Which place is cheaper, Guilin or Kuala Lumpur?
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 Kuala Lumpur or Guilin?
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 Kuala Lumpur and Guilin. 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: Kuala Lumpur or Guilin?
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.
Guilin
Guilin is a city in Southern China situated on the west bank of the Li River with Hunan to the north. Its name means, "Forest of Sweet Osmanthus," owing to the large number of fragrant Sweet Osmanthus trees located in the city. Products like tea, sugar, and wine, can be made from the tree and are found in many shops throughout Guilin. A popular tourist destination, the city is renowned for its scenery of karst topography with unique mountains jutting out of the urban landscape.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, The Best Hiking & Trekking Tours in China, and The Best Historical Tours in China.
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Kuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia PricesGuilin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKuala Lumpur $83Guilin $84
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $83, while the average daily cost in Guilin 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 Kuala Lumpur and Guilin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKuala Lumpur $41Guilin $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKuala Lumpur $82Guilin $70
Compare Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Guilin
Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur or Guilin? 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.Kuala Lumpur $7.21Guilin $5.85
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:
- 2 Way Transfer to or from Kuala Lumpur International Airport : $25
- AVANI Sepang Goldcoast Resort Hotel TO Kuala Lumpur Hotel Door to Door Transfer: $59
- Airport Transfer Private From/To KLIA, KLIA2 : $20
- Airport Transfer: Kuala Lumpur to Airport KUL by Business Car: $105
- Airport to Hotel Private Transfer - Welcome to Malaysia: $50
- Airport transfer : $100
- Aquaria KLCC Admission Ticket with One-Way or Round-Trip Transfer: $38
- Aquaria KLCC Admission Ticket with return Transfer: $49
- Arrival Private Transfers from Airport KUL to Kuala Lumpur in Business Car: $93
- Arrival Private Transfers from Airport KUL to Kuala Lumpur in Business Van: $125
- Arrival Transfer : Kuala Lumpur Airport: $43
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to IPOH: $169
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Guilin
Some typical examples of transportation costs in Guilin are as follows:
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Taxi$2.80
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Guilin
Some specific examples of transportation prices in Guilin:
- [Airport Transfer] Haikou Airport ⇔ Haikou City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service! <Charter charter> *: $23
- Yangshuo Via Ferrata with Round way private transfer from Guilin hotel: $120
- Transfer from Guilin Liangjiang Airport to Guilin City Center: $41
- Transfer from Guilin Hotels to Yangshuo Town: $37
- Private Transfer: Guilin to/from Zhangjiajie/Fenghuang: $256
- Private Transfer from/to Zhangjiajie to Guilin: $387
- Private Transfer from Yangshuo/Guilin to Sanjiang and stops Longji Rice Terraces: $160
- Private Transfer from Haikou (HAK) airport to/from Sanya hotel: $120
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Zhaoxing and stops at Longji terraces: $168
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Longji rice terraces area: $267
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Hongjiang: $267
- Private Transfer from Guilin to Fenghuang and stops at Chengyang Dong Village: $267
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Guilin?
Prices for flights to both Guilin and Kuala Lumpur 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 dayKuala Lumpur $29Guilin $39
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
- 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: $52
- 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
Typical Food Prices in Guilin
Below are a few samples from actual travelers for food and meal costs in Guilin:
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Fresh Coconut Drink$1.40
Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Guilin
Also, here are some specific examples of food and dining related activities in Guilin.
- Half day Yangshuo Cooking lesson Small Group Tour: $62
- Full-Day Li-River with the 4 Star Luxury Boat VIP Room and Yangshuo Cooking Tour: $286
- Countryside Cycling 1-day Tour with Cooking Class: $306
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kuala Lumpur $15Guilin $28
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:
- A Self Guided Tropical Adventure at Kuala Lumpur Hidden Treasures: $3.59
- Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park Ticket with Unlimited Rides: $5.39
- Urban Museum at Toffee Raja Chulan Admission Ticket: $6.35
- Genting Highlands: Skytropolis Indoor Theme Park Entry Ticket: $6.39
- Hop-On Hop-Off Sightseeing Bus Pass: $7.41
- KL Tower Admission E-Ticket with Options: $8.65
- REXPERIENCE: Immersive Art Gallery at REXKL: $9.77
- Museum Of Illusions Standard Admission Ticket: $9.88
- Kuala Lumpur Suburbs Batu Caves Half-Day Tour (SIC/Shared Tour): $10
- Kuala Lumpur Half Day Guided City Tour (SIC/Shared Tour): $10
- Malaysia Cruise Tasik Putrajaya: $10
- Aquaria KLCC Entry Ticket: $11
Typical Entertainment Prices in Guilin
Here are a few typical costs in Guilin for activities, ticket prices, and tours that come from previous visitors:
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Entrance to the Caves$17
Tours and Activities in Guilin
Here are a few actual costs in Guilin for available activities, ticket prices, and tours:
- 2-Day Self-Guided Guilin Tour with 4 Star Boat, Yangshuo and Longji Terraces : $200
- Longji Rice Terraces Day Tour with the Ping'an and Dazhai Village: $209
- 1 Day Congjiang Ethnic Dong Village Private Tour from Guilin: $219
- 1 Day Guilin Sanjiang Tour to Dong Villages: $169
- 1 Day Guilin Tour: Village Visit, Waterfall Viewing, Hiking: $230
- 1 Day Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Biking Adventure: $72
- 1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide: $209
- 1 Day Li River Cruise from Guilin to Yangshuo with Private Guide & Driver: $209
- 1 Day Private Cruise Tour at Li River from Guilin with Biking: $198
- 1 Day Private Longji Rice Terraces and Minority Village Tour: $202
- 1 Day Private Tour: Li River Cruise from Guilin & Yangshuo Biking: $172
- 1 Day Relaxing Guilin Li River Cruise and Yangshuo Private Tour: $205
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKuala Lumpur $6.58Guilin $5.81
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 comparing the travel costs between Kuala Lumpur and Guilin, we can see that Guilin is more expensive. However, the two cities are actually relatively comparable in price, as the difference is somewhat minimal. Generally, this means that you could travel with generally the same travel style and level of luxury in each place. Since both cities are in Asia, it's no surprise that their costs are relatively close, as many destinations here have somewhat similar travel prices overall.
If you're trying to decide if either of these two destinations are within your price range, also see Is Kuala Lumpur Expensive? and Is Guilin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kuala Lumpur or Guilin?
Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 2 times larger than the population of Guilin. When comparing the sizes of Kuala Lumpur and Guilin, 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.
When is the best time to visit Kuala Lumpur or Guilin?
Guilin has a temperate climate with four distinct seasons, but Kuala Lumpur experiences a warm climate with fairly sunny weather most of the year.
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Guilin in the Summer?
Both Guilin and Kuala Lumpur during the summer are popular places to visit. Plenty of visitors come to Kuala Lumpur because of the warm climate and sunshine that lasts throughout the year.
Kuala Lumpur is around the same temperature as Guilin in the summer. The daily temperature in Kuala Lumpur averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Guilin fluctuates around 30°C (86°F).
Guilin gets a good bit of rain this time of year. It rains a lot this time of the year in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur usually gets less rain in July than Guilin. Kuala Lumpur gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 206 mm (8.1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Guilin 30°C (86°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Guilin in the Autumn?
The autumn attracts plenty of travelers to both Kuala Lumpur and Guilin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kuala Lumpur year-round.
In the autumn, Kuala Lumpur is a little warmer than Guilin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Guilin averages at about 23°C (73°F).
Kuala Lumpur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In October, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Guilin. Kuala Lumpur gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 93 mm (3.7 in) of rain each month for the autumn.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Guilin 23°C (73°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Guilin in the Winter?
The winter brings many poeple to Kuala Lumpur as well as Guilin. Kuala Lumpur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In January, Kuala Lumpur is generally much warmer than Guilin. Daily temperatures in Kuala Lumpur average around 27°C (81°F), and Guilin fluctuates around 10°C (49°F).
Kuala Lumpur receives a lot of rain in the winter. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in January than Guilin. Kuala Lumpur gets 239 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 61 mm (2.4 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Guilin 10°C (49°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Guilin in the Spring?
Both Guilin and Kuala Lumpur are popular destinations to visit in the spring with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kuala Lumpur throughout the year.
Kuala Lumpur is a little warmer than Guilin in the spring. The daily temperature in Kuala Lumpur averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Guilin fluctuates around 20°C (68°F).
It rains a lot this time of the year in Guilin. It's quite rainy in Kuala Lumpur. In April, Kuala Lumpur usually receives less rain than Guilin. Kuala Lumpur gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Guilin receives 263 mm (10.3 in) of rain each month for the spring.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Guilin 20°C (68°F)
Typical Weather for Guilin and Kuala Lumpur
| Kuala Lumpur | Guilin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 239 mm (9.4 in) | 10°C (49°F) | 61 mm (2.4 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 11°C (51°F) | 87 mm (3.4 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 15°C (59°F) | 129 mm (5.1 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 20°C (68°F) | 263 mm (10.3 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 334 mm (13.2 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 28°C (82°F) | 320 mm (12.6 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 206 mm (8.1 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 30°C (86°F) | 168 mm (6.6 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 27°C (81°F) | 72 mm (2.8 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) | 23°C (73°F) | 93 mm (3.7 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 17°C (63°F) | 81 mm (3.2 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 250 mm (9.8 in) | 12°C (53°F) | 47 mm (1.9 in) |
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.