Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Bangalore and Bintulu

For one person, living is cheaper in Bangalore: $535 a month against $849 in Bintulu, rent and utilities included – about $3,800 less a year. Other living expenses account for most of the difference.

Bangalore
🇮🇳 India
$535
/mo nomad
Bintulu
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$849
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Bangalore and in Bintulu

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Bangalore and in Bintulu actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $535 in Bangalore versus $849 in Bintulu.

  • Bangalore $535
  • Bintulu $849

Estimated couple costs with rent: $927 in Bangalore versus $1,312 in Bintulu.

  • Bangalore $927
  • Bintulu $1,312

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,318 in Bangalore versus $1,775 in Bintulu.

  • Bangalore $1,318
  • Bintulu $1,775

Living in Bangalore costs roughly 37% less than in Bintulu, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in groceries.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bangalore 60% lower, Bintulu 37% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Bangalore
Bintulu
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.04 ₹294
$3.95 MYR 16.13
-23.04%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$17.83 ₹1,725
$18.43 MYR 75.3
-3.26%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.78 ₹463
$5.79 MYR 23.63
-17.44%
Cappuccino
$2.24 ₹217
$2.99 MYR 12.20
-25.08%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.39 ₹37.49
$0.63 MYR 2.59
-38.10%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.14 ₹13.64
$0.38 MYR 1.54
-63.16%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.34 ₹226
$2.98 MYR 12.17
-21.48%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.91 ₹379
$5.17 MYR 21.12
-24.37%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Bangalore
Bintulu
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.61 ₹58.6
$2.15 MYR 8.77
-71.63%
White Bread (500g)
$0.57 ₹55.2
$1.37 MYR 5.59
-58.39%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.81 ₹77.9
$1.32 MYR 5.41
-38.64%
Eggs
$1.12 ₹109
$2.16 MYR 8.83
-48.15%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$5.93 ₹574
$16.81 MYR 68.6
-64.72%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.85 ₹373
$3.48 MYR 14.19
10.63%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
-
$5.90 MYR 24.11
-
Apples (1kg)
$2.78 ₹269
$1.76 MYR 7.19
57.95%
Banana (1kg)
$0.75 ₹72.2
$1.02 MYR 4.18
-26.47%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.22 ₹118
$1.76 MYR 7.17
-30.68%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.40 ₹39.19
$1.13 MYR 4.60
-64.60%
Potato (1kg)
$0.38 ₹36.40
$0.51 MYR 2.08
-25.49%
Onion (1kg)
$0.36 ₹34.72
$1.19 MYR 4.85
-69.75%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.42 ₹40.31
$0.69 MYR 2.84
-39.13%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.32 ₹31.21
$0.42 MYR 1.71
-23.81%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.61 ₹446
$4.18 MYR 17.08
10.29%
Wine (Bottle)
$9.01 ₹872
$19.74 MYR 80.6
-54.36%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.86 ₹180
$3.01 MYR 12.29
-38.21%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.92 ₹283
$2.00 MYR 8.17
46.00%
Buffalo Round (or Equivalent Back Leg Red Meat) (1kg)
$6.35 ₹614
-
-
🚌 Getting Around
Bangalore
Bintulu
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.51 ₹48.89
$1.20 MYR 4.91
-57.50%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$15.71 ₹1,520
$16.62 MYR 67.9
-5.48%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.01 ₹97.8
$1.02 MYR 4.18
-0.98%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.30 ₹29.43
$0.83 MYR 3.39
-63.86%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$2.10 ₹203
$2.50 MYR 10.21
-16.00%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.08 ₹104
$0.63 MYR 2.57
71.43%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$12.6K ₹1.2M
$44.5K MYR 181.7K
-71.75%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$19.1K ₹1.8M
$38.5K MYR 157.0K
-50.46%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangalore
Bintulu
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$30.32 ₹2,934
$59.2 MYR 242
-48.80%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$4.11 ₹398
$31.51 MYR 129
-86.96%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$10.23 ₹990
$29.98 MYR 122
-65.88%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Bangalore
Bintulu
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$18.61 ₹1,801
$66.4 MYR 271
-71.99%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.95 ₹576
$12.43 MYR 50.8
-52.13%
Cinema Ticket
$4.60 ₹446
$4.33 MYR 17.67
6.24%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Bangalore
Bintulu
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$104 ₹10.1K
$124 MYR 508
-16.34%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$3,176 ₹307.3K
$7,230 MYR 29.5K
-56.08%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Bangalore
Bintulu
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$32.29 ₹3,125
$64.2 MYR 262
-49.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$29.85 ₹2,889
$36.02 MYR 147
-17.13%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$53.3 ₹5,160
$80.5 MYR 329
-33.81%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$39.66 ₹3,838
$90.8 MYR 371
-56.33%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Bangalore
Bintulu
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$309 ₹29.9K
$220 MYR 898
40.32%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$175 ₹16.9K
$157 MYR 642
11.22%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$788 ₹76.3K
$485 MYR 1,979
62.66%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$481 ₹46.6K
$333 MYR 1,361
44.46%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,889 ₹182.8K
$1,730 MYR 7,062
9.22%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,067 ₹103.3K
$1,137 MYR 4,644
-6.18%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Bangalore
Bintulu
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$919 ₹89.0K
$598 MYR 2,441
53.78%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
8.5
4.5
88.89%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Bangalore: October 4, 2026

Last update for Bintulu: October 5, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Bangalore
$175
Bintulu
$157 10.1% $18
Groceries & Markets
Bangalore
$122
Bintulu
$232 89.9% $110
Eating Out
Bangalore
$87
Bintulu
$114 31% $27
Clothing & Footwear
Bangalore
$70
Bintulu
$122 75.1% $52
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Bangalore
$45
Bintulu
$121 170% $76
Sport & Entertainment
Bangalore
$28
Bintulu
$75 170% $47
Getting Around
Bangalore
$20
Bintulu
$27 31.3% $6.3

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $309 in Bangalore and $220 in Bintulu. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Bangalore pays 54% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $18.00 in Bangalore vs $18.00 in Bintulu for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $122 vs $232 per month, with Bangalore cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇮🇳 Bangalore
🇲🇾 Bintulu
🕒 Local time
12:10 12:10 PM
14:40 2:40 PM
2 h 30 min ahead of Bangalore
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
8,495,492
240,172
💱 Currency
Exchange rates and currency converter

MYR, USD, EUR to INR – Indian Rupee Converter

Indian Rupee exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 96.78 INR (100 INR = 1.03 USD). 1 EUR = 109 INR (1,000 INR = 9.21 EUR).

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 10, 2026: 1 USD = 4.08 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.58 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Bangalore Bintulu 4,040 km ≈ 6 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Bangalore
  • Bintulu

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
Bangalore vs Bintulu: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Bangalore or Bintulu?
Bangalore wins on cost – living expenses run 59% lower than in Bintulu. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bangalore the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Bangalore or in Bintulu?
Average pay runs 54% higher in Bangalore, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Bangalore compared to Bintulu?
Rent for a central apartment: $309 in Bangalore versus $220 in Bintulu. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How expensive is transport in Bangalore compared to Bintulu?
A monthly transit pass in Bangalore runs roughly 6% less than in Bintulu. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
How do childcare costs compare in Bangalore and in Bintulu?
Childcare runs $104 in Bangalore versus $124 in Bintulu. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Can you live on $800/month in Bangalore or in Bintulu?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Bangalore gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
Which city is better for digital nomads, Bangalore or Bintulu?
Both work as nomad bases, but Bangalore delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $535 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bangalore hard to pass up.
How safe is Bangalore compared to Bintulu?
Safety-wise, Bangalore and Bintulu are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Bangalore gentler on the wallet – expenses run 59% less than in Bintulu. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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