Cost of Living in Kuala Lumpur

Summary of cost of living in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia:

Restaurants
Edit Range
Meal, Inexpensive Restaurant 20.00 RM 12.00-30.00
Meal for 2 People, Mid-range Restaurant, Three-course 120.00 RM 70.00-300.00
McMeal at McDonalds (or Equivalent Combo Meal) 20.00 RM 18.00-25.00
Domestic Beer (1 pint draught) 19.50 RM 12.00-33.00
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 25.00 RM 18.00-35.00
Cappuccino (regular) 13.01 RM 7.00-18.00
Coke/Pepsi (12 oz small bottle) 3.58 RM 2.50-6.00
Water (12 oz small bottle) 2.14 RM 1.50-4.00
Markets
Edit
Milk (regular), (1 gallon) 32.38 RM 21.46-53.00
Loaf of Fresh White Bread (1 lb) 3.79 RM 2.72-5.44
Rice (white), (1 lb) 3.06 RM 1.36-4.99
Eggs (regular) (12) 9.94 RM 4.80-14.40
Local Cheese (1 lb) 30.20 RM 17.24-90.72
Chicken Fillets (1 lb) 8.96 RM 4.54-15.00
Beef Round (1 lb) (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) 18.92 RM 8.16-45.36
Apples (1 lb) 5.49 RM 2.72-7.71
Banana (1 lb) 3.03 RM 1.81-4.54
Oranges (1 lb) 5.50 RM 2.54-9.07
Tomato (1 lb) 2.91 RM 1.22-4.54
Potato (1 lb) 2.05 RM 0.91-4.54
Onion (1 lb) 2.19 RM 1.00-4.54
Lettuce (1 head) 4.89 RM 3.00-10.00
Water (1.5 liter bottle) 2.92 RM 1.50-5.00
Bottle of Wine (Mid-Range) 75.00 RM 50.00-100.00
Domestic Beer (0.5 liter bottle) 13.73 RM 8.50-18.18
Imported Beer (12 oz small bottle) 18.94 RM 12.00-30.00
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro) 18.00 RM 17.40-25.00
Transportation
Edit
One-way Ticket (Local Transport) 3.00 RM 2.00-4.00
Monthly Pass (Regular Price) 50.00 RM 50.00-100.00
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff) 5.00 RM 3.00-6.00
Taxi 1 mile (Normal Tariff) 8.05 RM 5.63-8.05
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff) 16.00 RM 15.00-22.00
Gasoline (1 gallon) 7.80 RM 7.72-10.60
Volkswagen Golf 1.4 90 KW Trendline (Or Equivalent New Car) 165,000.00 RM 160,000.00-170,560.00
Toyota Corolla Sedan 1.6l 97kW Comfort (Or Equivalent New Car) 135,122.18 RM 130,000.00-148,000.00
Utilities (Monthly)
Edit
Basic (Electricity, Heating, Cooling, Water, Garbage) for 915 sq ft Apartment 290.79 RM 180.00-510.00
Mobile Phone Monthly Plan with Calls and 10GB+ Data 58.78 RM 25.00-100.00
Internet (60 Mbps or More, Unlimited Data, Cable/ADSL) 112.72 RM 99.00-150.00
Sports And Leisure
Edit
Fitness Club, Monthly Fee for 1 Adult 196.78 RM 100.00-350.00
Tennis Court Rent (1 Hour on Weekend) 31.79 RM 20.00-40.00
Cinema, International Release, 1 Seat 20.50 RM 17.00-26.00
Childcare
Edit
Preschool (or Kindergarten), Full Day, Private, Monthly for 1 Child 1,102.17 RM 550.00-1,666.67
International Primary School, Yearly for 1 Child 39,863.64 RM 24,000.00-80,000.00
Clothing And Shoes
Edit
1 Pair of Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar) 252.40 RM 150.00-350.00
1 Summer Dress in a Chain Store (Zara, H&M, ...) 159.55 RM 75.00-300.00
1 Pair of Nike Running Shoes (Mid-Range) 343.12 RM 200.00-450.00
1 Pair of Men Leather Business Shoes 324.58 RM 189.00-500.00
Rent Per Month
Edit
Apartment (1 bedroom) in City Centre 2,333.92 RM 1,450.00-4,000.00
Apartment (1 bedroom) Outside of Centre 1,609.38 RM 1,000.00-2,500.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) in City Centre 4,727.59 RM 3,000.00-7,500.00
Apartment (3 bedrooms) Outside of Centre 2,715.52 RM 1,800.00-4,500.00
Buy Apartment Price
Edit
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment in City Centre 1,249.14 RM 836.12-1,999.98
Price per Square Feet to Buy Apartment Outside of Centre 561.73 RM 400.00-699.99
Salaries And Financing
Edit
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax) 6,055.62 RM
Mortgage Interest Rate in Percentages (%), Yearly, for 20 Years Fixed-Rate 4.56 3.50-6.00

Prices in Kuala Lumpur

This city had 2398 entries in the past 12 months by 307 different contributors.
Last update: October 2024
Distribution of Expenses Using Our Statistical Model:
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9 Comments so far
Master on Sep 21, 2024:
Restaurant prices listed on Numbeo often don’t include mandatory service charges or taxes. In Malaysia, many places add a 10% service charge and a 6% service tax on top of listed prices. In the US, "tipflation" has made a 20% tip the standard, and now even cafes and takeout spots, where tipping didn’t exist before, expect tips. In California, sales tax can reach up to 10.25%, none of which are reflected in the listed prices. In contrast, Japan and Korea have no tipping culture, and you only pay what you see, which can significantly affect overall costs.
SEOK JONG LEE on Sep 19, 2024:
Hi.

This is SJ and I am planning to bring my family to KL on Jan. And we would like to take a English class for my 2 kids who are 10 years and 6 years old. They know thing about English. My question is that you have a class for my 2 kids. We plan to arrange a lodge around Pavilion KL.

Please email me at [daesankorea@gmail.com] with class course and estimated tution.

Best Regards,
SJ Lee
Anonymous on Jul 14, 2024:
3 Bedroom apartment will cost around MYR1500-2000 per month.
breakfast will cost MYR10.00
lunch with drinks MYR15.00
Dinner with drinks MYR15.00-20.00
public transport Trains or Commuter starting from MYR1.50 to MYR9.90 depends on the distance.
Average starting salary from MYR1600.00 to MYR2200.00.
Anonymous on Apr 11, 2024:
1500usd where you living at. I'm staying around 25minutes away from KL, right beside a MRT station for around rm2000(400~450usd). 3room condo(900 sqft) for a family of four.
Anonymous on Feb 09, 2024:
I dont think those prices reflect the prices today. To rent afamily flat comes up to around 1500 usd
Itsalmost the same price as Germany.
Anonymous on Aug 28, 2022:
The amount of spam here like the case of the “US thief” is simply annoying and disgusting. Peddle your conspiracy theories at your echo chambers rather than polluting the comment sections with people actually looking to do some research
Anonymous on Feb 18, 2022:
A new Proton saloon car will cost you RM35,000. The cheapest is new car is Kancil, a small 5-seater costing RM25,000.
Amy Saunders on Dec 30, 2021:
Oh wow! I found it really fascinating when you pointed out that we can even rent an apartment for less than $900 per month. My son has been thinking of living near the city center sometime next month. I'll forward this article to him so he'll rent the right place later. https://afdoyle.com
Orang Orang on May 05, 2021:
I have been looted badly in Kuala Lumpur. Payed 50% more than 200K RM for a business startup. This group of Malaysian took the money and since then it was all promises. No where to go to. Police advices to put case and the guys walk free with no guilt feeling and even inviting me to join for a drink. Ruthless criminals driving very expensive cars and looking rich. Zero integrity or shame. This is not my single experience. Even my Malaysian and foreigner friends has similar experience. I even took a lawyer for the initial agreement, when things go wrong. The lawyer acted very helpless.

Next is racism and discrimination. Chinese and Indians are highly discriminated. It’s a well known factor. But it’s funny, even they are so used it that, they are in denial. Discrimination being dark coloured skin is very high, doesn’t matter from which part of the world you are from.

During beginning of 2020 as the COVID hit the whole world. Most of the employees was helpless in KL and never bothered to renew foreign workers visa. Especially as the business was closed for months and as they no need to pay salary. If visa’s are running they are liable to pay salary. In few days these foreigner staff all became illegal immigrants and was hunted by the Malaysian authorities along with the other illegal immigrants. The sad part is, these illegal immigrates has always been the backbone of the businesses in KL. There is an YouTube video about this by Al Jazeera which had major criticism. https://youtu.be/zyl_xsdpteI
The community is not open to discussion or ready for criticism. Any review or comment which is unpleasant will invite major cyber attack or insult.