Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangkok and Kuala Lumpur 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Kuala Lumpur is 8.2% lower than in Bangkok (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Kuala Lumpur is 14.0% lower than in Bangkok | |
| Rent Prices in Kuala Lumpur are 29.0% lower than in Bangkok | |
| Restaurant Prices in Kuala Lumpur are 10.8% higher than in Bangkok | |
| Groceries Prices in Kuala Lumpur are 1.1% lower than in Bangkok | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Kuala Lumpur is 116.5% higher than in Bangkok | |
Restaurants | Bangkok Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
100.00 ฿ (12.60 RM) |
158.77 ฿ (20.00 RM) |
+58.8 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
1,000.00 ฿ (125.97 RM) |
952.64 ฿ (120.00 RM) |
-4.7 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
200.00 ฿ (25.19 RM) |
158.77 ฿ (20.00 RM) |
-20.6 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
100.00 ฿ (12.60 RM) |
142.90 ฿ (18.00 RM) |
+42.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
150.00 ฿ (18.89 RM) |
198.47 ฿ (25.00 RM) |
+32.3 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
90.38 ฿ (11.39 RM) |
105.58 ฿ (13.30 RM) |
+16.8 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
23.70 ฿ (2.98 RM) |
31.03 ฿ (3.91 RM) |
+31.0 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
13.50 ฿ (1.70 RM) |
15.89 ฿ (2.00 RM) |
+17.7 % |
Markets | Bangkok Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
59.00 ฿ (7.43 RM) |
70.82 ฿ (8.92 RM) |
+20.0 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
49.78 ฿ (6.27 RM) |
31.05 ฿ (3.91 RM) |
-37.6 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
21.12 ฿ (2.66 RM) |
25.35 ฿ (3.19 RM) |
+20.0 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
81.40 ฿ (10.25 RM) |
77.78 ฿ (9.80 RM) |
-4.4 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
234.13 ฿ (29.49 RM) |
219.71 ฿ (27.68 RM) |
-6.2 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
48.36 ฿ (6.09 RM) |
69.39 ฿ (8.74 RM) |
+43.5 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
159.53 ฿ (20.10 RM) |
139.75 ฿ (17.60 RM) |
-12.4 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
52.80 ฿ (6.65 RM) |
46.41 ฿ (5.85 RM) |
-12.1 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
27.77 ฿ (3.50 RM) |
25.47 ฿ (3.21 RM) |
-8.3 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
33.21 ฿ (4.18 RM) |
38.78 ฿ (4.89 RM) |
+16.8 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
29.31 ฿ (3.69 RM) |
23.72 ฿ (2.99 RM) |
-19.1 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
23.92 ฿ (3.01 RM) |
19.20 ฿ (2.42 RM) |
-19.7 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
21.58 ฿ (2.72 RM) |
21.70 ฿ (2.73 RM) |
+0.6 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
42.44 ฿ (5.35 RM) |
38.70 ฿ (4.88 RM) |
-8.8 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
19.60 ฿ (2.47 RM) |
22.51 ฿ (2.84 RM) |
+14.8 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
500.00 ฿ (62.98 RM) |
595.40 ฿ (75.00 RM) |
+19.1 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
59.67 ฿ (7.52 RM) |
107.60 ฿ (13.55 RM) |
+80.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
106.84 ฿ (13.46 RM) |
153.73 ฿ (19.36 RM) |
+43.9 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
145.00 ฿ (18.26 RM) |
142.90 ฿ (18.00 RM) |
-1.5 % |
Transportation | Bangkok Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
39.00 ฿ (4.91 RM) |
23.82 ฿ (3.00 RM) |
-38.9 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
1,200.00 ฿ (151.16 RM) |
396.93 ฿ (50.00 RM) |
-66.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
35.00 ฿ (4.41 RM) |
39.69 ฿ (5.00 RM) |
+13.4 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
64.37 ฿ (8.11 RM) |
63.88 ฿ (8.05 RM) |
-0.8 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
200.00 ฿ (25.19 RM) |
158.77 ฿ (20.00 RM) |
-20.6 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
37.76 ฿ (4.76 RM) |
19.06 ฿ (2.40 RM) |
-49.5 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
1,050,000.00 ฿ (132,263.51 RM) |
1,349,578.54 ฿ (170,000.00 RM) |
+28.5 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
896,285.71 ฿ (112,900.85 RM) |
1,118,201.60 ฿ (140,854.55 RM) |
+24.8 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Bangkok Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
3,282.25 ฿ (413.45 RM) |
2,028.18 ฿ (255.48 RM) |
-38.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
421.00 ฿ (53.03 RM) |
288.54 ฿ (36.35 RM) |
-31.5 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
630.25 ฿ (79.39 RM) |
868.89 ฿ (109.45 RM) |
+37.9 % |
Sports And Leisure | Bangkok Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
2,106.67 ฿ (265.37 RM) |
1,547.39 ฿ (194.92 RM) |
-26.5 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
480.95 ฿ (60.58 RM) |
221.72 ฿ (27.93 RM) |
-53.9 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
255.00 ฿ (32.12 RM) |
158.77 ฿ (20.00 RM) |
-37.7 % |
Childcare | Bangkok Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
17,205.13 ฿ (2,167.25 RM) |
9,660.85 ฿ (1,216.93 RM) |
-43.8 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
479,566.67 ฿ (60,408.74 RM) |
340,002.33 ฿ (42,828.48 RM) |
-29.1 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Bangkok Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
2,019.18 ฿ (254.35 RM) |
2,120.07 ฿ (267.05 RM) |
+5.0 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
1,290.77 ฿ (162.59 RM) |
1,327.18 ฿ (167.18 RM) |
+2.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
3,300.00 ฿ (415.69 RM) |
2,901.53 ฿ (365.49 RM) |
-12.1 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
3,213.04 ฿ (404.73 RM) |
3,020.88 ฿ (380.53 RM) |
-6.0 % |
Rent Per Month | Bangkok Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
21,648.62 ฿ (2,726.97 RM) |
20,139.22 ฿ (2,536.84 RM) |
-7.0 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
10,909.09 ฿ (1,374.17 RM) |
12,281.63 ฿ (1,547.06 RM) |
+12.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
72,894.74 ฿ (9,182.20 RM) |
37,449.92 ฿ (4,717.39 RM) |
-48.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
24,956.52 ฿ (3,143.65 RM) |
22,732.92 ฿ (2,863.56 RM) |
-8.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Bangkok Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
18,834.71 ฿ (2,372.52 RM) |
11,505.91 ฿ (1,449.34 RM) |
-38.9 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
9,563.47 ฿ (1,204.66 RM) |
4,523.94 ฿ (569.86 RM) |
-52.7 % |
Salaries And Financing | Bangkok Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
25,289.57 ฿ (3,185.61 RM) |
47,078.57 ฿ (5,930.26 RM) |
+86.2 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 5.62 | 4.47 | -20.5 % |
| Last update: | 11 February 2026 | 9 February 2026 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 193 | 172 | |
Moving to Bangkok? Explore:
Cities near Bangkok: | Cost of Living in Bang Kruai | 5.31 miles |
| Cost of Living in Pak Kret | 14.54 miles |
| Cost of Living in Om Noi | 15.86 miles |
| Cost of Living in Bang Buathong | 17.75 miles |
| Cost of Living in Nonthaburi | 18.30 miles |
| Cost of Living in Samut Prakan | 22.83 miles |
| Cost of Living in Rangsit | 22.86 miles |
| Cost of Living in Samut Sakhon | 24.00 miles |
| Cost of Living in Khlong Luang | 29.43 miles |
| Cost of Living in Nakhon Pathom | 42.12 miles |
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 Teluk Intan | 100.55 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tangkak | 100.88 miles |