If you come to Malaysia without visiting the capital Kuala Lumpur is really a shortcoming. Although prices are expensive compared to other cities, this is a mix of cultures such as India, China, Malaysia and even Western countries. Therefore, a journey here will bring you many new and exciting experiences. Along with Living Nomads to save some of Kuala Lumpur’s travel experiences in a self-sufficient trip to explore the city in the most complete way. So, are you looking for a budget trip to Kuala Lumpur (Kuala Lumpur budget travel)? Let’s check it our Kuala Lumpur blog (Kuala Lumpur travel blog, KL blog, KL travel blog) to find out some useful tips and KL travel guide with Living Nomads below.
- Where to stay in KL? — Top 8 best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur for the first-timers
- Best infinity pools in Kuala Lumpur— 10+ best Kuala Lumpur hotels with infinity pool with breathtaking views of the city
- Top rooftop bars in KL — 13+ best sky bars & best rooftop bars in Kuala Lumpur
- 2 days in Kuala Lumpur itinerary — How to spend 48 hours in KL & what to do in Kuala Lumpur for 2 days?
- Where to shop in Kuala Lumpur? — 8 best places & best shopping malls in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur trip cost: The travel cost of self-sufficient travel in Kuala Lumpur
Transport cost
The fastest way to get to Kuala Lumpur is by plane, you can fly straight from Tan Son Nhat International Airport or Noi Bai Airport to KLIA2 (international airport). The price for a direct flight is less than 100 dollars (about 2 million VND). Some airlines that you can choose from are Air Asia, Malaysia Airlines, Vietnam Airlines, VietJet, …
After arriving at Kuala Lumpur Airport, you can take the bus to KL Sentral Station. You will lose about 10 ringgit and about 75 minutes to get to the center. If you do not want to go to KL Sentral Station, you can take Jetbus to TBS (Bersepadu Selatan Terminal). From this place, you can still go to other places in the city by boat.
Accommodation cost
For accommodation in the city of Kuala Lumpur, you will have a lot of options with many different prices. Normally, if you choose mid-range hotels you will spend about 15 – 20 dollars/night. High quality or renowned hotels will have a higher cost, at least 25 dollars.
Another solution to the staying problem is to choose dorm rooms – rent a bed in a shared room with many other people. This type of accommodation will cost you about 4 – 11 dollars/bed/ night. However, from the Kuala Lumpur travel experience, the biggest disadvantage of this dormitory is not being private and safe.
Food cost
Owning a culture of convergence from many countries such as India, China, Singapore and also indigenous, Malaysian cuisine is a mix of all flavors. And the capital of Malaysia is a place where you can enjoy the most unique culinary experience. The traditional nasi lemak is full of coconut milk, grilled dishes, and street food. The price for a typical dish is 1 – 4 dollars and the price for a meal is less than 25 dollars.
Kuala Lumpur budget travel tips: Kuala Lumpur travel experiences for saving trip cost
Making plan
In order to have the best travel to Kuala Lumpur, you should choose for yourself a specific route before departure. Get started with booking air tickets and hotel rooms. If you choose the low season or the promotion randomly, you can save a bit of money.
You can also buy tickets in Kuala Lumpur available, including tickets to the Kuala Lumpur Observatory, Aquaria Aquarium or Genting Highland. This also helps reduce the cost of travel and accommodation, while also giving you more time to arrange fun activities to suit the members of the delegation. Read more: Kuala Lumpur 1 day itinerary — How to spend 24 hours in Kuala Lumpur?
Selecting the appropriate accommodation
If you want to save money when traveling on a self-sufficient basis, you can choose to stay in areas such as Bukit Bintang, Chinatown, Chow Kit, etc. These sites own the infrastructure with many motels options, hotel with the price is very cheap. Especially the Chinatown, one of the busiest and most “chestnuts” price in Kuala Lumpur.
Shopping in Kuala Lumpur
Kuala Lumpur self-sufficient experience is you can find soft goods at Lot 10 that sell genuine clothes at cheap prices. Also, you can also search in Chinatown. This is one of the cheaper areas in the city and especially it is close to many attractions.
Use public transportation
For transportation in the city, you can choose a bus, train or taxi. If traveling to Kuala Lumpur alone, you should take the bus or train because the price of each trip is only about 1 – 10 dollars in each location. While traveling with a large group, renting a taxi will help your team move more freely and comfortably. The only note is that you have to pay the price firmly with the driver before boarding.
KL blog: Where to stay?
To find out some best places to stay in Kuala Lumpur, plz read: Where to stay in KL? — Top 8 best areas to stay in Kuala Lumpur for the first-timers.
Below are some best cheap, budget, mid-range and upscale hotels with good ratings and reviews you can refer to.
MOV Hotel (Address: 43, Jalan Berangan, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Phone: +60 3-2781 9888), 4-star hotel with room rates from $33/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
PARKROYAL Kuala Lumpur (Address: Jalan Sultan Ismail, Bukit Bintang, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Phone: +60 3-2147 0088), 5-star hotel with room rates from $50/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
Impiana KLCC Hotel Kuala Lumpur (Address: Impiana Klcc Hotel & Spa, 13, Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Phone: +60 3-2147 1111), 4-star hotel with room rates from $53/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
The Majestic Hotel Kuala Lumpur (Address: 5, Jalan Sultan Hishamuddin, Tasik Perdana, 50000 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Phone: +60 3-2785 8000), 5-star hotel with room rates from $73/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
Sunway Putra Hotel (Address: 100, Jalan Putra, Chow Kit, 50350 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Phone: +60 3-4040 9888), 5-star hotel with room rates from $46/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
The Kuala Lumpur Journal (Address: 30, Jalan Beremi, Off, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Phone: +60 3-2110 2211), 5-star hotel with room rates from $62/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
Oasia Suites Kuala Lumpur by Far East Hospitality (Address: 10, Lorong P Ramlee, Kuala Lumpur, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Phone: +60 3-2726 6788), 4-star hotel with room rates from $36/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
Aloft Kuala Lumpur Sentral (Address: No. 5, Jalan Stesen Sentral, Kuala Lumpur Sentral, 50470 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Phone: +60 3-2723 1188), 4-star hotel with room rates from $60/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
Traders Hotel, Kuala Lumpur (Address: Persiaran KLCC, Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Phone: +60 3-2332 9888), 5-star hotel with room rates from $77/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
Mandarin Oriental, Kuala Lumpur (Address: Kuala Lumpur City Centre, 50088 Kuala Lumpur, Federal Territory of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Phone: +60 3-2380 8888), 5-star hotel with room rates from $144/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
Grand Hyatt Kuala Lumpur (Address: 12, Jalan Pinang, Kuala Lumpur, 50450 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Phone: +60 3-2182 1234), 5-star hotel with room rates from $132/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
Hotel Istana Kuala Lumpur City Centre (Address: 73, Jalan Raja Chulan, Bukit Bintang, 50200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Phone: +60 3-2141 9988), 5-star hotel with room rates from $50/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
Shangri-La Hotel Kuala Lumpur (Address: 11, Jalan Sultan Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, 50250 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia / Phone: +60 3-2032 2388), 5-star hotel with room rates from $83/night. (Check rates and reviews on Agoda.com or Booking.com).
You can find more, check rates, availability & booking for Kuala Lumpur hotels on Agoda.com or Booking.com or Airbnb.com.
Kuala Lumpur blog: Self-sufficient Kuala Lumpur Travel Experiences – Explore best attractive places and top things to do you can not miss
Visit the Petronas Twin Towers
Known as the world’s tallest twin tower, Petronas is 1,500 meters high. Every day, thousands of visitors come to this tower to take photos with the symbol Malaysia. And not only that, you can also see the panoramic city from the bridge which is connected between the two towers. The fee for visiting the tower is about 21 dollars. However, the number of tickets is limited and usually out of very fast, so you need to be in the twin towers early to get tickets.
The bustling markets of Kuala Lumpur
Come to the local markets to feel the noise, excitement and the most authentic in the lives of local people. These markets are full of electronics, food, clothing, and accessories. Most prominent are Central Market, Jl Petaling Market in Chinatown, Night Market ‘Pasar Tani’ and ‘Pasar Malam’.
National Museum
The National History Museum is a great place to get acquainted with the history and culture of Malaysia. The artifacts include a human skull 40,000 years ago and an eight-sided golden coin dating back to the 15th century. The museum fee is pretty cheap for about 1.5 dollars.