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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $829 per month in Cheras vs $831 in Montana, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,293 per month in Cheras vs $1,328 in Montana, rent included.

A family of three spends $1,757 per month in Cheras vs $1,824 in Montana, rent included.

Cheras and Montana have comparable living costs – the differences are in the details.

Both Cheras and Montana are more affordable than the global median – Cheras 38% lower, Montana 38% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.48 MYR 14.13

$10.47 BGN 17.42

-66.76%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$18.77 MYR 76.1

$36.07 BGN 60.0

-47.96%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.59 MYR 18.63

$7.79 BGN 12.96

-41.08%

Cappuccino

$3.03 MYR 12.27

$1.42 BGN 2.37

113.38%

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

$0.79 MYR 3.19

$1.40 BGN 2.33

-43.57%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.84

$0.90 BGN 1.50

-50.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.78 MYR 19.38

$1.34 BGN 2.22

256.72%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.64 MYR 26.94

$1.04 BGN 1.72

538.46%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.79 MYR 7.28

$1.68 BGN 2.79

6.55%

White Bread (500g)

$0.93 MYR 3.77

$0.95 BGN 1.58

-2.11%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.10

$1.82 BGN 3.03

-30.77%

Eggs

$2.06 MYR 8.37

$2.70 BGN 4.49

-23.70%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.44 MYR 62.6

$9.21 BGN 15.32

67.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$3.58 MYR 14.50

$3.29 BGN 5.47

8.81%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.46 MYR 30.26

$13.20 BGN 21.97

-43.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.76 MYR 11.18

$1.20 BGN 2.00

130.00%

Banana (1kg)

$1.76 MYR 7.14

$2.51 BGN 4.18

-29.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.45 MYR 9.92

$2.03 BGN 3.38

20.69%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.09

$2.02 BGN 3.36

-37.62%

Potato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.16

$0.84 BGN 1.40

80.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.43

$0.79 BGN 1.32

69.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.93 MYR 3.79

$1.41 BGN 2.34

-34.04%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.56 MYR 2.28

$0.54 BGN 0.90

3.70%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.26 MYR 17.26

$3.61 BGN 6.01

18.01%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.50 MYR 58.8

$5.81 BGN 9.66

149.57%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.83 MYR 11.48

$0.98 BGN 1.64

188.78%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.78 MYR 15.33

$1.71 BGN 2.84

121.05%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.96

$0.92 BGN 1.52

-47.83%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.95 MYR 48.44

$35.51 BGN 59.1

-66.35%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$0.98 MYR 3.95

$0.64 BGN 1.06

53.12%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.02 MYR 4.14

$0.43 BGN 0.72

137.21%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.49 MYR 38.47

$10.28 BGN 17.11

-7.68%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.49 MYR 1.99

$1.59 BGN 2.64

-69.18%

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

$49.4K MYR 200.2K

$20.0K BGN 33.3K

146.46%

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

$31.7K MYR 128.6K

$24.5K BGN 40.7K

29.64%

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

$41.77 MYR 169

$101 BGN 169

-58.80%

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

$9.30 MYR 37.72

$17.11 BGN 28.47

-45.65%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$30.42 MYR 123

$8.95 BGN 14.88

239.89%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.98 MYR 166

$20.90 BGN 34.76

96.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.73 MYR 23.23

$8.98 BGN 14.94

-36.19%

Cinema Ticket

$5.09 MYR 20.62

$5.65 BGN 9.41

-9.91%

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

$190 MYR 769

$321 BGN 535

-41.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$6,818 MYR 27.6K

$5,351 BGN 8,902

27.41%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$64.7 MYR 262

$52.6 BGN 87.5

23.02%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.30 MYR 139

$29.01 BGN 48.26

18.24%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$73.9 MYR 300

$73.1 BGN 122

1.08%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$48.61 MYR 197

$106 BGN 177

-54.22%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$372 MYR 1,507

$221 BGN 368

68.10%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$237 MYR 961

$164 BGN 274

44.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$656 MYR 2,661

$419 BGN 697

56.70%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$420 MYR 1,703

$312 BGN 519

34.66%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$1,357 BGN 2,257

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,107 BGN 1,842

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,175 MYR 4,765

$1,002 BGN 1,667

17.24%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.07

3.2

27.19%

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

Last update for Cheras: June 6, 2026

Last update for Montana: June 6, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $372 in Cheras versus $221 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 17% higher in Cheras. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $19.00 in Cheras versus $36.00 in Montana. Groceries tell a different story – $236 in Cheras vs $204 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

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,244 per month in Cheras and $1,247 in Montana. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 16% cheaper in Montana – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

Kindergarten costs $190 per month in Cheras and $321 in Montana. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Cheras, where all-in costs run around $829, than in Montana at $831. In Cheras it covers expenses comfortably, while in Montana it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

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