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 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 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 $197Kuala Lumpur $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Taipei is $197, while the average daily cost in Kuala Lumpur is $84. 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 $148Kuala Lumpur $42
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTaipei $296Kuala Lumpur $84
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 $10Kuala Lumpur $7.33
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Taipei
Here are some examples of typical transportation prices from actual travelers in Taipei:
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Easycard$2.05
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Easycard$9.46
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Train$1.10
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Taipei
Also for Taipei, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Taoyuan airport to Yilan Private Transfer: $105
- Taoyuan Airport to Keelung port Private Transfer: $79
- Taoyuan Airport (TPE) Private Transfer to Multiple Destinations: $28
- Taiwan Taoyuan Airport (TPE) Private Transfer to Taipei City: $85
- Taiwan Airport Private Transfer: $119
- Taoyuan Airport (TPE) Return Bus Transfer: $9.19
- Taipei Taoyuan Airport TPE to Beitou New Taipei Arrival Transfer: $187
- Taipei Taoyuan Airport Private Transfer (TPE): Taoyuan to Hotel: $58
- Taipei Songshan Airport(TSA)Airport Transfer: $45
- Taipei Private Transfer: Taiwan International Airport to Keelung Cruise Port: $115
- Taipei City to Taoyuan Airport Private Transfer: $46
- Taipei City to Keelung (Taipei) Cruise Port - Departure Private Transfer: $101
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$3.63
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Metro Ride (for Two)$0.77
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Short Taxi Ride$3.63
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Taxi From Airport$22
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Bus from Airport$1.93
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Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.90
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Train to Airport$1.18
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Kuala Lumpur
Also for Kuala Lumpur, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- ~Chauffeur:KLIA Airport to Kuala Lumpur City Centre Van Transfer: $143
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Singapore Van Transfer: $77
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [Van]: $77
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [MPV]: $268
- Welcome to City Highlights & Arrival Transfer: $62
- VIP Transfer by Mercedes Benz : Airport to Kuala Lumpur Hotel: $97
- 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 2-Way Transfer: $20
- Sunway Lagoon Theme Park 2-Way Transfer: $20
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 $28Kuala 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$16
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Lunch at The Can$6.94
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EasyCard$32
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Lunch$3.00
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Lunch$1.89
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Dinner$6.31
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Lunch$3.63
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Lunch$4.73
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Louisa coffee$3.00
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Lunch$5.99
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Lunch$3.63
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Taipei
For Taipei, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:
- Sumire Nostalgic Taiwanese Lunch and Dinner Set: $17
- Food Tours w/ Top 10 Taiwan Food (Breakfast/Dinner): $45
- Taipei Food Tour Taiwan Traditional Breakfast and Market and Tea: $45
- Taipei Food Tour: Night Market & Convenience Store(Food Included): $45
- Food Tour Local Market with 12+ tasters & Drinks Included: $49
- Taipei Hidden Eats, Market & Street Food Tour with 8+ Tastings: $55
- Street Food & Hidden Eats Night Market Food Tour: $55
- Taipei Tastes Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $55
- Formosa Flavours Taipei Food Tour with 12+ Tastings: $59
- Turnip cake, Pork thick soup, Tofu pudding. Taiwan Traditional Light Meals Experience-C (Taipei Cooking Class): $65
- Backstreet Food Tour: Food, Culture, and Fun: $75
- Street Food Cooking Class in Taipei : Gua Bao/Lu Rou Fan/Boba Tea: $79
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$9.67
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Roti Bread$0.24
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Food Court Lunch$3.48
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Dinner at Indian Restaurant (for Two)$5.20
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
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies & Blue Tears Guided Tour w Dinner (SIC): $50
- Sambal Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $52
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Best Local Food Tour by Night at Kuala Lumpur: $55
- Malaysia Cooking Class With Local (Hands-On!): $60
- Spiritual Healing and Authentic Cooking with Local Host: $61
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies Tour Include Seafood Dinner (Free Boat Ride): $65
- Firefly Tour en-route Batu Caves Include Dinner + Boat-Ride: $65
- 'Kelip Kelip' Fireflies & Batu Caves Tour include Seafood Dinner & Boat Ride: $65
- Kelip Kelip' Fireflies Tour include Seafood Dinner Free Boat Ride: $65
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:
- 101 Skyline 460 Observatory Ticket | Taipei: $125
- 12hrs - Chiayi Meteor Garden Classic Tour From Taipei: $72
- 2 days Yeliou (or Pingxi sky lantern) & Sun Moon Lake tour (Taichung city end): $200
- 2-Hour Private Ximending Area Walking Tour: $35
- 2-Hour Vegetarian Private Walking Tour - S.Y.S. Memorial Hall & 44 South Village: $58
- 2-Hour Vegetarian Private Walking Tour - Xingtian Temple: $55
- 2-hr Ningxia Night Market Walking Private Tour with a Tour Guide: $35
- 2-hr Raohe Night Market Walking Private Tour with a Tour Guide: $38
- 4 Days Private Tour Taipei, Jiufen, Sun Moon Lake & Taichung: $1,079
- 4 Hour Afternoon Cycling City Tour North with Snack: $83
- 4-Hour Morning Cycling City Tour (incl. breakfast): $83
- 7-Hour Jiufen Night View, Shifen Waterfall & Raohe Market Tour: $37
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$1.21
Tours and Activities in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are a few prices for actual activities, tours, and tickets provided by various companies:
- "Malacca After Dark: A Nighttime Adventure Through History": $63
- *10 Hrs Kuala Lumpur Flexible Van Tour w' Tour Guide: $95
- *12Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Genting Highlands w' Tour Guide: $95
- *13 Hrs Bentong Van tour from Kuala Lumpur w' Tour Guide: $85
- *13 Hrs Kuala Lumpur & Melaka Van Tour from Bentong w' Tour Guide: $114
- *13Hrs KL&GentingHighlands Van Tour frm Port Dickson w' TourGuide: $122
- *14 Hrs Melaka Ultimate Van Tour from Port Dickson w' Tour Guide: $84
- *15 Hrs Melaka Exclusive Van Tour from Bentong w' Tour Guide: $96
- *16 Hrs Best of Melaka Van Tour from Fraser's Hill w' Tour Guide: $125
- *17HrsKualaLumpur&Melaka Van Tour frm Fraser's Hill w' Tour Guide: $142
- 1 Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour (Private) {23 Attractions}: $68
- 14 Attractions Full-Day Malacca Historical Tour: $67
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayTaipei $18Kuala Lumpur $6.69
Sample the Local Flavors in Taipei
Here are a few nightlife and alcohol tours and activities from local tour providers in Taipei:
- Taipei Authentic Night Sober-Friendly Pub Crawl: $20
- Taipei Nightlife: Taipei Pub Crawls (2 Different Routes): $27
- Yilan Kavalan Whisky Distillery,Jim&Dad's Brewing, Shenkeng Tour: $95
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.