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: $863 in Brasilia versus $857 in Kedah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,403 in Brasilia versus $1,327 in Kedah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,944 in Brasilia versus $1,798 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 35% lower, Kedah 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.22 R$36.65
$3.14 MYR 12.82
129.94%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.10 R$198
$21.57 MYR 88.2
81.27%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.37 R$32.33
$4.26 MYR 17.42
49.53%
Cappuccino
$1.86 R$9.44
$2.94 MYR 12.02
-36.73%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.17 R$5.92
$0.74 MYR 3.02
58.11%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 R$4.40
$0.33 MYR 1.37
163.64%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.76 R$8.94
$4.38 MYR 17.91
-59.82%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.16 R$16.06
$4.32 MYR 17.67
-26.85%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$0.93 R$4.73
$1.83 MYR 7.47
-49.18%
White Bread (500g)
$1.65 R$8.39
$0.97 MYR 3.97
70.10%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.48 R$7.51
$1.16 MYR 4.75
27.59%
Eggs
$2.01 R$10.20
$2.04 MYR 8.32
-1.47%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.26 R$46.98
$14.76 MYR 60.4
-37.26%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.41 R$17.29
$5.00 MYR 20.44
-31.80%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.89 R$34.98
$14.52 MYR 59.4
-52.55%
Apples (1kg)
$2.03 R$10.29
$2.77 MYR 11.31
-26.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.37 R$6.93
$1.21 MYR 4.95
13.22%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 R$5.87
$2.69 MYR 10.98
-56.88%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 R$8.20
$2.11 MYR 8.64
-23.22%
Potato (1kg)
$1.23 R$6.26
$1.19 MYR 4.88
3.36%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.52
$1.21 MYR 4.94
6.61%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.75 R$3.81
$0.97 MYR 3.96
-22.68%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.61 R$3.09
$0.45 MYR 1.83
35.56%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.17 R$11.02
$4.15 MYR 16.96
-47.71%
Wine (Bottle)
$8.06 R$40.91
$19.04 MYR 77.8
-57.67%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.11 R$5.61
$2.65 MYR 10.85
-58.11%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.27 R$11.52
$3.54 MYR 14.46
-35.88%
🚌 Getting Around
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.97 R$4.94
$0.70 MYR 2.86
38.57%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.81 R$222
$11.64 MYR 47.59
276.37%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.00 R$5.09
$0.73 MYR 3.00
36.99%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.80 R$4.09
$0.50 MYR 2.04
60.00%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 R$28.90
$7.08 MYR 28.96
-19.63%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.09 R$5.53
$0.50 MYR 2.04
118.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.3K R$128.6K
$33.6K MYR 137.5K
-24.64%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$28.5K R$144.6K
$27.8K MYR 113.6K
2.53%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$70.2 R$356
$38.56 MYR 158
82.11%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.06 R$66.3
$9.94 MYR 40.63
31.39%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.06 R$102
$11.76 MYR 48.07
70.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$24.64 R$125
$37.42 MYR 153
-34.15%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.81 R$111
$6.04 MYR 24.68
261.09%
Cinema Ticket
$7.24 R$36.72
$2.81 MYR 11.49
157.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$485 R$2,461
$236 MYR 964
105.56%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.1K R$76.7K
$6,189 MYR 25.3K
144.13%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.3 R$291
$54.0 MYR 221
6.05%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$42.20 R$214
$28.68 MYR 117
47.14%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.0 R$345
$62.3 MYR 255
9.10%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$63.5 R$322
$53.8 MYR 220
18.02%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$412 R$2,089
$382 MYR 1,561
7.74%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$263 R$1,334
$274 MYR 1,118
-3.92%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$973 R$4,937
$650 MYR 2,657
49.68%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$563 R$2,856
$476 MYR 1,946
18.21%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,508 R$12.7K
$2,045 MYR 8,362
22.60%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,745 R$8,858
$1,134 MYR 4,635
53.94%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$928 R$4,710
$1,301 MYR 5,319
-28.67%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.87
4.16
185.34%

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

Last update for Brasilia: July 21, 2026

Last update for Kedah: July 21, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $412 in Brasilia and $382 in Kedah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kedah pays 40% 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 $22.00 in Kedah. Groceries flip the comparison at $179 vs $270, 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 ($863 vs $857 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 40% 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: $412 in Brasilia versus $382 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 $22.00 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 $863 per month in Brasilia versus $857 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 $857 in Kedah versus $863 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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