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: $782 in Bintulu versus $1,073 in Kuala Lumpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,237 in Bintulu versus $1,604 in Kuala Lumpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,692 in Bintulu versus $2,134 in Kuala Lumpur.

Living in Bintulu costs roughly 27% less than in Kuala Lumpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bintulu 41% lower, Kuala Lumpur 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.84 MYR 15.73

$4.57 MYR 18.70

-15.97%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$17.40 MYR 71.2

$28.76 MYR 118

-39.50%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$5.62 MYR 23.01

$4.77 MYR 19.54

17.82%

Cappuccino

$2.79 MYR 11.41

$2.99 MYR 12.23

-6.69%

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

$0.62 MYR 2.55

$0.85 MYR 3.48

-27.06%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.36 MYR 1.49

$0.53 MYR 2.18

-32.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.91 MYR 11.91

$4.23 MYR 17.30

-31.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.91 MYR 20.10

$5.73 MYR 23.44

-14.31%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.74 MYR 7.11

$1.99 MYR 8.13

-12.56%

White Bread (500g)

$1.31 MYR 5.36

$1.04 MYR 4.26

25.96%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.25 MYR 5.12

$1.68 MYR 6.86

-25.60%

Eggs

$2.20 MYR 9.00

$2.18 MYR 8.94

0.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.43 MYR 67.3

$14.74 MYR 60.3

11.47%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.46 MYR 14.16

$4.59 MYR 18.80

-24.62%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.82 MYR 23.83

$9.54 MYR 39.05

-38.99%

Apples (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.88

$2.84 MYR 11.61

-40.85%

Banana (1kg)

$0.98 MYR 4.01

$1.57 MYR 6.43

-37.58%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.80

$2.64 MYR 10.82

-37.12%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.06 MYR 4.34

$1.52 MYR 6.24

-30.26%

Potato (1kg)

$0.49 MYR 1.99

$1.24 MYR 5.06

-60.48%

Onion (1kg)

$1.16 MYR 4.76

$1.36 MYR 5.56

-14.71%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.72 MYR 2.94

$1.21 MYR 4.95

-40.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.39 MYR 1.61

$0.68 MYR 2.78

-42.65%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.89 MYR 15.93

$4.36 MYR 17.85

-10.78%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.91 MYR 81.5

$18.75 MYR 76.7

6.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.88 MYR 11.77

$3.24 MYR 13.26

-11.11%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.87 MYR 7.63

$4.40 MYR 18.02

-57.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.16 MYR 4.75

$0.70 MYR 2.86

65.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$15.91 MYR 65.1

$12.01 MYR 49.17

32.47%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.92 MYR 3.75

$1.15 MYR 4.72

-20.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.86 MYR 3.53

$1.15 MYR 4.72

-25.22%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.37 MYR 9.72

$4.68 MYR 19.15

-49.36%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 MYR 2.12

$0.47 MYR 1.94

10.64%

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

$42.1K MYR 172.5K

$40.7K MYR 166.6K

3.54%

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

$37.0K MYR 151.2K

$32.5K MYR 132.9K

13.84%

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

$57.8 MYR 236

$64.5 MYR 264

-10.45%

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

$9.04 MYR 36.99

$11.31 MYR 46.29

-20.07%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.17 MYR 119

$25.58 MYR 105

14.03%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$64.1 MYR 262

$46.83 MYR 192

36.92%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.84 MYR 23.91

$7.89 MYR 32.28

-25.98%

Cinema Ticket

$4.18 MYR 17.09

$5.07 MYR 20.76

-17.55%

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

$120 MYR 493

$272 MYR 1,114

-55.75%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,111 MYR 29.1K

$9,520 MYR 39.0K

-25.31%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$62.3 MYR 255

$60.8 MYR 249

2.42%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.04 MYR 139

$37.29 MYR 153

-8.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$76.0 MYR 311

$87.2 MYR 357

-12.85%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$88.2 MYR 361

$79.0 MYR 323

11.58%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$208 MYR 852

$575 MYR 2,352

-63.78%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$151 MYR 616

$363 MYR 1,487

-58.55%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$462 MYR 1,891

$1,089 MYR 4,459

-57.59%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$313 MYR 1,280

$630 MYR 2,576

-50.33%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,751 MYR 7,165

$4,177 MYR 17.1K

-58.09%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,164 MYR 4,765

$1,467 MYR 6,003

-20.63%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$609 MYR 2,493

$1,521 MYR 6,226

-59.96%

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: July 11, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $208 in Bintulu and $575 in Kuala Lumpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Lumpur pays 150% 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: $17.00 in Bintulu vs $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $224 vs $265 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 37% 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, salaries run 150% lower in Kuala Lumpur. 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: $208 in Bintulu versus $575 in Kuala Lumpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $782 per month in Bintulu versus $1,073 in Kuala Lumpur – a 37% 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 $782 in Bintulu versus $1,073 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 $782 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 37% less than in Kuala Lumpur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.