Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Johor Bahru is 6.4% lower than in Kuala Lumpur (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Johor Bahru is 9.0% lower than in Kuala Lumpur | |
| Rent Prices in Johor Bahru are 17.6% lower than in Kuala Lumpur | |
| Restaurant Prices in Johor Bahru are 8.8% lower than in Kuala Lumpur | |
| Groceries Prices in Johor Bahru are 0.0% higher than in Kuala Lumpur | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Johor Bahru is 30.7% lower than in Kuala Lumpur | |
Restaurants | Kuala Lumpur Edit |
Johor Bahru Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant | RM20.00 | RM15.00 | -25.0 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) | RM110.00 | RM100.00 | -9.1 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) | RM20.00 | RM20.00 | 0.0 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) | RM18.00 | RM19.00 | +5.6 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | RM25.00 | RM26.00 | +4.0 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) | RM13.04 | RM11.49 | -11.9 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) | RM3.21 | RM3.56 | +10.9 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) | RM2.00 | RM2.15 | +7.7 % |
Markets | Kuala Lumpur Edit |
Johor Bahru Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) | RM8.92 | RM6.97 | -21.8 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) | RM4.11 | RM3.99 | -2.9 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) | RM3.46 | RM2.71 | -21.5 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) | RM10.49 | RM6.93 | -34.0 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) | RM27.82 | RM33.60 | +20.8 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) | RM9.49 | RM8.48 | -10.6 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) | RM18.17 | RM19.83 | +9.1 % |
| Apples (1 lb) | RM6.57 | RM6.20 | -5.7 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) | RM3.58 | RM3.16 | -11.6 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) | RM4.60 | RM7.11 | +54.7 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) | RM3.02 | RM3.05 | +1.1 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) | RM2.58 | RM2.67 | +3.2 % |
| Onions (1 lb) | RM2.75 | RM3.13 | +13.7 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) | RM4.94 | RM5.50 | +11.4 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) | RM2.74 | RM2.15 | -21.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) | RM77.50 | RM57.50 | -25.8 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) | RM13.95 | RM11.88 | -14.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) | RM20.89 | RM12.50 | -40.2 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) | RM18.00 | RM17.40 | -3.3 % |
Transportation | Kuala Lumpur Edit |
Johor Bahru Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) | RM3.00 | RM3.00 | 0.0 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) | RM50.00 | RM50.00 | 0.0 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) | RM5.00 | RM6.00 | +20.0 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) | RM8.05 | RM4.83 | -40.0 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) | RM20.00 | RM40.00 | +100.0 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) | RM2.91 | RM2.75 | -5.6 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) | RM170,560.00 | RM170,560.00 | 0.0 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) | RM142,230.77 | RM145,080.00 | +2.0 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Kuala Lumpur Edit |
Johor Bahru Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) | RM270.33 | RM215.00 | -20.5 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) | RM39.12 | RM45.43 | +16.1 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) | RM108.35 | RM116.71 | +7.7 % |
Sports And Leisure | Kuala Lumpur Edit |
Johor Bahru Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership | RM203.46 | RM163.40 | -19.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) | RM26.75 | RM23.33 | -12.8 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) | RM22.00 | RM20.00 | -9.1 % |
Childcare | Kuala Lumpur Edit |
Johor Bahru Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child | RM1,218.54 | RM666.67 | -45.3 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child | RM50,328.75 | RM18,250.00 | -63.7 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Kuala Lumpur Edit |
Johor Bahru Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) | RM299.82 | RM268.33 | -10.5 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) | RM167.17 | RM67.50 | -59.6 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) | RM371.44 | RM332.50 | -10.5 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes | RM393.95 | RM166.33 | -57.8 % |
Rent Per Month | Kuala Lumpur Edit |
Johor Bahru Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | RM2,600.00 | RM2,089.00 | -19.7 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | RM1,543.75 | RM1,533.33 | -0.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre | RM4,942.86 | RM3,427.50 | -30.7 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre | RM2,506.25 | RM2,500.00 | -0.2 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Kuala Lumpur Edit |
Johor Bahru Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre | RM1,555.77 | RM767.65 | -50.7 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre | RM551.12 | RM437.60 | -20.6 % |
Salaries And Financing | Kuala Lumpur Edit |
Johor Bahru Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) | RM6,946.38 | RM4,383.33 | -36.9 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 4.28 | 4.06 | -5.3 % |
| Last update: | 4 June 2026 | 4 May 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 155 | 20 | |
Cities near Kuala Lumpur: | Cost of Living in Petaling Jaya | 10.15 miles |
| Cost of Living in Subang Jaya | 14.23 miles |
| Cost of Living in Gombak | 17.86 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kuala Selangor | 41.00 miles |
| Cost of Living in Seremban | 42.58 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bentong | 43.45 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tampin | 76.84 miles |
| Cost of Living in Malacca | 88.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Jasin | 99.80 miles |
| Cost of Living in Teluk Intan | 100.55 miles |
Cities near Johor Bahru: | Cost of Living in Skudai (Sekudai) | 13.03 miles |
| Cost of Living in Renggam, Johor | 51.38 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bandar Penggaram | 76.69 miles |
| Cost of Living in Mersing | 81.73 miles |
| Cost of Living in Segamat | 110.78 miles |
| Cost of Living in Muar | 110.97 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tangkak | 111.39 miles |
| Cost of Living in Jasin | 124.58 miles |
| Cost of Living in Malacca | 134.32 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tampin | 146.07 miles |