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: $865 in Bintulu versus $1,096 in Kuala Lumpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,330 in Bintulu versus $1,700 in Kuala Lumpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,795 in Bintulu versus $2,303 in Kuala Lumpur.

Living in Bintulu costs roughly 21% less than in Kuala Lumpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Bintulu 37% lower, Kuala Lumpur 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.87 MYR 15.66

$4.88 MYR 19.72

-20.70%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.80 MYR 76.0

$30.14 MYR 122

-37.62%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$6.07 MYR 24.54

$4.84 MYR 19.57

25.41%

Cappuccino

$2.89 MYR 11.68

$3.22 MYR 13.00

-10.25%

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

$0.69 MYR 2.81

$0.87 MYR 3.50

-20.69%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.42 MYR 1.68

$0.50 MYR 2.00

-16.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.93 MYR 11.86

$4.36 MYR 17.63

-32.80%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.18 MYR 20.94

$6.03 MYR 24.38

-14.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.10 MYR 8.48

$2.12 MYR 8.57

-0.94%

White Bread (500g)

$1.36 MYR 5.50

$1.08 MYR 4.35

25.93%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.41

$2.11 MYR 8.54

-36.49%

Eggs

$2.27 MYR 9.17

$2.49 MYR 10.05

-8.84%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$17.16 MYR 69.4

$15.64 MYR 63.3

9.72%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.54 MYR 14.33

$4.95 MYR 20.03

-28.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$5.84 MYR 23.61

$9.90 MYR 40.04

-41.01%

Apples (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.17

$3.36 MYR 13.57

-47.32%

Banana (1kg)

$1.02 MYR 4.14

$1.87 MYR 7.57

-45.45%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.88

$2.39 MYR 9.66

-28.87%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.13 MYR 4.57

$1.66 MYR 6.71

-31.93%

Potato (1kg)

$0.51 MYR 2.07

$1.39 MYR 5.60

-63.31%

Onion (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.90

$1.38 MYR 5.58

-12.32%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.75 MYR 3.03

$1.18 MYR 4.77

-36.44%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.41 MYR 1.66

$0.72 MYR 2.89

-43.06%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 MYR 17.31

$4.39 MYR 17.75

-2.51%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.63 MYR 79.4

$19.40 MYR 78.4

1.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.08 MYR 12.46

$3.56 MYR 14.37

-13.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.04 MYR 8.23

$5.06 MYR 20.44

-59.68%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.21 MYR 4.88

$0.77 MYR 3.11

57.14%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$16.56 MYR 67.0

$12.34 MYR 49.90

34.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.95 MYR 3.85

$1.22 MYR 4.94

-22.13%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.90 MYR 3.63

$1.26 MYR 5.09

-28.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$2.55 MYR 10.32

$5.03 MYR 20.35

-49.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.59 MYR 2.39

$0.78 MYR 3.16

-24.36%

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

$44.9K MYR 181.4K

$41.9K MYR 169.5K

7.04%

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

$40.2K MYR 162.6K

$34.7K MYR 140.3K

15.92%

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

$61.2 MYR 247

$63.5 MYR 257

-3.68%

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

$32.46 MYR 131

$9.29 MYR 37.57

249.41%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$31.07 MYR 126

$26.35 MYR 107

17.91%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.4 MYR 276

$48.81 MYR 197

40.07%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$12.18 MYR 49.23

$7.73 MYR 31.23

57.57%

Cinema Ticket

$4.54 MYR 18.35

$5.48 MYR 22.17

-17.15%

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

$126 MYR 508

$302 MYR 1,222

-58.41%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$7,322 MYR 29.6K

$12.6K MYR 51.1K

-42.06%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.3 MYR 268

$73.2 MYR 296

-9.43%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$35.73 MYR 144

$42.36 MYR 171

-15.65%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$79.3 MYR 321

$90.0 MYR 364

-11.82%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$94.0 MYR 380

$101 MYR 407

-6.76%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$226 MYR 914

$601 MYR 2,431

-62.41%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$158 MYR 637

$368 MYR 1,487

-57.15%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$476 MYR 1,926

$1,235 MYR 4,994

-61.43%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$347 MYR 1,402

$630 MYR 2,549

-44.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,726 MYR 6,980

$4,098 MYR 16.6K

-57.87%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,183 MYR 4,782

$1,546 MYR 6,249

-23.48%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$606 MYR 2,450

$1,575 MYR 6,366

-61.52%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.5

4.2

7.14%

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

Last update for Bintulu: August 30, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $226 in Bintulu and $601 in Kuala Lumpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Lumpur pays 160% 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: $19.00 in Bintulu vs $30.00 in Kuala Lumpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $234 vs $285 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 27% 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 160% 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: $226 in Bintulu versus $601 in Kuala Lumpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $865 per month in Bintulu versus $1,096 in Kuala Lumpur – a 27% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Bintulu runs roughly 34% less than in Kuala Lumpur. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $865 in Bintulu versus $1,096 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 $865 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 27% less than in Kuala Lumpur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.