Planning a visit to Southeast Asia but not sure whether to visit Singapore or the capital of Malaysia? Singapore is my home country but I also spend a lot of time in KL as my father lives there: here's my take on Singapore vs Kuala Lumpur (KL), which to include in your itinerary.
Singapore and Malaysia were once 1 country so it's no surprise that they're often compared to each other. Being only a 6 hour drive apart, you could easily combine the 2 cities into your South-east Asia itinerary.
However, if you only have time for 1 but can't decide which to visit, scroll down for the pros and cons of each:
Introduction to...
Singapore: clean, efficient, safe, glitzy
- Language: Most locals speak English in the city-state of Singapore (It's the official language, along with Malay, Mandarin, and Tamil.)
- Cost of living: high. Singapore is known to be 1 of the most expensive cities in the world (although street food is cheap.)
- Main Shopping Area: Orchard Road + Marina Bay
- Public Transport: The bus and Mass Transit System take you all round the island
- Getting There: Singapore’s changi airport is considered 1 of the best in the world.
Kuala Lumpur: easy access to nature
- Language: Although many people are fluent in English, Malay and Cantonese are more commonly used in Kuala Lumpur.
- Cost of living: the Malaysian Ringgit is about ⅓ of Singapore Dollars so it's much lower
- Main Shopping Area: Bukit Bintang
- Public Transport: public transportation is not great in KL. You really need a car to get around KL but the traffic jams can be bad at peak hours
- Getting There: You fly into Kuala lumpur international airport (KLIA)
Verdict: Singapore is a better place if you like it safe and glitzy; choose Kuala Lumpur if you want more bang for your buck or to go on more nature excursions
Things to Do in...
- Cultural Attractions: Little india, Kampong glam & Chinatown
- Marina Bay Sands: one of the best things to do in the area is to visit Gardens by the Bay and cycle or walk round the Bay in the evening.
- Universal Studios: This theme park is 1 of only 2 Universal Parks in South-east Asia.
- World class shopping malls: besides shops and restaurants, you can also find climbing walls, canals and more in Singapore's shopping centres
- Petronas Twin Towers
- Masjid Negara: Malaysia's national mosque
- Batu Caves: about 13 km from KL, these limestone caves contain many Hindu temples.
- Shopping: Pavilion Kuala Lumpur is in the city center
- If you enjoy road trips, Malaysia is a much larger country and you can easily do day trips from KL to Malacca etc (You can obviously also drive to these places from Singapore, but you'll need to cross the Causeway which can be quite jammed so a day trip won't be possible.)
Verdict: if you're after natural attractions and easy access to beautiful beaches, KL is great place. (Singapore has beaches on Sentosa Island but some people feel they're more man-made/ artificial.) For a city break, Singapore is better.
Food
National Dish: Hainanese Chicken Rice & Singapore Chili Crab
National Dish: Nasi Lemak
Singaporean and Malaysian cuisine are very similar- you'll find almost all the same local foods in both places. In fact, the 2 countries are often fighting about who invented what dish.
Generally, people say Singaporean food is a bit sweeter than Malaysia (though I have not noticed it!)
However, whilst there are the same street food options in both countries, Singapore has a better selection of international restaurants and more Michelin-starred restaurants.
Verdict: Malaysia has more Muslims so if you're after Halal food, there are more options in Kuala Lumpur. If you want authentic Chinese food (with pork), Singapore is a better choice. (Chinese food in KL isn't amazing- in fact I know Malaysians who actually prefer the Chinese food in Lodon!) If you like eating in malls, the restaurants in Singaporean malls have better food. If you want your money to go further, enjoy traditional street food and aren't fussy about cleanliness, Kuala Lumpur has more options.
Accommodation
- Luxury Hotels: no lack of choice, from Marina Bay Sands Hotel to Raffles Hotel
- Mid & Budget Options Available too
- Luxury Hotels: KL has 5 star hotels but the standard isn't there. I've stayed at Ritz Carlton, Four Seasons and Mandarin Oriental and all were disappointing. (Ritz Carlton accidentally overcharged me by a few thousand. At Mandarin Oriental, my non-smoking room smelt so badly of cigarette smoke, my allergies were triggered. At Four Seasons, the bathwater couldn't drain, the housekeeping was always late etc etc.) However, the staff were always very warm and friendly. I'd say the service is great but the infrastructure just isn't there.
- Mid & Budget Options available too
- Generally cheaper than Singapore
Verdict: if you want a luxurious 5-star hotel stay, go to Singapore. For a budget break, go to KL.
In conclusion, Singapore is safer and has a glitzier feel but, thanks to exchange rates, your money goes further in Kuala Lumpur. If you're looking for a safe, easy no fuss, no muss vacation and budget isn't a concern, choose Singapore. If you're adventurous and want to spend less, go to KL.
Any questions about visiting Singapore vs Kuala Lumpur? Let me know in the comments!
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