Which place is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or Tehran?
These are the overall average travel costs for the two destinations. These travel costs come from the actual spending of real travelers.
Jump to 
Should you visit Tehran 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 Tehran 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: Tehran or Kuala Lumpur?
Tehran
The capital of Iran, Tehran is a cosmopolitan city with great museums, art galleries, parks, restaurants, and more. It is located in the northernmost part of Central Iran at the foot of the towering Alborz mountain range. Some of the most popular attractions include the Treasury of the National Jewels, Golestan Palace, and the Tajrish Bazaar.
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.
-
Tehran Prices
Iran PricesKuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayTehran $2.72Kuala Lumpur $85
The average daily cost (per person) in Tehran is $2.72, 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 Tehran and Kuala Lumpur in more detail.
Accommodation
-
Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personTehran $1.91Kuala Lumpur $42
-
Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomTehran $3.82Kuala Lumpur $84
Compare Hotels in Tehran and Kuala Lumpur
Looking for a hotel in Tehran 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
-
Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Tehran $0.01Kuala Lumpur $7.42
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kuala Lumpur
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:
-
Taxi Ride$3.67
-
Metro Ride (for Two)$0.78
-
Short Taxi Ride$3.67
-
Taxi From Airport$22
-
Bus from Airport$1.96
-
Train & Boat to Pulau Ketam$2.94
-
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:
- Legoland Transfer Private (per Vehichle): $300
- KUL Hotel to Penang(One Way Transfer): $278
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to Singapore: $270
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuala Besut Transfer [Car]: $266
- Cameron Highlands One Way Transfer: $259
- Private Transfer : Kuala Lumpur to Singapore: $252
- KUL Hotel to Cameron Highland(One Way Transfer): $250
- KUL Hotel to Johor Bharu(One Way Transfer): $237
- Private Transfer : Kuala Lumpur to Jetty for Redang Island: $237
- Private Transfer from Shah Alam city to Malacca Cruise Port: $235
- Kuala Lumpur 2 Nights Stay with City Tour & Airport Transfer: $230
- KL City Hotels to Singapore City Hotels One-way Transfer: $230
Is it cheaper to fly into Tehran or Kuala Lumpur?
Prices for flights to both Kuala Lumpur and Tehran 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
-
Food Meals for one dayTehran $0.75Kuala Lumpur $30
Typical Food Prices in Kuala Lumpur
For Kuala Lumpur, here are some examples of average food and meal prices for travelers:
-
Dinner at Ding Tai Fung$9.79
-
Roti Bread$0.24
-
Food Court Lunch$3.52
-
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:
- 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
- Authentic Malaysian Street Food Tour With 15+ Tastings Near KLCC: $42
- Sambal Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $52
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 12+ Authentic Dishes & Local Secrets: $54
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $55
- Laksa Lanes Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 14+ 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
- 'Kelip Kelip' Fireflies Tour include Dinner + Free Boat-Ride: $65
Entertainment
-
Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Tehran $0.14Kuala 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:
-
KL Tower Admission (for Two)$11
-
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:
- °12Hrs Kuala Lumpur Van Tour from Genting Highlands w' Tour Guide: $108
- "Malacca After Dark: A Nighttime Adventure Through History": $63
- *13 Hrs KL & Melaka Van Tour from Genting Highlands w' Tour Guide: $115
- *13 Hrs Kuala Lumpur & Melaka Van Tour from Bentong w' Tour Guide: $114
- *16 Hrs Best of Melaka Van Tour from Fraser's Hill w' Tour Guide: $126
- 1 Day Kuala Lumpur City Tour (Private) {23 Attractions}: $68
- 1-Day Jungle Thrill in Taman Negara Tour from KL: $125
- 13 Attractions Half-Day Kuala Lumpur SIC City Tour - (Self-Guided): $19
- 14 Attractions Full-Day Malacca Historical Tour: $67
- 15 in 1 Kuala Lumpur Tropical Fruit Food and Drinks Tour: $150
- 2 Private Tours in 1: Lake Gardens + Malaysia's Largest Mosque: $24
- 3-Hour Countryside and Batu Tour in Malaysia: $35
Alcohol
-
Alcohol Drinks for one dayTehran -Kuala 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:
-
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
When we compare the travel costs of actual travelers between Tehran and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Kuala Lumpur is more expensive. And not only is Tehran much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. Since Tehran 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 Tehran would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Tehran 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 Tehran.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Tehran Expensive? and Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Tehran or Kuala Lumpur?
Tehran has a larger population, and is about 5 times larger than the population of Kuala Lumpur. When comparing the sizes of Tehran 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.