sites: $83
- Private Food Tour – 10 Tastings with Locals: $88
- Xiao Long Bao, Beef Noodles & Boba Tea Cooking Class in Taipei: $89
- The Award-Winning Private Food Tour of The 10 Tastings: $90
- Cooking Class & Market Adventure Historic Dadaocheng: $109
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$9.51
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Roti Bread$0.24
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Food Court Lunch$3.42
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$5.11
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
- Nightlife Street Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $41
- Laksa Lanes Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $49
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Sambal Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $53
- Best Local Food Tour by Night at Kuala Lumpur : $55
- Glowing Firefly Private Tour With Dinner: $59
- Malaysia Cooking Classes With Local: $60
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: $60
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies and Blue Tears Tour with Dinner (SIC): $62
- Malaysian Hands-On Cooking Class : Masala Medley : $63
- Firefly Park Kuala Selangor Seafood Dinner and Free Boat Ride: $64
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Taipei $18Kuala Lumpur $15
Tours and Activities in Taipei
For Taipei, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- 4 Days Private Tour Taipei, Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake & Taichung: $1,079
- 4-Hour Morning Cycling City Tour (incl. breakfast): $83
- Discover Taichung Private Day Tour from Taipei: $229
- From Taipei City: 3-Day Sun Moon Lake & Alishan Private Tour: $1,130
- From 5-Day Best of Round Taiwan Island Tour: $728
- From Beitou & Yangmingshan Private Day Tour: $111
- From Beitou and Yangmingshan National Park Day Tour: $86
- From Classic and Scenic Taiwan Private 5-Day Tour: $1,800
- From Leofoo Village Entry Tickets + Round Trip Bus: $33
- From Nantou and Sun Moon Lake View Day Tour: $90
- From Pinglin Tea Culture and Maokong Guided Day Tour: $86
- From Private Scenic Tour to Jiufen, Yehliu & Pingxi: $119
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$1.19
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: $182
- Cameron Highland Day Tour From Kuala Lumpur By Group: $155
- Full Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour with Petronas Twin Tower Tickets: $95
- Half Day Kuala Lumpur Culture And Communities Exploration Tour: $30
- Historic And Heritage Melaka Tour: $55
- KL Tour with Petronas Twin Towers Observation Deck & Batu Cave: $145
- KLCC Lake Symphony & The River of Life Tour from Kuala Lumpur: $33
- Kuala Lumpur (Genting Highlands 7.5 hours Private Tour): $61
- Kuala Lumpur Full Day City Tour Cruise Excursion from Port Klang: $65
- Kuala Lumpur Half Day Family Tour With Aquaria KLCC : $105
- Malacca Instagram Tour: Most Famous Spots (Private & All-Inclusive): $184
- Petronas Twin Tower Tickets with City Tour: $80
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaipei $19Kuala Lumpur $6.58
Sample the Local Flavors in Taipei
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Taipei:
- Taipei Nightlife: Taipei Pub Crawls (2 Different Routes): $27
- Private Tour to Yilan Kavalan Whisky Distillery: $145
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 Taipei and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Taipei 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 Taipei would naturally cost you much more money, so you would probably want to keep your budget a little tighter in Taipei 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 Taipei Expensive? and Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Taipei or Kuala Lumpur?
Taipei has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Kuala Lumpur. When comparing the sizes of Taipei 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.