A Travel Price Comparison for Families, Couples, and Backpackers Kuala Lumpur vs. Zhangjiajie for Vacations, Tours, and Honeymoons

Should you visit Kuala Lumpur or Zhangjiajie?

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 Zhangjiajie. 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 Zhangjiajie?

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.

Zhangjiajie

Zhangjiajie, China is a picturesque city located in the northwest of the Hunan Province. This ancient city, which dates all the way back to the Stone Age, is famous for being home to the UNESCO World Heritage Site, Wulingyuan Scenic Area. Zhangjiajie is also known for being a popular filming location and and overall great place to escape the bustling Chinese cities. Zhangjiajie has its own dialect, which is a branch of the Hunan and Southern dialects, so Mandarin does not always translate when trying to speak to locals here.

For some great organized tour ideas, see The Best Tours for Seniors to Malaysia, The Best G Adventures Tours to Malaysia, The Best Historical Tours in China, and The Best 10-Day Tours in China.


Which place is cheaper, Zhangjiajie 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.

  • Kuala Lumpur Prices
    Malaysia Prices
    Zhangjiajie Prices
    China Prices
  • Average Daily Cost Per person, per day
    Kuala Lumpur $83
    Zhangjiajie $79

The average daily cost (per person) in Kuala Lumpur is $83, while the average daily cost in Zhangjiajie is $79. 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 Zhangjiajie in more detail.



Accommodation
  • Accommodation Hotel or hostel for one person
    Kuala Lumpur $41
    Zhangjiajie $30
  • Accommodation Typical double-occupancy room
    Kuala Lumpur $82
    Zhangjiajie $60
Compare Hotels in Kuala Lumpur and Zhangjiajie

Looking for a hotel in Kuala Lumpur or Zhangjiajie? 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.

Hotels in Kuala Lumpur


Hotels in Zhangjiajie


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.
    Kuala Lumpur $7.21
    Zhangjiajie $15
Typical Local Transportation Prices in Kuala Lumpur

Some typical examples of transportation costs in Kuala Lumpur are as follows:


  • Taxi Ride
    $3.57
  • Metro Ride (for Two)
    $0.76
  • Short Taxi Ride
    $3.57
  • Taxi From Airport
    $21
  • Bus from Airport
    $1.90
  • 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 Zhangjiajie

Also for Zhangjiajie, here are a few examples of actual transportation services:

  • 4-Day Private Tour with Airport Transfers: $710
  • Zhangjiajie airport/city pick up transfer to hotel or Vice Versa: $15
  • Zhangjiajie Hehua International Airport private transfer service: $20
  • Private transfer from Zhangjiajie(Wulingyuan) to Changsha area: $213
  • Private Transfer: Zhangjiajie from/to Fenghuang: $168
  • Private Transfer: Yichang hotel from/to Zhangjiajie Hotel: $321
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Guilin or Yangshuo: $256
  • Private Transfer from Zhangjiajie to Fenghuang and stops at Furong old town: $187
  • Private Car Transfer From WLY to Glass Bridge (Round Trip ): $105
  • Fox Fairy Show VIP Ticket with Private Transfer in ZJJ City: $52
  • 1 Day Fenghuang and Furong Town Day Tour with Hotel Transfers: $192

Is it cheaper to fly into Kuala Lumpur or Zhangjiajie?

Prices for flights to both Zhangjiajie 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
  • Food Meals for one day
    Kuala Lumpur $29
    Zhangjiajie $36
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
    $9.51
  • Roti Bread
    $0.24
  • Food Court Lunch
    $3.42
  • 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

Food Tours and Cooking Classes in Zhangjiajie

For Zhangjiajie, here are some samples of tours and activities related to meals and dining experiences:

  • 1 Day Zhangjiajie Private Tour Visit Avatar Mount and Tianzi Mount with Dinner: $196

Entertainment
  • Entertainment Entrance tickets, shows, etc.
    Kuala Lumpur $15
    Zhangjiajie $23
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
    $1.19

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 Zhangjiajie

Also, here are some specific examples of entertainment, tickets, and activities for Zhangjiajie.

  • 2-Day Private Combo Tour: Avatar Mountain & Tianmen Mountain: $251
  • 2-Days Private tour to Avatar mount & Have's Gate & Glass bridge: $250
  • (Private Day Tour) Zhangjiajie National Park + Tianzi Mountain: $195
  • 1 Day Dragon Sitting Gorge & Red Stone Forest Geo-park TOUR!: $272
  • 1 Day Private Expedition Tour to Binlang Valley: $142
  • 1 Day VIP Tour: Avatar Mountain&72 Odd Towers (Free Ticket): $203
  • 1 day tour Avatar Mountain and Grand Canyon & Glass Bridge: $215
  • 1-Day Private Tour to Glass Bridge & Yellow Dragon Cave: $102
  • 1-Day Private Tour to Tianmen Mountain & Glass Walk & Night Light: $146
  • 1-Day Private Tour to ZJJ National Forest Park & Avatar Mountain: $98
  • 1-Day Private Tour to Zhangjiajie Forest Park & AVATAR Mountain: $98
  • 1-Day Private Tour to Zhangjiajie Forest Park & Avatar Mountain: $195

Alcohol
  • Alcohol Drinks for one day
    Kuala Lumpur $6.58
    Zhangjiajie $16
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


When comparing the travel costs between Kuala Lumpur and Zhangjiajie, we can see that Kuala Lumpur 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 Zhangjiajie Expensive?.


Which is Bigger, Kuala Lumpur or Zhangjiajie?

Kuala Lumpur has a larger population, and is about 20 times larger than the population of Zhangjiajie. When comparing the sizes of Kuala Lumpur and Zhangjiajie, 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 Zhangjiajie?

Zhangjiajie 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 Zhangjiajie in the Summer?

The summer attracts plenty of travelers to both Kuala Lumpur and Zhangjiajie. Warm weather and sunshine bring visitors to Kuala Lumpur year-round.

In the summer, Kuala Lumpur is around the same temperature as Zhangjiajie. Typically, the summer temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in July average around 28°C (82°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 29°C (85°F).

Zhangjiajie 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 more rain than Zhangjiajie. Kuala Lumpur gets 150 mm (5.9 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 125 mm (4.9 in) of rain each month for the summer.


  • Summer Average Temperatures July
    Kuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 29°C (85°F)

Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Zhangjiajie in the Autumn?

The autumn brings many poeple to Kuala Lumpur as well as Zhangjiajie. Kuala Lumpur attracts visitors year-round for its warm weather and sunny climate.

In October, Kuala Lumpur is generally a little warmer than Zhangjiajie. Daily temperatures in Kuala Lumpur average around 27°C (81°F), and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 19°C (65°F).

Kuala Lumpur receives a lot of rain in the autumn. Kuala Lumpur usually gets more rain in October than Zhangjiajie. Kuala Lumpur gets 280 mm (11 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 90 mm (3.6 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Autumn Average Temperatures October
    Kuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 19°C (65°F)

Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Zhangjiajie in the Winter?

Both Zhangjiajie 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.

Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Zhangjiajie in the winter. The daily temperature in Kuala Lumpur averages around 27°C (81°F) in January, and Zhangjiajie fluctuates around 5°C (42°F).

It's quite rainy in Kuala Lumpur. In January, Kuala Lumpur usually receives more rain than Zhangjiajie. Kuala Lumpur gets 239 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 44 mm (1.7 in) of rain each month for the winter.


  • Winter Average Temperatures January
    Kuala Lumpur 27°C (81°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 5°C (42°F)

Should I visit Kuala Lumpur or Zhangjiajie in the Spring?

Both Zhangjiajie 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.

In the spring, Kuala Lumpur is much warmer than Zhangjiajie. Typically, the spring temperatures in Kuala Lumpur in April average around 28°C (82°F), and Zhangjiajie averages at about 17°C (63°F).

Zhangjiajie 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 more rain in April than Zhangjiajie. Kuala Lumpur gets 240 mm (9.4 in) of rain, while Zhangjiajie receives 166 mm (6.5 in) of rain this time of the year.


  • Spring Average Temperatures April
    Kuala Lumpur 28°C (82°F) 
    Zhangjiajie 17°C (63°F)

Typical Weather for Zhangjiajie and Kuala Lumpur

Kuala Lumpur Zhangjiajie
Temp (°C) Rain (mm) Temp (°C) Rain (mm)
Jan 27°C (81°F) 239 mm (9.4 in) 5°C (42°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)
Feb 28°C (82°F) 200 mm (7.9 in) 6°C (44°F) 65 mm (2.6 in)
Mar 28°C (82°F) 260 mm (10.2 in) 11°C (52°F) 112 mm (4.4 in)
Apr 28°C (82°F) 240 mm (9.4 in) 17°C (63°F) 166 mm (6.5 in)
May 28°C (82°F) 190 mm (7.5 in) 22°C (72°F) 179 mm (7 in)
Jun 28°C (82°F) 160 mm (6.3 in) 26°C (78°F) 199 mm (7.8 in)
Jul 28°C (82°F) 150 mm (5.9 in) 29°C (85°F) 125 mm (4.9 in)
Aug 28°C (82°F) 160 mm (6.3 in) 29°C (83°F) 149 mm (5.9 in)
Sep 27°C (81°F) 200 mm (7.9 in) 24°C (75°F) 85 mm (3.3 in)
Oct 27°C (81°F) 280 mm (11 in) 19°C (65°F) 90 mm (3.6 in)
Nov 27°C (81°F) 290 mm (11.4 in) 13°C (55°F) 70 mm (2.7 in)
Dec 27°C (81°F) 250 mm (9.8 in) 7°C (45°F) 44 mm (1.7 in)