Cost of living comparison
Kuala Lumpur is 24.0% more expensive than Malaysia overall.
- Restaurants
-
pay 31.0% more in Kuala Lumpur
- Groceries
-
pay 7.2% more in Kuala Lumpur
- Transportation
-
pay 7.2% more in Kuala Lumpur
- Housing
-
pay 47.2% more in Kuala Lumpur
- Childcare
-
pay 43.9% more in Kuala Lumpur
- Entertainment and Sports
-
pay 14.0% more in Kuala Lumpur
- Clothing
-
pay 17.2% more in Kuala Lumpur
The cost of housing, childcare, restaurants, clothing, entertainment and sports, and groceries in Kuala Lumpur are more expensive than in Malaysia.
If you lived in Kuala Lumpur instead of Malaysia, you would:
pay 31.0% more for restaurants
|
Malaysia
|
Kuala Lumpur
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Basic meal with drink at inexpensive restaurant |
$2.98
MYR12.60
|
$4.54
MYR19.22
|
|
|
Fast food combo meal
McDonalds, or similar
|
$4.23
MYR17.89
|
$4.54
MYR19.22
|
|
| Bottle of Coca-Cola (11 fl. oz) |
$0.68
MYR2.87
|
$0.84
MYR3.57
|
|
| Bottle of water (11 fl. oz) |
$0.38
MYR1.62
|
$0.53
MYR2.26
|
|
pay 7.2% more for groceries
|
Malaysia
|
Kuala Lumpur
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Bread
1 loaf
|
$0.91
MYR3.86
|
$0.95
MYR4.01
|
|
| Local cheese (8 oz) |
$7.65
MYR32.37
|
$7.58
MYR32.06
|
|
| Milk (1 gallon) |
$6.39
MYR27.03
|
$7.22
MYR30.54
|
|
|
Eggs
1 dozen
|
$1.97
MYR8.34
|
$2.36
MYR9.97
|
|
| Boneless chicken breast (1 lb) |
$1.83
MYR7.75
|
$1.94
MYR8.19
|
|
| Apples (1 lb) |
$1.17
MYR4.96
|
$1.24
MYR5.24
|
|
| Bananas (1 lb) |
$0.57
MYR2.41
|
$0.69
MYR2.92
|
|
| Oranges (1 lb) |
$1.21
MYR5.14
|
$1.25
MYR5.29
|
|
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
$0.63
MYR2.67
|
$0.63
MYR2.65
|
|
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
$0.43
MYR1.82
|
$0.47
MYR1.97
|
|
| Onions (1 lb) |
$0.51
MYR2.15
|
$0.51
MYR2.17
|
|
pay 7.2% more for transportation
|
Malaysia
|
Kuala Lumpur
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Gasoline (1 gallon) |
$1.77
MYR7.49
|
$1.77
MYR7.50
|
|
| Monthly public transit pass |
$15.69
MYR66.37
|
$11.36
MYR48.05
|
|
| New Volkswagen Golf 1.4 (standard edition) |
$34,330.57
MYR145,252.66
|
$37,478.71
MYR158,572.40
|
|
| Taxi trip in downtown area (5 miles) |
$6.94
MYR29.35
|
$10.22
MYR43.25
|
|
pay 47.2% more for housing
|
Malaysia
|
Kuala Lumpur
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Internet connection
50 mbps or faster, cable/dsl
|
$26.31
MYR111.34
|
$25.27
MYR106.90
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment in downtown area |
$322.80
MYR1,365.78
|
$536.30
MYR2,269.07
|
|
| 1-Bedroom apartment outside city center |
$212.35
MYR898.45
|
$371.69
MYR1,572.62
|
|
|
Utilities for two
(700 sq ft apartment)
including electric, gas, water, heating
|
$33.00
MYR139.62
|
$50.02
MYR211.65
|
|
pay 43.9% more for childcare
|
Malaysia
|
Kuala Lumpur
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Private preschool for 1 child, monthly |
$163.68
MYR692.52
|
$250.80
MYR1,061.15
|
|
| Middle school for 1 child, two semesters |
$6,626.64
MYR28,037.31
|
$8,920.55
MYR37,742.85
|
|
pay 14.0% more for entertainment and sports
|
Malaysia
|
Kuala Lumpur
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
| Domestic/local beer (1 pint) |
$3.66
MYR15.48
|
$4.09
MYR17.30
|
|
| Cappuccino in mid-range area |
$2.54
MYR10.75
|
$2.92
MYR12.35
|
|
|
Pack of cigarettes
Marlboro or similar
|
$4.07
MYR17.20
|
$4.09
MYR17.30
|
|
| Monthly membership at local gym |
$36.32
MYR153.68
|
$44.75
MYR189.33
|
|
| Movie ticket to theater/cinema |
$4.00
MYR16.91
|
$4.77
MYR20.18
|
|
pay 17.2% more for clothing
|
Malaysia
|
Kuala Lumpur
|
||
|---|---|---|---|
|
Regular jeans
Levi's brand
|
$53.15
MYR224.87
|
$57.74
MYR244.29
|
|
|
Regular dress
from H&M or similar store
|
$30.13
MYR127.47
|
$35.00
MYR148.09
|
|
|
Running shoes
Nike or Adidas
|
$65.18
MYR275.76
|
$76.75
MYR324.74
|
|
| Men's business shoes (leather) |
$57.93
MYR245.12
|
$73.25
MYR309.94
|
|
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