Which place is cheaper, Tianjin 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 Tianjin?
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 Tianjin. 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 Tianjin?
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.
Tianjin
Tianjin is a large metropolis on the north east coast of China. This ancient city, which dates back to prehistoric times, is one of five National Central Cities of China and is rich in culture and history. Tianjin is most famous for its beautiful walking streets and history of European concession territories.
Tianjin experiences hot and humid summers, with temperatures reaching 90 degrees Fahrenheit. Winters are cool and dry with temperatures around 15° (F). Spring and Autumn tend to be the best times to visit as weather is a little more mild, although Spring has a tendency to be a little rainy.
For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, The Best Sightseeing Tours in China, and The Best Cultural Tours in China.
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Kuala Lumpur Prices
Malaysia PricesTianjin Prices
China Prices -
Average Daily Cost Per person, per dayKuala Lumpur $83Tianjin $92
The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $83, while the average daily cost in Tianjin is $92. 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 Tianjin in more detail.
Accommodation
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Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one personKuala Lumpur $41Tianjin $35
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Accommodation Typical double-occupancy roomKuala Lumpur $82Tianjin $70
Compare Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Tianjin
Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur or Tianjin? 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 $7.21Tianjin $37
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:
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to Singapore: $270
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to Penang: $270
- ~Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Kuantan Transfer [MPV]: $268
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Penang Island Transfer [Car]: $266
- Cameron Highlands Transfer Private (Per Vehicle): $260
- Cameron Highlands One Way Transfer: $259
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Desaru Transfer [Car]: $240
- Private Transfer from Shah Alam city to Malacca Cruise Port: $239
- KUL Hotel to Johor Bharu(One Way Transfer): $237
- Arrival Transfer from KLIA/KLIA2 to Johor Bharu: $237
- Chauffeur: Kuala Lumpur to Cameron Highlands Transfer [Car]: $234
- Kuala Lumpur City Hotels to Singapore City Hotels 1-way Transfer: $230
Hired Cars and Shuttles in Tianjin
Also for Tianjin, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:
- [Airport Transfer] Tianjin Airport ⇔ Tianjin City Transfer ☆ High reputation for service <Charter charter>: $13
- Tianjin Railway Station Private Transfer to Cruise Port: $32
- Tianjin Private Transfer to Gubei Water Town and Simatai Great Wall: $196
- Tianjin Private Transfer from Railway Station to Cruise Port: $80
- Tianjin Private Transfer from Cruise Port to Railway Station: $80
- Tianjin Private Round-Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Great Wall: $112
- Tianjin Private Round Trip Transfer to Huangyaguan Pass and Eastern Qing Tombs: $132
- Tianjin International Cruise Port Private Transfer to City Hotels : $80
- Tianjin Cruise Port to Hotels in Beijing Downtown Shared Transfer: $95
- Tianjin Cruise Port Transfer To Tianjin Airport one way private transfer: $50
- Tianjin Cruise Port Private Transfer to Binhai Railway Station: $32
- Tianjin Binhai International Airport Private Arrival Transfer to City Area : $29
Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Tianjin?
Prices for flights to both Tianjin 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 $29Tianjin $36
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
Entertainment
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Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.Kuala Lumpur $15Tianjin $10
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
Tours and Activities in Tianjin
Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Tianjin.
- Private Tour to Uncover Tianjin’s Must-Visit Bucket-List Spots : $248
- 1 Day Tianjin City Essence Tour from Tianjin Port: $235
- 4-Hour Tianjin Shore Excursion to Shijia Mansion with Bullet Train Experience: $210
- 5-Hour Private Tianjin Shopping Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $179
- All-inclusive Day Tour: China House, Five Avenues, Ancient Street & Tianjin Eye: $224
- All-inclusive Tianjin Day Tour to Qing Emperor's Tomb & Huangyaguan Great Wall : $278
- Bullet Train Private Tour: Beijing Tiananmen Square, Forbidden City & Great Wall: $239
- From Beijing: Tianjin Highlights Day Tour by High-Speed Rail: $289
- Huangyaguan Great Wall Layover Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $265
- Private Great Wall Tour from Tianjin Cruise Port: $248
- Private Tianjin City Highlight Day Tour: $188
- Private Tianjin City Night Tour with Haihe River Cruise: $176
Alcohol
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Alcohol Drinks for one dayKuala Lumpur $6.58Tianjin $11
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 Tianjin, we can see that Tianjin 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 Tianjin Expensive?.
Which is Bigger, Kuala Lumpur or Tianjin?
Tianjin has a larger population, and is about 3 times larger than the population of Kuala Lumpur. When comparing the sizes of Kuala Lumpur and Tianjin, 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 Tianjin?
Tianjin 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 Tianjin in the Summer?
The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kuala Lumpur and Tianjin. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kuala Lumpur year-round.
Kuala Lumpur is around the same temperature as Tianjin in the summer. The daily temperature in Kuala Lumpur averages around 28°C (82°F) in July, and Tianjin fluctuates around 27°C (80°F).
People are often attracted to the plentiful sunshine in Tianjin this time of the year. In Kuala Lumpur, it's very sunny this time of the year. Kuala Lumpur usually receives less sunshine than Tianjin during summer. Kuala Lumpur gets 200 hours of sunny skies, while Tianjin receives 224 hours of full sun in the summer.
Tianjin receives a lot of rain in the summer. Kuala Lumpur gets a good bit of rain this time of year. In July, Kuala Lumpur usually receives less rain than Tianjin. Kuala Lumpur gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 185 mm (7.3 in) of rain each month for the summer.
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Summer Average Temperatures JulyKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Tianjin 27°C (80°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Tianjin in the Autumn?
The autumn brings many poeple to Kuala Lumpur as well as Tianjin. Kuala Lumpur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.
In the autumn, Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Tianjin. Typically, the autumn temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in October average around 27°C (81°F), and Tianjin averages at about 15°C (58°F).
The sun comes out a lot this time of the year in Tianjin. In the autumn, Kuala Lumpur often gets less sunshine than Tianjin. Kuala Lumpur gets 169 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tianjin receives 227 hours of full sun.
Kuala Lumpur receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in October than Tianjin. Kuala Lumpur gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 21 mm (0.8 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Autumn Average Temperatures OctoberKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Tianjin 15°C (58°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Tianjin in the Winter?
Both Tianjin and Kuala Lumpur are popular destinations to visit in the winter with plenty of activities. The warm climate attracts visitors to Kuala Lumpur throughout the year.
Tianjin can be very cold during winter. In January, Kuala Lumpur is generally much warmer than Tianjin. Daily temperatures in Kuala Lumpur average around 27°C (81°F), and Tianjin fluctuates around -3°C (27°F).
It's quite sunny in Tianjin. Kuala Lumpur usually receives less sunshine than Tianjin during winter. Kuala Lumpur gets 185 hours of sunny skies, while Tianjin receives 201 hours of full sun in the winter.
It's quite rainy in Kuala Lumpur. In January, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Tianjin. Kuala Lumpur gets 239 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 3 mm (0.1 in) of rain each month for the winter.
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Winter Average Temperatures JanuaryKuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F)Tianjin -3°C (27°F)
Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Tianjin in the Spring?
Both Tianjin and Kuala Lumpur during the spring 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 much warmer than Tianjin in the spring. The daily temperature in Kuala Lumpur averages around 28°C (82°F) in April, and Tianjin fluctuates around 14°C (58°F).
In Tianjin, it's very sunny this time of the year. In the spring, Kuala Lumpur often gets less sunshine than Tianjin. Kuala Lumpur gets 199 hours of sunny skies this time of year, while Tianjin receives 247 hours of full sun.
It rains a lot this time of the year in Kuala Lumpur. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in April than Tianjin. Kuala Lumpur gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Tianjin receives 25 mm (1 in) of rain this time of the year.
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Spring Average Temperatures AprilKuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F)Tianjin 14°C (58°F)
Typical Weather for Tianjin and Kuala Lumpur
| Kuala Lumpur | Tianjin | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | Temp (°C) | Rain (mm) | |
| Jan | 27°C (81°F) | 239 mm (9.4 in) | -3°C (27°F) | 3 mm (0.1 in) |
| Feb | 28°C (82°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 6 mm (0.2 in) |
| Mar | 28°C (82°F) | 260 mm (10.2 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 9 mm (0.3 in) |
| Apr | 28°C (82°F) | 240 mm (9.4 in) | 14°C (58°F) | 25 mm (1 in) |
| May | 28°C (82°F) | 190 mm (7.5 in) | 21°C (69°F) | 33 mm (1.3 in) |
| Jun | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 25°C (77°F) | 68 mm (2.7 in) |
| Jul | 28°C (82°F) | 150 mm (5.9 in) | 27°C (80°F) | 185 mm (7.3 in) |
| Aug | 28°C (82°F) | 160 mm (6.3 in) | 26°C (79°F) | 155 mm (6.1 in) |
| Sep | 27°C (81°F) | 200 mm (7.9 in) | 21°C (70°F) | 42 mm (1.7 in) |
| Oct | 27°C (81°F) | 280 mm (11 in) | 15°C (58°F) | 21 mm (0.8 in) |
| Nov | 27°C (81°F) | 290 mm (11.4 in) | 6°C (43°F) | 11 mm (0.4 in) |
| Dec | 27°C (81°F) | 250 mm (9.8 in) | -1°C (31°F) | 4 mm (0.2 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.