Cost of Living Comparison Between Bintulu and Kuala Lumpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Bintulu and Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $784 in Bintulu versus $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,232 in Bintulu versus $1,632 in Kuala Lumpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,681 in Bintulu versus $2,182 in Kuala Lumpur.

Living in Bintulu costs roughly 28% less than in Kuala Lumpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bintulu 42% lower, Kuala Lumpur 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.74 MYR 14.82

$4.81 MYR 19.06

-22.25%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.52 MYR 69.5

$27.80 MYR 110

-36.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.71 MYR 22.64

$4.85 MYR 19.22

17.73%

Cappuccino

$2.91 MYR 11.55

$3.12 MYR 12.37

-6.73%

Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.66 MYR 2.62

$0.84 MYR 3.32

-21.43%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.40 MYR 1.57

$0.50 MYR 1.97

-20.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.75 MYR 10.89

$4.31 MYR 17.09

-36.19%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.00 MYR 19.84

$5.97 MYR 23.65

-16.25%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.73 MYR 6.84

$1.99 MYR 7.90

-13.07%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 MYR 5.41

$1.01 MYR 4.01

34.65%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.06

$1.71 MYR 6.77

-25.15%

Eggs

$2.19 MYR 8.70

$2.28 MYR 9.05

-3.95%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.56 MYR 65.7

$14.58 MYR 57.8

13.58%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.34 MYR 13.26

$4.76 MYR 18.87

-29.83%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.74 MYR 22.75

$9.50 MYR 37.66

-39.58%

Apples (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.70

$2.96 MYR 11.75

-42.91%

Banana (1kg)

$0.97 MYR 3.83

$1.64 MYR 6.49

-40.85%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.48

$2.68 MYR 10.63

-39.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.12 MYR 4.45

$1.52 MYR 6.04

-26.32%

Potato (1kg)

$0.52 MYR 2.07

$1.23 MYR 4.89

-57.72%

Onion (1kg)

$1.15 MYR 4.56

$1.34 MYR 5.32

-14.18%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 MYR 2.85

$1.16 MYR 4.61

-37.93%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.56

$0.63 MYR 2.48

-38.10%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.95 MYR 15.64

$4.31 MYR 17.09

-8.35%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.24 MYR 76.3

$19.29 MYR 76.5

-0.26%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.78 MYR 11.01

$3.29 MYR 13.05

-15.50%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.94 MYR 7.70

$4.22 MYR 16.74

-54.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.15 MYR 4.56

$0.73 MYR 2.90

57.53%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.56 MYR 61.7

$11.82 MYR 46.87

31.64%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.97 MYR 3.86

$1.15 MYR 4.56

-15.65%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 MYR 3.42

$1.10 MYR 4.38

-21.82%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.34 MYR 9.29

$4.79 MYR 18.99

-51.15%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.02

$0.48 MYR 1.89

6.25%

Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)

$41.9K MYR 166.3K

$39.8K MYR 157.9K

5.30%

Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)

$37.5K MYR 148.8K

$32.3K MYR 128.0K

16.21%

Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)

$57.1 MYR 226

$65.0 MYR 258

-12.13%

SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)

$9.31 MYR 36.93

$11.46 MYR 45.44

-18.76%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.85 MYR 118

$25.42 MYR 101

17.43%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.7 MYR 256

$46.84 MYR 186

38.09%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.79 MYR 22.97

$7.85 MYR 31.13

-26.24%

Cinema Ticket

$4.18 MYR 16.57

$5.05 MYR 20.03

-17.23%

Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)

$121 MYR 479

$268 MYR 1,064

-55.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,933 MYR 27.5K

$9,519 MYR 37.7K

-27.16%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.3 MYR 243

$59.9 MYR 238

2.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$33.41 MYR 132

$36.97 MYR 147

-9.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$78.1 MYR 309

$86.4 MYR 343

-9.71%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$86.8 MYR 344

$81.6 MYR 323

6.45%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$209 MYR 830

$561 MYR 2,224

-62.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$153 MYR 606

$369 MYR 1,465

-58.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$465 MYR 1,845

$1,057 MYR 4,189

-55.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$321 MYR 1,272

$646 MYR 2,563

-50.38%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,779 MYR 7,054

$4,233 MYR 16.8K

-57.97%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,201 MYR 4,762

$1,524 MYR 6,044

-21.22%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$624 MYR 2,474

$1,785 MYR 7,077

-65.05%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

4.47

0.67%

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

Last update for Bintulu: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $209 in Bintulu and $561 in Kuala Lumpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Lumpur pays 186% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $18.00 in Bintulu vs $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $223 vs $267 per month, with Bintulu cheaper across the board.

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

Bintulu vs Kuala Lumpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Bintulu wins on cost – living expenses run 38% lower than in Kuala Lumpur. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Bintulu the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, Kuala Lumpur earns 186% less. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $209 in Bintulu versus $561 in Kuala Lumpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $784 per month in Bintulu versus $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur – a 38% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bintulu runs roughly 32% less than in Kuala Lumpur. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $784 in Bintulu versus $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Bintulu but tight or insufficient in Kuala Lumpur. The gap between the two cities makes Bintulu the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Bintulu delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $784 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Bintulu hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Bintulu and Kuala Lumpur are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find Bintulu gentler on the wallet – expenses run 38% less than in Kuala Lumpur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.