Cost of Living Comparison Between Boksburg and Cheras Cost of Living Comparison Between Boksburg and Cheras

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,045 in Boksburg versus $841 in Cheras.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,671 in Boksburg versus $1,279 in Cheras.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,296 in Boksburg versus $1,716 in Cheras.

Living in Boksburg is roughly 24% more expensive than in Cheras, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Boksburg 22% lower, Cheras 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$11.15 R 183

$3.63 MYR 14.85

207.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$42.75 R 703

$18.90 MYR 77.4

126.19%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.74 R 78.0

$4.78 MYR 19.56

-0.84%

Cappuccino

$2.17 R 35.59

$2.97 MYR 12.14

-26.94%

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

$1.03 R 16.93

$0.83 MYR 3.41

24.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.77 R 12.61

$0.49 MYR 2.02

57.14%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.27 R 37.24

$4.61 MYR 18.86

-50.76%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$2.82 R 46.31

$6.71 MYR 27.47

-57.97%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.19 R 19.63

$1.89 MYR 7.73

-37.04%

White Bread (500g)

$1.03 R 16.90

$0.95 MYR 3.90

8.42%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.58 R 26.04

$1.29 MYR 5.28

22.48%

Eggs

$2.54 R 41.70

$2.07 MYR 8.46

22.71%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$7.90 R 130

$15.55 MYR 63.6

-49.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.68 R 77.0

$3.61 MYR 14.79

29.64%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$6.53 R 107

$7.44 MYR 30.45

-12.23%

Apples (1kg)

$1.70 R 27.93

$2.64 MYR 10.80

-35.61%

Banana (1kg)

$1.52 R 25.04

$1.76 MYR 7.19

-13.64%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.61 R 26.52

$2.48 MYR 10.14

-35.08%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.61 R 26.48

$1.21 MYR 4.97

33.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.50 R 24.72

$1.46 MYR 5.98

2.74%

Onion (1kg)

$1.44 R 23.66

$1.33 MYR 5.46

8.27%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.09 R 17.93

$0.94 MYR 3.84

15.96%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$1.17 R 19.19

$0.51 MYR 2.10

129.41%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$3.03 R 49.85

$4.12 MYR 16.86

-26.46%

Wine (Bottle)

$6.20 R 102

$14.31 MYR 58.6

-56.67%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$1.31 R 21.52

$2.88 MYR 11.77

-54.51%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.78 R 29.21

$4.00 MYR 16.36

-55.50%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$1.61 R 26.53

$0.46 MYR 1.87

250.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.89 MYR 48.65

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.09 R 17.91

$0.97 MYR 3.97

12.37%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.96 R 15.84

$1.02 MYR 4.18

-5.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$3.06 R 50.3

$9.26 MYR 37.91

-66.95%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.26 R 20.67

$0.47 MYR 1.91

168.09%

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

$19.2K R 315.0K

$49.5K MYR 202.6K

-61.28%

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

$23.6K R 387.2K

$30.9K MYR 126.6K

-23.87%

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

$124 R 2,044

$41.01 MYR 168

203.24%

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

$40.35 R 663

$9.40 MYR 38.48

329.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$42.65 R 701

$31.02 MYR 127

37.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$28.01 R 460

$41.52 MYR 170

-32.54%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.83 R 112

$5.97 MYR 24.45

14.41%

Cinema Ticket

$7.70 R 127

$4.88 MYR 19.98

57.79%

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

$195 R 3,198

$186 MYR 763

4.37%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,968 R 81.7K

$6,780 MYR 27.7K

-26.72%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$50.9 R 837

$64.2 MYR 263

-20.69%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$32.01 R 526

$34.06 MYR 139

-6.02%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$89.6 R 1,472

$72.3 MYR 296

23.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.0 R 1,315

$47.91 MYR 196

66.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$300 R 4,937

$376 MYR 1,540

-20.16%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$332 R 5,463

$236 MYR 965

40.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$625 R 10.3K

$652 MYR 2,667

-4.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$720 R 11.8K

$430 MYR 1,760

67.47%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$890 R 14.6K

$1,164 MYR 4,763

-23.55%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

11.51

4.07

182.80%

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

Last update for Boksburg: July 12, 2026

Last update for Cheras: July 11, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $300 in Boksburg and $376 in Cheras. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Cheras pays 31% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $43.00 in Boksburg vs $19.00 in Cheras. Groceries flip the comparison at $186 vs $237, with Boksburg cheaper for home cooking.

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

Boksburg vs Cheras: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Boksburg and Cheras differ by about 24% in total monthly costs ($1,045 vs $841 including rent). Cheras is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

On paper, salaries run 31% lower in Cheras. 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: $300 in Boksburg versus $376 in Cheras. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Shoppers in Boksburg pay roughly 27% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.

All in, you'll spend $1,045 per month in Boksburg versus $841 in Cheras – a 24% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

Either city works on $1,000 a month, though Cheras gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.

Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.

Safety-wise, Boksburg and Cheras 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 Cheras gentler on the wallet – expenses run 24% less than in Boksburg. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.