Cost of Living Comparison Between San Francisco, CA and Kuala Lumpur 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Kuala Lumpur is 61.8% lower than in San Francisco, CA (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Kuala Lumpur is 70.1% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Rent Prices in Kuala Lumpur are 82.8% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Restaurant Prices in Kuala Lumpur are 73.2% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Groceries Prices in Kuala Lumpur are 56.1% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Kuala Lumpur is 37.2% lower than in San Francisco, CA | |
Restaurants | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
30.00 $ (123.33 RM) |
4.86 $ (20.00 RM) |
-83.8 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
150.00 $ (616.65 RM) |
29.19 $ (120.00 RM) |
-80.5 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
15.00 $ (61.66 RM) |
4.86 $ (20.00 RM) |
-67.6 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
8.00 $ (32.89 RM) |
4.38 $ (18.00 RM) |
-45.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
9.00 $ (37.00 RM) |
6.08 $ (25.00 RM) |
-32.4 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
5.72 $ (23.51 RM) |
3.23 $ (13.26 RM) |
-43.6 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.21 $ (13.19 RM) |
0.94 $ (3.86 RM) |
-70.8 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
2.67 $ (10.96 RM) |
0.51 $ (2.08 RM) |
-81.0 % |
Markets | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
1.54 $ (6.32 RM) |
2.06 $ (8.48 RM) |
+34.3 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
4.69 $ (19.28 RM) |
0.91 $ (3.75 RM) |
-80.6 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
2.77 $ (11.39 RM) |
0.78 $ (3.19 RM) |
-72.0 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
6.18 $ (25.42 RM) |
2.25 $ (9.24 RM) |
-63.6 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
10.39 $ (42.71 RM) |
6.57 $ (27.01 RM) |
-36.8 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
5.93 $ (24.38 RM) |
2.17 $ (8.92 RM) |
-63.4 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
10.54 $ (43.34 RM) |
4.45 $ (18.31 RM) |
-57.7 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
3.25 $ (13.36 RM) |
1.36 $ (5.60 RM) |
-58.0 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
1.30 $ (5.33 RM) |
0.77 $ (3.15 RM) |
-40.8 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.50 $ (10.29 RM) |
1.16 $ (4.78 RM) |
-53.6 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
3.46 $ (14.20 RM) |
0.71 $ (2.92 RM) |
-79.5 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.62 $ (6.64 RM) |
0.58 $ (2.39 RM) |
-64.1 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.93 $ (7.94 RM) |
0.65 $ (2.66 RM) |
-66.5 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
2.94 $ (12.09 RM) |
1.19 $ (4.89 RM) |
-59.5 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.85 $ (11.73 RM) |
0.70 $ (2.87 RM) |
-75.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
18.00 $ (74.00 RM) |
18.24 $ (75.00 RM) |
+1.4 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
2.95 $ (12.13 RM) |
3.31 $ (13.62 RM) |
+12.3 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.68 $ (15.11 RM) |
4.64 $ (19.08 RM) |
+26.3 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
13.00 $ (53.44 RM) |
4.38 $ (18.00 RM) |
-66.3 % |
Transportation | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
3.00 $ (12.33 RM) |
0.73 $ (3.00 RM) |
-75.7 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
92.50 $ (380.27 RM) |
12.16 $ (50.00 RM) |
-86.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
4.15 $ (17.06 RM) |
1.22 $ (5.00 RM) |
-70.7 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
3.27 $ (13.43 RM) |
1.96 $ (8.05 RM) |
-40.1 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
39.00 $ (160.33 RM) |
4.86 $ (20.00 RM) |
-87.5 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
1.26 $ (5.20 RM) |
0.55 $ (2.25 RM) |
-56.7 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
36,998.00 $ (152,098.78 RM) |
41,352.47 $ (170,000.00 RM) |
+11.8 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
26,059.42 $ (107,130.27 RM) |
34,159.22 $ (140,428.57 RM) |
+31.1 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
231.78 $ (952.85 RM) |
62.15 $ (255.48 RM) |
-73.2 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
66.61 $ (273.83 RM) |
9.32 $ (38.31 RM) |
-86.0 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
69.84 $ (287.11 RM) |
26.49 $ (108.92 RM) |
-62.1 % |
Sports And Leisure | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
113.95 $ (468.47 RM) |
47.36 $ (194.69 RM) |
-58.4 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
21.88 $ (89.93 RM) |
6.57 $ (27.00 RM) |
-70.0 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
17.00 $ (69.89 RM) |
4.99 $ (20.50 RM) |
-70.7 % |
Childcare | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
2,972.59 $ (12,220.33 RM) |
294.66 $ (1,211.35 RM) |
-90.1 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
42,000.00 $ (172,662.00 RM) |
10,486.28 $ (43,109.11 RM) |
-75.0 % |
Clothing And Shoes | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
70.62 $ (290.34 RM) |
64.30 $ (264.33 RM) |
-9.0 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
46.75 $ (192.18 RM) |
40.31 $ (165.73 RM) |
-13.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
99.74 $ (410.02 RM) |
87.76 $ (360.80 RM) |
-12.0 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
125.76 $ (517.01 RM) |
89.67 $ (368.62 RM) |
-28.7 % |
Rent Per Month | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
3,334.02 $ (13,706.16 RM) |
626.92 $ (2,577.27 RM) |
-81.2 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
2,676.48 $ (11,003.01 RM) |
341.13 $ (1,402.38 RM) |
-87.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
5,550.00 $ (22,816.05 RM) |
1,120.11 $ (4,604.76 RM) |
-79.8 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
4,560.00 $ (18,746.16 RM) |
690.47 $ (2,838.52 RM) |
-84.9 % |
Buy Apartment Price | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
1,012.78 $ (4,163.54 RM) |
338.30 $ (1,390.75 RM) |
-66.6 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
853.08 $ (3,506.99 RM) |
138.62 $ (569.86 RM) |
-83.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | San Francisco, CA Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
7,208.69 $ (29,634.93 RM) |
1,354.64 $ (5,568.93 RM) |
-81.2 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.31 | 4.43 | -29.7 % |
| Last update: | 7 December 2025 | 6 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 193 | 259 |
Moving to San Francisco, CA? Explore:
Cities near San Francisco, CA: | Cost of Living in Oakland, California | 10.67 miles |
| Cost of Living in Piedmont, California | 12.31 miles |
| Cost of Living in Berkeley, California | 13.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in Alameda, California | 15.02 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Rafael, California | 18.32 miles |
| Cost of Living in San Mateo, California | 21.47 miles |
| Cost of Living in Belmont, California | 24.19 miles |
| Cost of Living in Walnut Creek, California | 24.48 miles |
| Cost of Living in Redwood City, California | 26.16 miles |
| Cost of Living in Hayward, California | 26.70 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 Malacca | 88.62 miles |
| Cost of Living in Teluk Intan | 100.55 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tangkak | 100.88 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kampar | 104.64 miles |
| Cost of Living in Muar | 113.16 miles |