Which place is cheaper, Kuala Lumpur or Darjiling?
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 Darjiling or Kuala Lumpur?
Which is cheaper to visit? Which is more expensive for vacation?
Should I visit Darjiling or Kuala Lumpur? This is a common question asked by many travelers. By figuring out which city has activities that align with your interests along with knowing which is more affordable, you'll understand where you can get more bang for your buck. So, let's dive into the details and the data, which all comes from actual travelers.
Where Should I go: Darjiling or Kuala Lumpur?
Darjiling
What began as a cluster of villages grew to prominence in the 19th Century when the British first established a hill station here and eventually realized that the climate was well-suited for tea plantations. Darjeeling (or Darjiling) has since become known for its teas in addition to cultural diversity, stunning views, and trekking opportunities.
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 Adventure Tours to India, The Best Sightseeing Tours in India, The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, and The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia.
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Darjiling Prices
India PricesKuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayDarjiling $43Kuala Lumpur $83
The average daily cost (per person) in Darjiling is $43, 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 Darjiling and Kuala Lumpur in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personDarjiling $12Kuala Lumpur $41
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomDarjiling $24Kuala Lumpur $82
Compare Hotels in Darjiling and Kuala Lumpur
Looking for a hotel in Darjiling 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: Darjiling Hotel Prices and Kuala Lumpur Hotel Prices.
Local Transportation
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Local Transportation Taxis, local buses, subway, etc.Darjiling $7.10Kuala Lumpur $7.21
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Darjiling
Also for Darjiling, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- Private Transfer from Gangtok to Bagdogra: $52
- Private Transfer Darjeeling Hotels To Bagdogra Airport IXB Drop: $69
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:
- KUL Hotel to Singapore(One Way Transfer): $270
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to Singapore: $270
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Penang Island Transfer [Car]: $265
- Cameron Highlands Transfer Private (Per Vehicle): $260
- Private Transfer from Shah Alam city to Malacca Cruise Port: $239
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Desaru Transfer [Car]: $239
- KUL Hotel to Johor Bharu(One Way Transfer): $237
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Car]: $233
- Kuala Lumpur Hotels to Singapore Hotels 1-way Transfer: $230
- KL City Hotels to Singapore City Hotels One-way Transfer: $230
- Kuala Lumpur City Hotels to Singapore City Hotels 1-way Transfer: $230
- Kuala Lumpur Hotels to Singapore Hotels One-way Transfer: $230
Is it cheaper to fly into Darjiling or Kuala Lumpur?
Prices for flights to both Kuala Lumpur and Darjiling 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 dayDarjiling $23Kuala Lumpur $29
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
- From Batu Caves Night Tour + Indian Set Dinner: $28
- Authentic Malaysian Street Food Tour in Kampung Baru: $39
- Nightlife Street Food Tour with 6 Tastings: $41
- Sambal Streets Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $49
- Laksa Lanes Kuala Lumpur Food Tour with 14+ Tastings: $49
- Sambal Street Food Tour with 15+ Tastings: $52
- Glowing Firefly Private Tour With Dinner: $59
- Kuala Lumpur Food Tour: $60
- Spiritual Healing and Authentic Cooking with Local Host: $61
- Kuala Selangor Fireflies and Blue Tears Tour with Dinner (SIC): $62
- Malaysian Hands-On Cooking Class : Masala Medley : $63
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Darjiling $11Kuala Lumpur $15
Tours and Activities in Darjiling
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Darjiling.
- A Full Day Tour Of Darjeeling: $208
- Best of Darjeeling (Guided Halfday Sightseeing Tour by Car): $77
- Colonial Heritage Walking Tour in Darjeeling: $29
- Darjeeling City Tour with Uber: $61
- Darjeeling Exquisite Estate Tour: $156
- Darjeeling Tea Garden Tour : $52
- Day Trip to Darjeeling (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Gangtok): $139
- Day Trip to Gangtok (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $139
- Day Trip to Kalimpong (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $139
- Day Trip to Singalila (Guided Private Sightseeing Experience from Darjeeling): $243
- Day_Trippers (Darjeeling Full Day Tour).: $99
- Discover the Spiritual Trails of Gangtok (2 Hours Guided Walking Tour): $12
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:
- Cameron Highland Day Tour From Kuala Lumpur By Group: $155
- Full Day Melaka Tour with The Shore Sky Tower 43rd Floor - Unesco Heritage: $199
- Half Day Kuala Lumpur Culture And Communities Exploration Tour: $30
- 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
- Putrajaya Tour: $32
- Shah Alam Islamic Arts and Culture Tours : $31
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayDarjiling $8.32Kuala Lumpur $6.58
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 Darjiling and Kuala Lumpur, we can see that Kuala Lumpur is more expensive. And not only is Darjiling much less expensive, but it is actually a significantly cheaper destination. So, traveling to Darjiling would let you spend less money overall. Or, you could decide to spend more money in Darjiling 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 Darjiling.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Darjiling Expensive? and Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Darjiling or Kuala Lumpur?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 10 times larger than the population of Darjiling. When comparing the sizes of Darjiling 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.