Cost of Living Comparison Between Calarasi and Kuala Lumpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Calarasi and Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $989 per month in Calarasi vs $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,477 per month in Calarasi vs $1,632 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,964 per month in Calarasi vs $2,182 in Kuala Lumpur, rent included.

Calarasi is about 9% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Calarasi and Kuala Lumpur are more affordable than the global median – Calarasi 26% lower, Kuala Lumpur 19% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$10.06 RON 45.46

$4.81 MYR 19.06

109.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.26 RON 123

$27.80 MYR 110

-1.94%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$7.71 RON 34.86

$4.85 MYR 19.22

58.97%

Cappuccino

$2.65 RON 11.97

$3.12 MYR 12.37

-15.06%

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

$1.53 RON 6.92

$0.84 MYR 3.32

82.14%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.79 RON 8.11

$0.50 MYR 1.97

258.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.24 RON 10.12

$4.31 MYR 17.09

-48.03%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.52 RON 15.91

$5.97 MYR 23.65

-41.04%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.34 RON 6.08

$1.99 MYR 7.90

-32.66%

White Bread (500g)

$1.09 RON 4.91

$1.01 MYR 4.01

7.92%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.77 RON 7.98

$1.71 MYR 6.77

3.51%

Eggs

$3.40 RON 15.35

$2.28 MYR 9.05

49.12%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$8.50 RON 38.41

$14.58 MYR 57.8

-41.70%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$7.12 RON 32.20

$4.76 MYR 18.87

49.58%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.15 RON 41.35

$9.50 MYR 37.66

-3.68%

Apples (1kg)

$1.18 RON 5.31

$2.96 MYR 11.75

-60.14%

Banana (1kg)

$1.47 RON 6.66

$1.64 MYR 6.49

-10.37%

Oranges (1kg)

$1.33 RON 6.02

$2.68 MYR 10.63

-50.37%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.91 RON 8.62

$1.52 MYR 6.04

25.66%

Potato (1kg)

$0.75 RON 3.37

$1.23 MYR 4.89

-39.02%

Onion (1kg)

$0.95 RON 4.31

$1.34 MYR 5.32

-29.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.71 RON 3.20

$1.16 MYR 4.61

-38.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.80 RON 3.62

$0.63 MYR 2.48

26.98%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$5.71 RON 25.79

$4.31 MYR 17.09

32.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$4.48 RON 20.27

$19.29 MYR 76.5

-76.78%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$0.98 RON 4.45

$3.29 MYR 13.05

-70.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$1.42 RON 6.42

$4.22 MYR 16.74

-66.35%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.45 RON 2.03

$0.73 MYR 2.90

-38.36%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$14.09 RON 63.7

$11.82 MYR 46.87

19.20%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.67 RON 3.03

$1.15 MYR 4.56

-41.74%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.66 RON 2.97

$1.10 MYR 4.38

-40.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.62 RON 25.39

$4.79 MYR 18.99

17.33%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$1.54 RON 6.98

$0.48 MYR 1.89

220.83%

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

$25.4K RON 114.7K

$39.8K MYR 157.9K

-36.30%

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

$27.4K RON 123.9K

$32.3K MYR 128.0K

-15.13%

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

$148 RON 669

$65.0 MYR 258

127.74%

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

$8.65 RON 39.09

$11.46 MYR 45.44

-24.52%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$7.62 RON 34.44

$25.42 MYR 101

-70.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$68.6 RON 310

$46.84 MYR 186

46.41%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$19.52 RON 88.2

$7.85 MYR 31.13

148.66%

Cinema Ticket

$5.92 RON 26.77

$5.05 MYR 20.03

17.23%

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

$424 RON 1,915

$268 MYR 1,064

57.86%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,966 RON 31.5K

$9,519 MYR 37.7K

-26.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$81.3 RON 367

$59.9 MYR 238

35.60%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.81 RON 194

$36.97 MYR 147

15.80%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.6 RON 342

$86.4 MYR 343

-12.49%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$96.8 RON 437

$81.6 MYR 323

18.66%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$391 RON 1,768

$561 MYR 2,224

-30.25%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$228 RON 1,032

$369 MYR 1,465

-38.18%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$599 RON 2,709

$1,057 MYR 4,189

-43.28%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 RON 1,666

$646 MYR 2,563

-42.97%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,236 RON 5,587

$4,233 MYR 16.8K

-70.80%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$986 RON 4,458

$1,524 MYR 6,044

-35.31%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$773 RON 3,495

$1,785 MYR 7,077

-56.68%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

6.62

4.47

48.10%

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

Last update for Calarasi: May 31, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $391 in Calarasi versus $561 in Kuala Lumpur. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 131% higher in Kuala Lumpur, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $27.00 in Calarasi versus $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $196 vs $267 – making Calarasi the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Calarasi vs Kuala Lumpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $989 in Calarasi, $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur – roughly 9% apart. Kuala Lumpur costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,484 per month in Calarasi and $1,623 in Kuala Lumpur. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calarasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $424 per month in Calarasi and $268 in Kuala Lumpur. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% more in Kuala Lumpur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $989, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,082. In Calarasi it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Lumpur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Kuala Lumpur has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $989 in Calarasi to $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Calarasi. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Lumpur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.