Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheras and Montana Cost of Living Comparison Between Cheras and Montana

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,143 per month in Cheras vs $862 in Montana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,558 per month in Cheras vs $1,399 in Montana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,973 per month in Cheras vs $1,937 in Montana, rent included.

Cheras costs about 33% more than Montana, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Cheras and Montana are more affordable than the global median – Cheras 17% lower, Montana 37% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.67 MYR 14.94

$9.45 BGN 15.73

-61.16%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$24.62 MYR 100

$36.89 BGN 61.4

-33.26%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.81 MYR 19.58

$9.86 BGN 16.40

-51.22%

Cappuccino

$3.11 MYR 12.66

$1.44 BGN 2.40

115.97%

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

$0.86 MYR 3.50

$1.46 BGN 2.43

-41.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.08

$1.10 BGN 1.84

-53.64%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.43 MYR 18.02

$1.40 BGN 2.32

216.43%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.35 MYR 25.83

$1.08 BGN 1.80

487.96%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.91 MYR 7.75

$1.70 BGN 2.82

12.35%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.22

$1.08 BGN 1.80

-3.70%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.44 MYR 5.85

$2.16 BGN 3.59

-33.33%

Eggs

$1.85 MYR 7.52

$2.77 BGN 4.60

-33.21%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.02 MYR 73.3

$9.91 BGN 16.49

81.84%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 MYR 18.40

$3.34 BGN 5.56

35.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.99 MYR 44.69

$12.87 BGN 21.41

-14.61%

Apples (1kg)

$3.56 MYR 14.47

$1.30 BGN 2.17

173.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 MYR 7.61

$1.93 BGN 3.21

-3.11%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.66 MYR 10.82

$1.84 BGN 3.05

44.57%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.81

$2.65 BGN 4.40

-36.60%

Potato (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.60

$0.72 BGN 1.20

193.06%

Onion (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.91

$0.97 BGN 1.61

75.26%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.34 MYR 5.46

$0.95 BGN 1.58

41.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.51 MYR 2.08

$0.52 BGN 0.86

-1.92%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.60

$3.83 BGN 6.38

13.05%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.05 MYR 57.1

$6.47 BGN 10.77

117.16%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.80 MYR 11.38

$0.91 BGN 1.51

207.69%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.12 MYR 12.69

$1.22 BGN 2.04

155.74%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.96

$0.85 BGN 1.41

-14.12%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.42 MYR 50.5

$24.69 BGN 41.08

-49.70%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.27 MYR 5.17

$0.62 BGN 1.04

104.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.35 MYR 1.44

$0.46 BGN 0.77

-23.91%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.50 MYR 38.63

$10.89 BGN 18.12

-12.76%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.79 MYR 3.21

$1.57 BGN 2.61

-49.68%

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

$42.9K MYR 174.7K

$19.9K BGN 33.0K

116.32%

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

$34.8K MYR 141.7K

$24.7K BGN 41.1K

40.83%

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

$49.55 MYR 202

$105 BGN 174

-52.67%

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

$11.27 MYR 45.83

$19.18 BGN 31.91

-41.24%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$27.69 MYR 113

$8.86 BGN 14.74

212.53%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$51.2 MYR 208

$31.81 BGN 52.9

60.99%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$17.58 BGN 29.25

Cinema Ticket

$4.89 MYR 19.88

$5.61 BGN 9.33

-12.83%

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

$163 MYR 662

$537 BGN 893

-69.71%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,548 MYR 18.5K

$5,681 BGN 9,452

-19.95%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$65.2 MYR 265

$71.8 BGN 119

-9.22%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$30.08 MYR 122

$44.05 BGN 73.3

-31.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.5 MYR 331

$98.8 BGN 164

-17.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$85.1 MYR 346

$108 BGN 180

-21.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$956 MYR 3,888

$225 BGN 375

324.29%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$473 MYR 1,925

$166 BGN 277

184.50%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$747 MYR 3,040

$409 BGN 681

82.63%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$487 MYR 1,980

$307 BGN 511

58.48%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,368 BGN 2,276

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,112 BGN 1,849

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,174 MYR 4,776

$1,026 BGN 1,706

14.48%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

3.1

30.97%

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

Last update for Cheras: September 7, 2026

Last update for Montana: September 7, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $956 in Cheras versus $225 in Montana. 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 14% higher in Cheras, 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 $25.00 in Cheras versus $37.00 in Montana. Groceries tell a different story – $270 in Cheras vs $205 in Montana – so Montana wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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

Cheras vs Montana: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Cheras is pricier by about 33%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,715 per month in Cheras and $1,293 in Montana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Groceries cost about 31% more in Cheras, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $25.00 in Cheras and $37.00 in Montana. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Montana, where all-in costs run around $862, than in Cheras at $1,143. In Montana it covers expenses comfortably, while in Cheras it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Montana – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Montana. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Cheras makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.