Kuala Lumpur on a budget

Kuala Lumpur can be as cheap or as pricey as you make it. The good news is that a lot of the best things in KL cost little or nothing, and the best food is usually the cheapest. Here’s how to keep costs down.

Free (or nearly free) things to do

• Petronas Twin Towers from below. Skip the skybridge ticket and walk around KLCC Park at sunset, then watch the fountain show on the lake.
• Batu Caves. The main temple cave is free to enter. Just dress modestly and be ready for the stairs.
• Merdeka Square and the old town. Walk the colonial buildings, Masjid Jamek and the river at its confluence.
• Chinatown temples. Sri Mahamariamman and Guan Di temples are free to visit. Be respectful and dress modestly.
• Thean Hou Temple. A big, colourful Chinese temple on a hill with good city views.
• Perdana Botanical Gardens. A big green park near the old town, good for a morning walk.
• The National Mosque (Masjid Negara). Open to non-Muslim visitors outside prayer times, with robes provided.
• Street art. Look around Chinatown, Kwai Chai Hong and Jalan Alor.

Getting around cheaply

• From the airport. The KLIA Ekspres train is fast but the airport buses to KL Sentral cost much less. Grab sits somewhere in between and can be good value if you’re sharing.
• Get a Touch ’n Go card. One card for the LRT, MRT, monorail, KTM Komuter and many buses. You can top up at stations and convenience stores.
• Use the free city bus. The GO KL City Bus has run free routes around the centre for years. Check the current routes before you rely on it.
• Take the train to Batu Caves. The KTM Komuter line stops right at the entrance.
• Grab over taxis. Grab fares are fixed up front. Avoid taxis that won’t use the meter.

Eating well for less

This is the easy part. Eat where locals eat.

• Hawker centres and food courts. Many stalls under one roof, all cheap.
• Mamak restaurants. Indian-Muslim restaurants, many open 24 hours. Roti canai and teh tarik make a cheap breakfast or late-night snack.
• Nasi campur. Point at the dishes you want from a buffet of rice and sides. You pay for what you take, so it’s easy to keep cheap.
• Night markets (pasar malam). Each neighbourhood has one on a set night of the week.
• Mall food courts. Air-conditioned, a bit pricier than street stalls, but still good value.

Where to stay

• Chinatown has the most hostels and budget hotels, and it’s walking distance to the old town.
• Bukit Bintang has plenty of budget options too, plus the night food on Jalan Alor.
• Near a train station. If you stay further out, pick somewhere close to an LRT or MRT stop. It’ll save you time and Grab fares.

Things that eat your budget

• Alcohol. It’s heavily taxed in Malaysia, so bars and imported drinks are pricey. Drink like a local and have a fresh juice or iced tea.
• Mall shopping. Fun to look around, but prices are similar to other big cities.
• Taking cabs everywhere. The trains are cheap and avoid the traffic.

New to Malaysia? Start with our first-time in Malaysia guide.