Cost of Living Comparison Between George Town and Kuala Lumpur Cost of Living Comparison Between George Town and Kuala Lumpur

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $951 in George Town versus $1,096 in Kuala Lumpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,630 in George Town versus $1,700 in Kuala Lumpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,309 in George Town versus $2,303 in Kuala Lumpur.

Living in George Town costs roughly 13% less than in Kuala Lumpur, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: George Town 31% lower, Kuala Lumpur 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.44 MYR 13.88

$4.88 MYR 19.68

-29.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$15.48 MYR 62.4

$30.14 MYR 122

-48.64%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.78 MYR 19.28

$4.84 MYR 19.53

-1.24%

Cappuccino

$2.79 MYR 11.25

$3.22 MYR 12.97

-13.35%

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

$0.72 MYR 2.89

$0.87 MYR 3.49

-17.24%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.33 MYR 1.32

$0.50 MYR 2.00

-34.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$2.52 MYR 10.18

$4.36 MYR 17.59

-42.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.48 MYR 18.06

$6.03 MYR 24.32

-25.70%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.87 MYR 7.52

$2.12 MYR 8.55

-11.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.10 MYR 4.44

$1.08 MYR 4.34

1.85%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.70 MYR 6.84

$2.11 MYR 8.52

-19.43%

Eggs

$2.18 MYR 8.78

$2.49 MYR 10.03

-12.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.19 MYR 53.2

$15.64 MYR 63.1

-15.66%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.53 MYR 18.26

$4.95 MYR 19.98

-8.48%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$8.83 MYR 35.62

$9.90 MYR 39.95

-10.81%

Apples (1kg)

$2.42 MYR 9.76

$3.36 MYR 13.54

-27.98%

Banana (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.86

$1.87 MYR 7.55

-22.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.35 MYR 9.50

$2.39 MYR 9.64

-1.67%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 4.89

$1.66 MYR 6.69

-27.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.87 MYR 3.50

$1.39 MYR 5.59

-37.41%

Onion (1kg)

$0.81 MYR 3.26

$1.38 MYR 5.57

-41.30%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.76 MYR 3.05

$1.18 MYR 4.76

-35.59%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.57 MYR 2.31

$0.72 MYR 2.89

-20.83%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.55 MYR 18.36

$4.39 MYR 17.71

3.64%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.72 MYR 79.5

$19.40 MYR 78.3

1.65%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.44 MYR 9.84

$3.56 MYR 14.34

-31.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.80 MYR 15.34

$5.06 MYR 20.40

-24.90%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.95

$0.77 MYR 3.10

-37.66%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.09 MYR 44.72

$12.34 MYR 49.78

-10.13%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.26 MYR 5.07

$1.22 MYR 4.93

3.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.48 MYR 1.93

$1.26 MYR 5.07

-61.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$7.02 MYR 28.33

$5.03 MYR 20.30

39.56%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.77 MYR 3.10

$0.78 MYR 3.16

-1.28%

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

$42.7K MYR 172.3K

$41.9K MYR 169.1K

1.88%

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

$28.1K MYR 113.3K

$34.7K MYR 140.0K

-19.05%

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

$37.60 MYR 152

$63.5 MYR 256

-40.81%

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

$8.18 MYR 33.01

$9.29 MYR 37.48

-11.95%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.47 MYR 119

$26.35 MYR 106

11.84%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.15 MYR 162

$48.81 MYR 197

-17.74%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.02 MYR 20.25

$7.73 MYR 31.16

-35.06%

Cinema Ticket

$4.68 MYR 18.86

$5.48 MYR 22.12

-14.60%

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

$172 MYR 692

$302 MYR 1,219

-43.25%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$5,013 MYR 20.2K

$12.6K MYR 51.0K

-60.34%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$55.0 MYR 222

$73.2 MYR 295

-24.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$34.57 MYR 139

$42.36 MYR 171

-18.39%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$75.2 MYR 303

$90.0 MYR 363

-16.44%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$71.2 MYR 287

$101 MYR 406

-29.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$521 MYR 2,103

$601 MYR 2,425

-13.28%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$378 MYR 1,525

$368 MYR 1,484

2.75%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$926 MYR 3,737

$1,235 MYR 4,983

-25.00%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$1,003 MYR 4,048

$630 MYR 2,543

59.17%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,098 MYR 16.5K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,546 MYR 6,235

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,106 MYR 4,461

$1,575 MYR 6,352

-29.77%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.24

4.2

0.95%

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

Last update for George Town: August 30, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $521 in George Town and $601 in Kuala Lumpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Lumpur pays 42% more on average. The extra income cushions the higher costs, though housing choices and lifestyle decide how much of the gap is truly closed.

Dining out: $15.00 in George Town vs $30.00 in Kuala Lumpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $244 vs $285 per month, with George Town cheaper across the board.

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

George Town vs Kuala Lumpur: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

George Town is cheaper overall, especially in Groceries & Markets, Clothing & Footwear, Eating Out, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 15% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 42% lower in Kuala Lumpur. That's worth factoring in alongside costs, though remote workers earning in a stronger currency may not notice the difference at all.

Rent for a central apartment: $521 in George Town versus $601 in Kuala Lumpur. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

A monthly transit pass in George Town runs roughly 11% less than in Kuala Lumpur. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $172 in George Town versus $302 in Kuala Lumpur. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $951 in George Town versus $1,096 in Kuala Lumpur, a $1,500 budget is realistic in George Town but tight or insufficient in Kuala Lumpur. The gap between the two cities makes George Town the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

For families, George Town is more practical. Housing and childcare are both notably cheaper than in Kuala Lumpur, and the savings on those two alone free up budget for education, activities, and family trips.

Safety-wise, George Town and Kuala Lumpur are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.

Expats usually find George Town gentler on the wallet – expenses run 15% less than in Kuala Lumpur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.