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: $870 in Brasilia versus $845 in Kedah.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,408 in Brasilia versus $1,324 in Kedah.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,946 in Brasilia versus $1,803 in Kedah.

Living in Brasilia is roughly 3% more expensive than Kedah, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Brasilia 35% lower, Kedah 37% lower.

Currency
๐Ÿฝ Eating Out
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$7.18 R$35.71
$2.97 MYRย 11.73
141.75%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$39.91 R$198
$20.99 MYRย 82.9
90.14%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$6.46 R$32.11
$4.25 MYRย 16.81
52.00%
Cappuccino
$1.93 R$9.58
$2.88 MYRย 11.37
-32.99%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$1.21 R$5.99
$0.69 MYRย 2.71
75.36%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.82 R$4.07
$0.36 MYRย 1.43
127.78%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$1.81 R$9.02
$4.28 MYRย 16.91
-57.71%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.32 R$16.51
$4.39 MYRย 17.34
-24.37%
๐Ÿ›’ Groceries & Markets
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.01 R$5.04
$1.84 MYRย 7.26
-45.11%
White Bread (500g)
$1.62 R$8.04
$0.90 MYRย 3.56
80.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.44 R$7.16
$1.16 MYRย 4.59
24.14%
Eggs
$2.10 R$10.45
$2.13 MYRย 8.42
-1.41%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.01 R$44.76
$14.94 MYRย 59.0
-39.69%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.33 R$16.53
$5.16 MYRย 20.37
-35.47%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$6.66 R$33.09
$14.74 MYRย 58.2
-54.82%
Apples (1kg)
$2.01 R$9.96
$2.87 MYRย 11.34
-29.97%
Banana (1kg)
$1.36 R$6.74
$1.21 MYRย 4.77
12.40%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.16 R$5.79
$2.68 MYRย 10.59
-56.72%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.62 R$8.03
$2.09 MYRย 8.24
-22.49%
Potato (1kg)
$1.24 R$6.16
$1.18 MYRย 4.65
5.08%
Onion (1kg)
$1.29 R$6.41
$1.22 MYRย 4.80
5.74%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.74 R$3.69
$0.95 MYRย 3.75
-22.11%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.62 R$3.09
$0.48 MYRย 1.91
29.17%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.11 R$10.49
$4.19 MYRย 16.57
-49.64%
Wine (Bottle)
$10.00 R$49.69
$19.49 MYRย 77.0
-48.69%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.06 R$5.26
$2.65 MYRย 10.47
-60.00%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.36 R$11.74
$3.52 MYRย 13.89
-32.95%
๐ŸšŒ Getting Around
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.95 R$4.72
$0.72 MYRย 2.85
31.94%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$43.46 R$216
$11.89 MYRย 46.98
265.52%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.00 R$4.98
$0.68 MYRย 2.69
47.06%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.76 R$3.76
$0.47 MYRย 1.84
61.70%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$5.69 R$28.27
$6.95 MYRย 27.47
-18.13%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$1.13 R$5.60
$0.50 MYRย 1.97
126.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$25.4K R$126.4K
$33.2K MYRย 131.3K
-23.49%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$29.1K R$144.5K
$27.9K MYRย 110.3K
4.08%
๐Ÿงพ Monthly Utilities & Internet
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$71.6 R$356
$38.58 MYRย 152
85.64%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$13.41 R$66.7
$10.25 MYRย 40.50
30.83%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$20.52 R$102
$11.73 MYRย 46.35
74.94%
๐ŸŽ‰ Sport & Entertainment
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$25.34 R$126
$36.97 MYRย 146
-31.46%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$21.88 R$109
$5.79 MYRย 22.85
277.89%
Cinema Ticket
$7.14 R$35.50
$2.87 MYRย 11.33
148.78%
๐Ÿงธ Childcare & Education
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$483 R$2,402
$243 MYRย 958
99.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$15.3K R$76.1K
$6,217 MYRย 24.6K
146.39%
๐Ÿ‘•๐Ÿ‘Ÿ Clothing & Footwear
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$58.6 R$291
$53.9 MYRย 213
8.72%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.60 R$207
$29.08 MYRย 115
43.05%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$68.1 R$339
$61.0 MYRย 241
11.65%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$65.0 R$323
$53.0 MYRย 209
22.52%
๐Ÿ  Accommodation & Living
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$407 R$2,021
$387 MYRย 1,528
5.10%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$254 R$1,262
$268 MYRย 1,061
-5.42%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$965 R$4,795
$638 MYRย 2,519
51.28%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$561 R$2,787
$470 MYRย 1,857
19.30%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$2,683 R$13.3K
$1,647 MYRย 6,507
62.88%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,795 R$8,923
$1,008 MYRย 3,983
78.03%
๐Ÿ’ต Salaries & Financials
Brasilia
Kedah
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$760 R$3,779
$1,358 MYRย 5,364
-44.01%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
11.87
4.16
185.34%

CityCost data is based on AI and user input โ€“ minor inaccuracies may occur.

Last update for Brasilia: April 21, 2026

Last update for Kedah: April 20, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $407 in Brasilia and $387 in Kedah. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kedah pays 79% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.

Dining out: $40 in Brasilia vs $21 in Kedah. Groceries flip the comparison at $182 vs $273, 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 Kedah?
Brasilia and Kedah differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($870 vs $845 including rent). Kedah is meaningfully more affordable โ€“ a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city has better-paying jobs?
On paper, Kedah earns 79% less. 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 Kedah?
Rent for a central apartment: $407 in Brasilia versus $387 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 โ€“ a meal for two runs $21.00 versus $40.00 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 $870 per month in Brasilia versus $845 in Kedah โ€“ a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How far does $1,200 go in Brasilia vs Kedah?
Either city works on $1,200 a month, though Kedah gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
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 โ€“ 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 โ€“ expenses run 3% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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