Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Australia and Kuala Lumpur
For one person, living is cheaper in Kuala Lumpur: $1,067 a month against $2,537 in Australia, rent and utilities included – about $17,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Australia Living Index124Cost of Living Index in AustraliaLearn more -
Kuala Lumpur Living Index53Cost of Living Index in Kuala LumpurLearn more
😐 Solo nomad: Australia is 77.4% more expensive than Kuala Lumpur without rent, and 137.8% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Australia is 84.4% more expensive than Kuala Lumpur without rent, and 113.9% more expensive with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Australia
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$17.66 A$25.27
$4.80 MYR 19.60
267.92%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$82.8 A$118
$28.82 MYR 118
187.16%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$11.22 A$16.05
$5.00 MYR 20.40
124.40%
Cappuccino
$3.85 A$5.51
$3.05 MYR 12.47
26.23%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.85 A$4.08
$0.85 MYR 3.46
235.29%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.37 A$3.39
$0.45 MYR 1.84
426.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$7.85 A$11.23
$4.51 MYR 18.41
74.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$8.49 A$12.16
$6.00 MYR 24.50
41.50%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Australia
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.74 A$2.49
$2.11 MYR 8.63
-17.54%
White Bread (500g)
$2.78 A$3.98
$1.08 MYR 4.40
157.41%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.21 A$3.16
$2.02 MYR 8.24
9.41%
Eggs
$5.06 A$7.25
$2.55 MYR 10.40
98.43%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.87 A$14.12
$13.85 MYR 56.6
-28.74%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$8.95 A$12.80
$4.39 MYR 17.91
103.87%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$14.71 A$21.06
$9.66 MYR 39.46
52.28%
Apples (1kg)
$3.76 A$5.39
$3.47 MYR 14.16
8.36%
Banana (1kg)
$2.99 A$4.28
$1.77 MYR 7.23
68.93%
Oranges (1kg)
$3.10 A$4.43
$2.25 MYR 9.21
37.78%
Tomato (1kg)
$4.62 A$6.61
$1.55 MYR 6.34
198.06%
Potato (1kg)
$2.82 A$4.03
$1.33 MYR 5.43
112.03%
Onion (1kg)
$2.30 A$3.29
$1.38 MYR 5.64
66.67%
Lettuce (1 head)
$2.32 A$3.32
$1.17 MYR 4.79
98.29%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$1.71 A$2.44
$0.67 MYR 2.73
155.22%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$38.17 A$54.6
$4.38 MYR 17.87
771.46%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.77 A$19.70
$18.87 MYR 77.1
-27.03%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$4.91 A$7.02
$3.62 MYR 14.78
35.64%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.02 A$7.19
$5.06 MYR 20.64
-0.79%
🚌 Getting Around
Australia
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$2.84 A$4.07
$0.72 MYR 2.92
294.44%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$94.3 A$135
$12.46 MYR 50.9
656.74%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$3.44 A$4.92
$1.25 MYR 5.11
175.20%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.59 A$2.28
$1.24 MYR 5.05
28.23%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$39.37 A$56.3
$4.82 MYR 19.68
716.80%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 A$1.88
$0.86 MYR 3.52
52.33%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$27.7K A$39.7K
$41.4K MYR 168.8K
-32.93%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.1K A$40.2K
$34.6K MYR 141.1K
-18.77%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$201 A$288
$61.5 MYR 251
227.20%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$28.45 A$40.72
$8.60 MYR 35.12
230.81%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$57.4 A$82.2
$26.25 MYR 107
118.67%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Australia
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$56.7 A$81.1
$49.06 MYR 200
15.47%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$19.28 A$27.60
$7.69 MYR 31.39
150.72%
Cinema Ticket
$15.07 A$21.56
$4.95 MYR 20.23
204.44%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Australia
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$2,116 A$3,028
$295 MYR 1,204
617.73%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$18.3K A$26.1K
$13.2K MYR 54.0K
38.16%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Australia
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$79.5 A$114
$72.6 MYR 296
9.56%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$54.9 A$78.5
$41.57 MYR 170
31.97%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$113 A$161
$85.7 MYR 350
31.34%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$122 A$175
$95.2 MYR 389
28.08%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Australia
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,582 A$2,264
$625 MYR 2,553
152.99%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,225 A$1,753
$378 MYR 1,545
223.73%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$2,409 A$3,447
$1,177 MYR 4,806
104.62%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$1,911 A$2,734
$639 MYR 2,608
199.18%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$7,995 A$11.4K
$4,112 MYR 16.8K
94.41%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$5,968 A$8,541
$1,504 MYR 6,141
296.82%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Australia
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$3,926 A$5,619
$1,491 MYR 6,088
163.33%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
5.92
4.18
41.63%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Australia: October 4, 2026
Last update for Kuala Lumpur: October 5, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Australia $1.2K 48%
Kuala Lumpur $378 34.7% 69.1% $846
Groceries & Markets
Australia $370 14.5%
Kuala Lumpur $273 25% 26.2% $97
Eating Out
Australia $298 11.7%
Kuala Lumpur $130 11.9% 56.5% $168
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia $287 11.3%
Kuala Lumpur $96 8.8% 66.4% $191
Clothing & Footwear
Australia $166 6.5%
Kuala Lumpur $133 12.2% 20% $33
Getting Around
Australia $117 4.6%
Kuala Lumpur $23 2.1% 80.6% $94
Sport & Entertainment
Australia $87 3.4%
Kuala Lumpur $59 5.4% 32.1% $28
Accommodation & Living
Australia $1.9K 39.2%
Kuala Lumpur $639 28.9% 66.6% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Australia $839 17.2%
Kuala Lumpur $603 27.3% 28.1% $235
Eating Out
Australia $1K 20.7%
Kuala Lumpur $397 17.9% 60.7% $611
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Australia $315 6.5%
Kuala Lumpur $105 4.8% 66.7% $211
Clothing & Footwear
Australia $369 7.6%
Kuala Lumpur $295 13.4% 20% $74
Getting Around
Australia $240 4.9%
Kuala Lumpur $47 2.1% 80.4% $193
Sport & Entertainment
Australia $193 4%
Kuala Lumpur $126 5.7% 34.9% $67
Good to know
🇦🇺 Australia
🇲🇾 Kuala Lumpur
Weather
Population
26,473,055
1,982,112 Capital
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Australia Kuala Lumpur 6,530 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
- Australia
- Kuala Lumpur
Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.
City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated April 2026)
The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index
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