Cost of Living Comparison Between Dubai and Kuala Lumpur 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Kuala Lumpur is 40.7% lower than in Dubai (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Kuala Lumpur is 55.9% lower than in Dubai | |
| Rent Prices in Kuala Lumpur are 76.3% lower than in Dubai | |
| Restaurant Prices in Kuala Lumpur are 56.3% lower than in Dubai | |
| Groceries Prices in Kuala Lumpur are 6.9% lower than in Dubai | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Kuala Lumpur is 26.3% lower than in Dubai | |
Restaurants | Dubai Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
40.00 AED (44.77 RM) |
17.87 AED (20.00 RM) |
-55.3 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
300.00 AED (335.74 RM) |
107.22 AED (120.00 RM) |
-64.3 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
35.00 AED (39.17 RM) |
17.87 AED (20.00 RM) |
-48.9 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
50.00 AED (55.96 RM) |
16.08 AED (18.00 RM) |
-67.8 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
50.00 AED (55.96 RM) |
22.34 AED (25.00 RM) |
-55.3 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
21.70 AED (24.29 RM) |
11.85 AED (13.26 RM) |
-45.4 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
4.41 AED (4.93 RM) |
3.45 AED (3.86 RM) |
-21.8 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
3.12 AED (3.49 RM) |
1.86 AED (2.08 RM) |
-40.3 % |
Markets | Dubai Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
6.88 AED (7.70 RM) |
7.58 AED (8.48 RM) |
+10.2 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
4.66 AED (5.22 RM) |
3.35 AED (3.75 RM) |
-28.2 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
3.80 AED (4.25 RM) |
2.85 AED (3.19 RM) |
-24.9 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
13.29 AED (14.87 RM) |
8.26 AED (9.24 RM) |
-37.9 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
22.01 AED (24.63 RM) |
24.14 AED (27.01 RM) |
+9.7 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
14.50 AED (16.23 RM) |
7.97 AED (8.92 RM) |
-45.0 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
20.16 AED (22.56 RM) |
16.36 AED (18.31 RM) |
-18.9 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
4.02 AED (4.50 RM) |
5.01 AED (5.60 RM) |
+24.5 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
3.06 AED (3.43 RM) |
2.82 AED (3.15 RM) |
-8.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
2.77 AED (3.10 RM) |
4.27 AED (4.78 RM) |
+54.1 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
2.19 AED (2.45 RM) |
2.61 AED (2.92 RM) |
+19.3 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.76 AED (1.97 RM) |
2.13 AED (2.39 RM) |
+20.9 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.69 AED (1.89 RM) |
2.38 AED (2.66 RM) |
+40.8 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
4.98 AED (5.58 RM) |
4.37 AED (4.89 RM) |
-12.3 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.33 AED (2.60 RM) |
2.56 AED (2.87 RM) |
+10.0 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
70.00 AED (78.34 RM) |
67.02 AED (75.00 RM) |
-4.3 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
9.59 AED (10.73 RM) |
12.17 AED (13.62 RM) |
+26.9 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
11.67 AED (13.06 RM) |
17.05 AED (19.08 RM) |
+46.1 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
22.00 AED (24.62 RM) |
16.08 AED (18.00 RM) |
-26.9 % |
Transportation | Dubai Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
6.00 AED (6.71 RM) |
2.68 AED (3.00 RM) |
-55.3 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
340.00 AED (380.51 RM) |
44.68 AED (50.00 RM) |
-86.9 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
12.00 AED (13.43 RM) |
4.47 AED (5.00 RM) |
-62.8 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
4.02 AED (4.50 RM) |
7.19 AED (8.05 RM) |
+78.7 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
30.00 AED (33.57 RM) |
17.87 AED (20.00 RM) |
-40.4 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
2.83 AED (3.16 RM) |
2.01 AED (2.25 RM) |
-28.8 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
120,000.00 AED (134,297.15 RM) |
151,901.96 AED (170,000.00 RM) |
+26.6 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
83,270.83 AED (93,191.96 RM) |
125,478.68 AED (140,428.57 RM) |
+50.7 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Dubai Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
864.22 AED (967.19 RM) |
228.28 AED (255.48 RM) |
-73.6 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
228.33 AED (255.54 RM) |
34.23 AED (38.31 RM) |
-85.0 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
347.67 AED (389.09 RM) |
97.32 AED (108.92 RM) |
-72.0 % |
Sports And Leisure | Dubai Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
303.33 AED (339.47 RM) |
173.96 AED (194.69 RM) |
-42.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
180.24 AED (201.71 RM) |
24.13 AED (27.00 RM) |
-86.6 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
60.00 AED (67.15 RM) |
18.32 AED (20.50 RM) |
-69.5 % |
Childcare | Dubai Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
3,159.62 AED (3,536.06 RM) |
1,082.39 AED (1,211.35 RM) |
-65.7 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
58,674.18 AED (65,664.79 RM) |
38,519.75 AED (43,109.11 RM) |
-34.3 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Dubai Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
282.95 AED (316.67 RM) |
236.19 AED (264.33 RM) |
-16.5 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
246.00 AED (275.31 RM) |
148.08 AED (165.73 RM) |
-39.8 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
456.82 AED (511.24 RM) |
322.39 AED (360.80 RM) |
-29.4 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
448.00 AED (501.38 RM) |
329.38 AED (368.62 RM) |
-26.5 % |
Rent Per Month | Dubai Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
9,162.30 AED (10,253.92 RM) |
2,302.90 AED (2,577.27 RM) |
-74.9 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
5,708.40 AED (6,388.52 RM) |
1,253.08 AED (1,402.38 RM) |
-78.0 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
16,840.96 AED (18,847.44 RM) |
4,114.54 AED (4,604.76 RM) |
-75.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
11,388.89 AED (12,745.79 RM) |
2,536.91 AED (2,839.16 RM) |
-77.7 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Dubai Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
2,533.68 AED (2,835.55 RM) |
1,242.70 AED (1,390.75 RM) |
-51.0 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
1,369.24 AED (1,532.37 RM) |
509.19 AED (569.86 RM) |
-62.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | Dubai Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
15,289.98 AED (17,111.68 RM) |
4,976.06 AED (5,568.93 RM) |
-67.5 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 4.46 | 4.43 | -0.5 % |
| Last update: | 11 December 2025 | 6 December 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 466 | 259 |
Moving to Dubai? Explore:
Cities near Dubai: | Cost of Living in Ras al-Khaimah | 62.60 miles |
| Cost of Living in Fujairah | 80.82 miles |
| Cost of Living in Kalba | 84.26 miles |
| Cost of Living in Abu Dhabi | 94.68 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 |