Five of the Best Budget Hotels in Kuala Lumpur for Your Backpacking Trip

Whether you’re visiting Malaysia over the weekend or during a year-long backpacking trip, finding hotel that suits your budget is essential for every kind of traveller.

Dubbed as the Garden City of Lights, Kuala Lumpur is brimming with iconic skyscrapers, panoramic views, and vibrant shopping and arts destinations. If you’re planning to explore the metropolis, we recommend finding affordable accommodation to avoid splurging on high-end luxury rooms.

There ain’t no such thing as a free lunch, but if you are astute in evaluating the location of each hotel as well as the amenities it provides may help cut off your travel expenses.

For backpackers who have a tight or slightly higher budget, we’ve got you covered! Check out five of the best budget-friendly hotels in Kuala Lumpur.

Hotel Transit Kuala Lumpur

Hotel Transit is a three-star hotel in Kuala Lumpur built with 176 rooms designed with calming and aesthetic interiors. It provides complimentary Wi-Fi access, a flat screen HDTV, a coffee and tea maker, a mini fridge, a hair dryer, toiletries, a safe deposit box, and a writing desk. Its studio room is cosy and well-equipped with a queen bed.

The hotel is situated close to Kuala Lumpur City Centre ideal for backpackers who want to explore the city and take advantage of the proximity of public transit. Some of the popular tourist spots near the hotel are Bukit Bintang Shopping District, KL Tower, Changkat Bukit Bintang, Petaling Street and Central Market, KLCC Petronas Twin Towers, KLCC Aquaria, Jalan Alor, and National Museum. To check its latest room rates and availability, click here.

Location: Hotel Transit Kuala Lumpur, 42, Jln Pudu, Bukit Bintang, Wilayah Persekutuan

Travelodge City Centre

Navigate your way through the city with Travelodge City Centre as one of the preferred low-cost hotels in Kuala Lumpur. It has been awarded as TripAdvisor Traveler’s Choice for 2022.

The 198-room hotel provides reliable essentials for all backpackers, such as high-speed WiFi, accessible public transportation, and a modern lobby to chill in. Other facilities you can take advantage of are the self-service laundry, in-house gym, shared pantry space, 24/7 convenience store, and vending machine.

Some of the interesting areas you should visit near the hotel are the business districts, Chinatown, and the city’s old town. Travelodge hotels are also located in Bukit Bintang, Georgetown, and Ipoh. Check the latest hotel rates here.

Location: Travelodge, 7, Jalan Hang Kasturi, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan

Hotel Sentral Kuala Lumpur

The Hotel Sentral Kuala Lumpur is ideally situated within the city's major transport interchange, next to the city centre – Kuala Lumpur Sentral area, making it the best option for visitors who prefer to see sights between Kuala Lumpur International Airport and Kuala Lumpur Sentral Station, with a travel time of less than 30 minutes.

The three-star hotel is close to Bukit Bintang, Times Square, Putra World Trade Centre, KLCC, China Town, and Mid Valley City. It also has easy access to industrial cities of Subang Jaya and Petaling Jaya.

Its modern amenities include a smoking-free floor, round-the-clock security, a tour desk, and a covered parking garage, among others. Each room is elegantly furnished with an LCD flat screen television, minibar, in-room safe, IDD telephone, electronic key card lockset, complimentary Wi-Fi internet access, and satellite channels. You may check Hotel Sentral’s room rates and availability here.

Location: Hotel Sentral Kuala Lumpur, No 30, Jalan Thambypillai, Brickfields 50470

Grand Pacific Hotel

Grand Pacific Hotel is a three-star budget hotel in Kuala Lumpur that's less than three kilometres from the iconic Petronas Twin Towers. The Kuala Lumpur Butterfly Park can be reached by foot in 25 minutes from the Chow Kit district where the Grand Pacific Hotel lies, while Petaling Chinatown Street Market is about 3.6 kilometres away.

This hotel has 111 rooms that are all equipped with air conditioning, free wireless internet access, a coffee maker, a toilet with a bidet, and a separate shower that comes with a hairdryer, and a towel. It offers a family room for four people, a standard family quadruple room for four, a superior room for two, and a deluxe room for three.

You don’t need to worry about your morning meal as the hotel also offers a breakfast buffet daily for its guests. In case you want to try other cuisines, check out Pacifica restaurant located five minutes away that serves Asian, Chinese, and Malaysian foods. Book your travel dates and check Grand Pacific Hotel’s special offers via this link.

Location: Grand Pacific Hotel, 50400, Jalan Tun Ismail, Kuala Lumpur, 51200 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan

Cosmo Hotel

Cosmo Hotel is a four-star budget hotel in Kuala Lumpur seated near the Central Market, Chinatown, and Dataran Merdeka.

Whether you’re a seasoned backpacker or a digital nomad, Cosmo Hotel provides everything for your convenient stay, including an all-day dining restaurant, café, Cosmo lounge, meeting rooms, a boardroom, and a gymnasium. It is walking distance to the historical landmarks of Sultan Abdul Samad Building and Merdeka Square, as well as banks within the city. It also provides convenient access to Masjid Jamek Interchange Station and KL Sentral for a seamless trip to the airport. Learn more about Cosmo Hotel’s room deals and book your reservation here.

Location: Cosmo Hotel, 13, 15, Leboh Ampang, City Centre, 50050 Kuala Lumpur, Wilayah Persekutuan