Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Kedah Cost of Living Comparison Between Brasilia and Kedah

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $969 in Brasilia versus $955 in Kedah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,551 in Brasilia versus $1,409 in Kedah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,132 in Brasilia versus $1,862 in Kedah.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 1% more expensive than in Kedah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 30% lower, Kedah 31% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$8.92 R$45.75
$3.44 MYR 13.98
159.30%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$38.80 R$199
$12.37 MYR 50.3
213.66%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$8.49 R$43.54
$4.92 MYR 20.00
72.56%
Cappuccino
$2.58 R$13.24
$2.79 MYR 11.37
-7.53%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.41 R$7.22
$0.97 MYR 3.94
45.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.90 R$4.62
$0.33 MYR 1.34
172.73%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$2.36 R$12.07
$2.47 MYR 10.03
-4.45%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.87 R$19.83
$4.34 MYR 17.67
-10.83%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.08 R$5.53
$2.45 MYR 9.97
-55.92%
White Bread (500g)
$2.03 R$10.43
$1.31 MYR 5.34
54.96%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.28 R$6.58
$1.70 MYR 6.92
-24.71%
Eggs
$2.43 R$12.45
$2.59 MYR 10.53
-6.18%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$11.81 R$60.6
$15.46 MYR 62.9
-23.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.11 R$21.09
$5.16 MYR 20.98
-20.35%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$8.48 R$43.47
$9.82 MYR 39.94
-13.65%
Apples (1kg)
$2.42 R$12.39
$2.38 MYR 9.68
1.68%
Banana (1kg)
$1.46 R$7.47
$1.53 MYR 6.22
-4.58%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.28 R$6.55
$2.24 MYR 9.12
-42.86%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.65 R$8.45
$1.21 MYR 4.92
36.36%
Potato (1kg)
$1.16 R$5.92
$0.94 MYR 3.84
23.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.07 R$5.47
$0.81 MYR 3.28
32.10%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.79 R$4.03
$0.77 MYR 3.13
2.60%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.95 R$4.85
$0.69 MYR 2.79
37.68%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.40 R$12.29
$4.48 MYR 18.22
-46.43%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.23 R$42.17
$21.57 MYR 87.8
-61.85%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.22 R$6.27
$2.49 MYR 10.14
-51.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.34 R$12.02
$3.61 MYR 14.68
-35.18%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$1.00 R$5.10
$0.72 MYR 2.92
38.89%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$35.06 R$180
$12.16 MYR 49.48
188.32%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.07 R$5.47
$1.26 MYR 5.12
-15.08%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.92 R$4.73
$0.51 MYR 2.09
80.39%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$6.05 R$30.99
$6.74 MYR 27.41
-10.24%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.31 R$6.73
$0.64 MYR 2.61
104.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$23.3K R$119.6K
$42.4K MYR 172.6K
-45.03%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.9K R$163.6K
$28.1K MYR 114.5K
13.44%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$96.4 R$494
$50.1 MYR 204
92.40%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$12.61 R$64.6
$8.22 MYR 33.46
53.41%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$21.81 R$112
$31.52 MYR 128
-30.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$31.07 R$159
$41.66 MYR 169
-25.42%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$27.00 R$138
$6.61 MYR 26.88
308.47%
Cinema Ticket
$7.68 R$39.38
$4.67 MYR 18.99
64.45%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$822 R$4,214
$175 MYR 711
370.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$16.4K R$84.3K
$4,909 MYR 20.0K
235.00%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$51.7 R$265
$55.1 MYR 224
-6.17%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$43.32 R$222
$35.44 MYR 144
22.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$83.3 R$427
$74.4 MYR 303
11.94%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$86.4 R$443
$70.5 MYR 287
22.63%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$479 R$2,453
$423 MYR 1,720
13.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$258 R$1,322
$333 MYR 1,355
-22.63%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,116 R$5,719
$697 MYR 2,835
60.09%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$557 R$2,855
$492 MYR 2,002
13.19%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,457 R$12.6K
$2,052 MYR 8,347
19.76%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,748 R$8,962
$1,131 MYR 4,601
54.59%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$844 R$4,327
$1,313 MYR 5,343
-35.73%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
12.12
4.43
173.59%

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

Last update for Brasilia: September 8, 2026

Last update for Kedah: September 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $479 in Brasilia and $423 in Kedah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kedah pays 56% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $39.00 in Brasilia vs $12.00 in Kedah. Groceries flip the comparison at $209 vs $271, with Brasilia 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
Brasilia vs Kedah: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
What is the total cost difference between living in Brasilia and in Kedah?
Brasilia and Kedah differ by about 1% in total monthly costs ($969 vs $955 including rent). Kedah is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, salaries run 56% lower in Kedah. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.
How do apartment prices compare in Brasilia and in Kedah?
Rent for a central apartment: $479 in Brasilia versus $423 in Kedah. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Kedah – a meal for two runs $12.00 versus $39.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Brasilia or Kedah?
All in, you'll spend $969 per month in Brasilia versus $955 in Kedah – a 1% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $2,000 per month?
At $955 in Kedah versus $969 in Brasilia, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kedah but tight or insufficient in Brasilia. The gap between the two cities makes Kedah the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Brasilia and Kedah?
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.
Is Brasilia or Kedah safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Brasilia and Kedah are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
Where should expats move: Brasilia or Kedah?
Expats usually find Kedah gentler on the wallet – expenses run 1% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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