Kuala Lumpur from the UK: what a trip really costs
What a day costs in Kuala Lumpur, when to go, the visa for British travellers and the sights not to miss. Every figure comes from Trip720's checked data, with its source. Updated 21 Oct 2026.
Plan my Kuala Lumpur tripDay to day in Kuala Lumpur, per person
| Style | Food | With transport |
|---|---|---|
| Street food and markets | £13 | £17 |
| A balanced mix | £20 | £25 |
| Mostly restaurants | £28 | £32 |
- Local transport: about £5 a day. Taxi: £1 to start, then £0.17 a km.
- Cooking for yourself: about £11 a day for food.
- Tourist tax: about £1 a person a night, paid at your stay.
Your stay, flights and activities come on top: the planner prices them for your dates. Sources: livingcost.org, says.com, en.wikivoyage.org; in GBP at today's rate.
When to go
28°F
29°M
30°A
30°M
29°J
29°J
28°A
29°S
29°O
29°N
28°D
28°
The driest months are February, June and July. June is the driest month (155 mm of rain) and November the wettest (314 mm).
Bars: rain each month; green: the driest months. Numbers: average daytime high. Source: NASA POWER climatology.
Best time to visit Malaysia, place by placeCompare: Thailand or Malaysia · Vietnam or Malaysia · Indonesia or Malaysia
Visa for British travellers
No visa needed for a holiday
Official source: gov.uk, checked 2026-10-01. Rules change: your plan checks your own passport when you build it.
Not to miss in Kuala Lumpur
Petronas Twin Towers Skybridge and Observation Decktower · a couple of hoursTimed tickets sell out; buy online in advance from the official site only
KL Tower (Menara KL)tower · a couple of hoursBook at the ticket office; outdoor Sky Deck and indoor Observation Deck are separate tickets
Merdeka Square and Sultan Abdul Samad Buildingsquare · a couple of hours
Masjid Jamek (Jamek Mosque)mosque · a couple of hours- Jalan Alor street foodstreet · a couple of hours
Best after dark; Bukit Bintang Monorail station
KL Bird Parkzoo · half a dayIn the Perdana Botanical Garden; taxi there, walk back downhill
Batu Cavestemple · half a day13 km north; KTM Komuter train to Batu Caves station. Steep stairs; watch the monkeys
Central Market (Pasar Seni) and Petaling Streetmarket · a couple of hoursPetaling Street night stalls come alive in the evening; haggle
Thean Hou Templetemple · a couple of hours
Islamic Arts Museum Malaysiamuseum · a couple of hours
From our research of travel guides; ticket prices from Tiqets when we found them. Photos: Wikimedia Commons, free licences.
Questions travellers ask
How much does a day in Kuala Lumpur cost?
Food and getting around come to about £17 a person a day eating street food, £25 with a balanced mix and £32 eating mostly in restaurants, before your stay and activities.
When is the best time to visit Kuala Lumpur?
The driest months are February, June and July. June is the driest month (155 mm of rain) and November the wettest (314 mm); daytime highs run from 28 to 30 °C over the year.
Do British travellers need a visa for Malaysia?
No visa needed for a holiday. Checked on gov.uk on 2026-10-01; rules change, so check again before you book.
What should I not miss in Kuala Lumpur?
Petronas Twin Towers Skybridge and Observation Deck, KL Tower (Menara KL), Merdeka Square and Sultan Abdul Samad Building, Masjid Jamek (Jamek Mosque), Jalan Alor street food.
Your whole Kuala Lumpur trip, priced from your door
Trip720 adds the flights from the UK, the stays, transfers, food, activities and the visa for your dates and budget, home to home.
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