Cost of Living Comparison Between Phoenix, AZ and Kuala Lumpur 
| Indices Difference |  |
|---|---|
| Cost of Living in Kuala Lumpur is 48.4% lower than in Phoenix, AZ (excluding rent) | |
| Cost of Living Including Rent in Kuala Lumpur is 54.1% lower than in Phoenix, AZ | |
| Rent Prices in Kuala Lumpur are 66.8% lower than in Phoenix, AZ | |
| Restaurant Prices in Kuala Lumpur are 62.5% lower than in Phoenix, AZ | |
| Groceries Prices in Kuala Lumpur are 40.4% lower than in Phoenix, AZ | |
| Local Purchasing Power in Kuala Lumpur is 32.5% lower than in Phoenix, AZ | |
Restaurants | Phoenix, AZ Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Meal at an Inexpensive Restaurant |
20.00 $ (83.52 RM) |
4.79 $ (20.00 RM) |
-76.1 % |
| Meal for Two at a Mid-Range Restaurant (Three Courses, Without Drinks) |
85.00 $ (354.96 RM) |
28.74 $ (120.00 RM) |
-66.2 % |
| Combo Meal at McDonald's (or Equivalent Fast-Food Meal) |
12.00 $ (50.11 RM) |
4.79 $ (20.00 RM) |
-60.1 % |
| Domestic Draft Beer (1 Pint) |
6.00 $ (25.06 RM) |
4.31 $ (18.00 RM) |
-28.2 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
7.50 $ (31.32 RM) |
5.99 $ (25.00 RM) |
-20.2 % |
| Cappuccino (Regular Size) |
6.00 $ (25.06 RM) |
3.10 $ (12.94 RM) |
-48.4 % |
| Soft Drink (Coca-Cola or Pepsi, 12 oz Small Bottle) |
2.71 $ (11.33 RM) |
0.87 $ (3.62 RM) |
-68.0 % |
| Bottled Water (12 oz) |
2.18 $ (9.11 RM) |
0.48 $ (1.98 RM) |
-78.2 % |
Markets | Phoenix, AZ Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Milk (Regular, 1 Liter) |
0.90 $ (3.75 RM) |
2.05 $ (8.55 RM) |
+127.7 % |
| Fresh White Bread (1 lb Loaf) |
3.81 $ (15.91 RM) |
0.88 $ (3.66 RM) |
-77.0 % |
| White Rice (1 lb) |
2.46 $ (10.27 RM) |
0.77 $ (3.23 RM) |
-68.5 % |
| Eggs (12, Large Size) |
5.10 $ (21.32 RM) |
2.22 $ (9.28 RM) |
-56.5 % |
| Local Cheese (1 lb) |
5.91 $ (24.66 RM) |
6.60 $ (27.57 RM) |
+11.8 % |
| Chicken Fillets (1 lb) |
5.79 $ (24.18 RM) |
2.14 $ (8.92 RM) |
-63.1 % |
| Beef Round or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat (1 lb) |
6.15 $ (25.67 RM) |
4.38 $ (18.31 RM) |
-28.7 % |
| Apples (1 lb) |
2.06 $ (8.61 RM) |
1.34 $ (5.60 RM) |
-34.9 % |
| Bananas (1 lb) |
0.76 $ (3.16 RM) |
0.76 $ (3.19 RM) |
+1.0 % |
| Oranges (1 lb) |
1.68 $ (7.02 RM) |
1.16 $ (4.83 RM) |
-31.3 % |
| Tomatoes (1 lb) |
2.47 $ (10.30 RM) |
0.70 $ (2.92 RM) |
-71.7 % |
| Potatoes (1 lb) |
1.32 $ (5.50 RM) |
0.57 $ (2.39 RM) |
-56.6 % |
| Onions (1 lb) |
1.30 $ (5.41 RM) |
0.64 $ (2.66 RM) |
-50.9 % |
| Lettuce (1 Head) |
1.94 $ (8.12 RM) |
1.19 $ (4.98 RM) |
-38.7 % |
| Bottled Water (50 oz) |
2.37 $ (9.88 RM) |
0.70 $ (2.91 RM) |
-70.6 % |
| Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) |
15.00 $ (62.64 RM) |
17.96 $ (75.00 RM) |
+19.7 % |
| Domestic Beer (16.9 oz Bottle) |
2.42 $ (10.10 RM) |
3.29 $ (13.74 RM) |
+36.1 % |
| Imported Beer (12 oz Small Bottle) |
3.26 $ (13.62 RM) |
4.51 $ (18.84 RM) |
+38.3 % |
| Cigarettes (Pack of 20, Marlboro) |
11.75 $ (49.07 RM) |
4.31 $ (18.00 RM) |
-63.3 % |
Transportation | Phoenix, AZ Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| One-Way Ticket (Local Transport) |
2.75 $ (11.48 RM) |
0.72 $ (3.00 RM) |
-73.9 % |
| Monthly Public Transport Pass (Regular Price) |
62.00 $ (258.91 RM) |
11.97 $ (50.00 RM) |
-80.7 % |
| Taxi Start (Standard Tariff) |
3.00 $ (12.53 RM) |
1.20 $ (5.00 RM) |
-60.1 % |
| Taxi 1 mile (Standard Tariff) |
2.20 $ (9.19 RM) |
1.93 $ (8.05 RM) |
-12.4 % |
| Taxi 1 Hour Waiting (Standard Tariff) |
36.00 $ (150.34 RM) |
4.79 $ (20.00 RM) |
-86.7 % |
| Gasoline (1 Liter) |
0.93 $ (3.89 RM) |
0.51 $ (2.13 RM) |
-45.1 % |
| Volkswagen Golf 1.5 (or Equivalent New Compact Car) |
36,113.30 $ (150,809.14 RM) |
40,708.81 $ (170,000.00 RM) |
+12.7 % |
| Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6 (or Equivalent New Mid-Size Car) |
26,028.45 $ (108,694.80 RM) |
33,675.77 $ (140,630.00 RM) |
+29.4 % |
Utilities (Monthly) | Phoenix, AZ Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Basic Utilities for 915 Square Feet Apartment (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) |
263.86 $ (1,101.88 RM) |
61.68 $ (257.57 RM) |
-76.6 % |
| Mobile Phone Plan (Monthly, with Calls and 10GB+ Data) |
70.19 $ (293.12 RM) |
9.83 $ (41.06 RM) |
-86.0 % |
| Broadband Internet (Unlimited Data, 60 Mbps or Higher) |
83.25 $ (347.65 RM) |
26.16 $ (109.25 RM) |
-68.6 % |
Sports And Leisure | Phoenix, AZ Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Monthly Fitness Club Membership |
42.14 $ (175.99 RM) |
47.09 $ (196.66 RM) |
+11.7 % |
| Tennis Court Rental (1 Hour, Weekend) |
12.60 $ (52.62 RM) |
7.08 $ (29.58 RM) |
-43.8 % |
| Cinema Ticket (International Release) |
13.50 $ (56.38 RM) |
5.03 $ (21.00 RM) |
-62.8 % |
Childcare | Phoenix, AZ Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Private Full-Day Preschool or Kindergarten, Monthly Fee per Child |
1,271.43 $ (5,309.49 RM) |
279.74 $ (1,168.18 RM) |
-78.0 % |
| International Primary School, Annual Tuition per Child |
16,800.00 $ (70,156.80 RM) |
9,099.62 $ (38,000.00 RM) |
-45.8 % |
Clothing And Shoes | Phoenix, AZ Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Jeans (Levi's 501 or Similar) |
54.22 $ (226.41 RM) |
64.03 $ (267.39 RM) |
+18.1 % |
| Summer Dress in a Chain Store (e.g. Zara or H&M) |
43.89 $ (183.28 RM) |
38.37 $ (160.22 RM) |
-12.6 % |
| Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) |
93.29 $ (389.60 RM) |
87.37 $ (364.87 RM) |
-6.3 % |
| Men's Leather Business Shoes |
113.85 $ (475.42 RM) |
85.42 $ (356.72 RM) |
-25.0 % |
Rent Per Month | Phoenix, AZ Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
1,682.00 $ (7,024.03 RM) |
575.63 $ (2,403.85 RM) |
-65.8 % |
| 1 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
1,405.24 $ (5,868.28 RM) |
346.65 $ (1,447.62 RM) |
-75.3 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment in City Centre |
2,649.95 $ (11,066.20 RM) |
1,069.92 $ (4,468.00 RM) |
-59.6 % |
| 3 Bedroom Apartment Outside of City Centre |
2,214.48 $ (9,247.65 RM) |
646.55 $ (2,700.00 RM) |
-70.8 % |
Buy Apartment Price | Phoenix, AZ Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre |
402.47 $ (1,680.73 RM) |
306.39 $ (1,279.49 RM) |
-23.9 % |
| Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre |
307.68 $ (1,284.85 RM) |
142.21 $ (593.89 RM) |
-53.8 % |
Salaries And Financing | Phoenix, AZ Edit |
Kuala Lumpur Edit | |
| Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) |
4,380.71 $ (18,293.85 RM) |
1,357.15 $ (5,667.45 RM) |
-69.0 % |
| Annual Mortgage Interest Rate (20-Year Fixed, in %) | 6.44 | 4.43 | -31.2 % |
| Last update: | 6 November 2025 | 9 November 2025 | |
| Contributors in the past 12 months: | 143 | 278 |
Moving to Phoenix, AZ? Explore:
Cities near Phoenix, AZ: | Cost of Living in Scottsdale, Arizona | 12.83 miles |
| Cost of Living in Peoria, Arizona | 13.45 miles |
| Cost of Living in Apache Junction, Arizona | 35.29 miles |
| Cost of Living in Cottonwood, Arizona | 103.09 miles |
| Cost of Living in Tucson, Arizona | 116.20 miles |
| Cost of Living in Indio, California | 246.45 miles |
| Cost of Living in Imperial, California | 248.19 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 |