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: $850 in George Town versus $1,073 in Kuala Lumpur.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,300 in George Town versus $1,604 in Kuala Lumpur.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,750 in George Town versus $2,134 in Kuala Lumpur.

Living in George Town costs roughly 21% less than in Kuala Lumpur, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both cities sit below the global median: George Town 36% lower, Kuala Lumpur 20% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$2.99 MYR 12.22

$4.57 MYR 18.70

-34.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.37 MYR 87.4

$28.76 MYR 118

-25.70%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.14 MYR 16.93

$4.77 MYR 19.54

-13.21%

Cappuccino

$2.59 MYR 10.60

$2.99 MYR 12.23

-13.38%

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

$0.71 MYR 2.92

$0.85 MYR 3.48

-16.47%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.34 MYR 1.38

$0.53 MYR 2.18

-35.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.25 MYR 17.40

$4.23 MYR 17.30

0.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.67 MYR 19.10

$5.73 MYR 23.44

-18.50%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.89 MYR 7.73

$1.99 MYR 8.13

-5.03%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.56

$1.04 MYR 4.26

6.73%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.67 MYR 6.85

$1.68 MYR 6.86

-0.60%

Eggs

$2.06 MYR 8.44

$2.18 MYR 8.94

-5.50%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$16.98 MYR 69.5

$14.74 MYR 60.3

15.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$5.11 MYR 20.90

$4.59 MYR 18.80

11.33%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.72 MYR 43.87

$9.54 MYR 39.05

12.37%

Apples (1kg)

$2.78 MYR 11.39

$2.84 MYR 11.61

-2.11%

Banana (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.63

$1.57 MYR 6.43

-12.10%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.17 MYR 8.89

$2.64 MYR 10.82

-17.80%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.17

$1.52 MYR 6.24

-17.11%

Potato (1kg)

$0.89 MYR 3.63

$1.24 MYR 5.06

-28.23%

Onion (1kg)

$1.17 MYR 4.79

$1.36 MYR 5.56

-13.97%

Lettuce (1 head)

$0.74 MYR 3.02

$1.21 MYR 4.95

-38.84%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.54 MYR 2.21

$0.68 MYR 2.78

-20.59%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.17 MYR 17.07

$4.36 MYR 17.85

-4.36%

Wine (Bottle)

$12.36 MYR 50.6

$18.75 MYR 76.7

-34.08%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.69 MYR 10.99

$3.24 MYR 13.26

-16.98%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.37 MYR 13.78

$4.40 MYR 18.02

-23.41%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.48 MYR 1.98

$0.70 MYR 2.86

-31.43%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 MYR 47.29

$12.01 MYR 49.17

-3.75%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.71

$1.15 MYR 4.72

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.46 MYR 1.89

$1.15 MYR 4.72

-60.00%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$6.52 MYR 26.67

$4.68 MYR 19.15

39.32%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.90

$0.47 MYR 1.94

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

$33.3K MYR 136.1K

$40.7K MYR 166.6K

-18.28%

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

$25.4K MYR 104.2K

$32.5K MYR 132.9K

-21.61%

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

$38.12 MYR 156

$64.5 MYR 264

-40.91%

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

$9.47 MYR 38.77

$11.31 MYR 46.29

-16.27%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$28.91 MYR 118

$25.58 MYR 105

13.02%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$38.83 MYR 159

$46.83 MYR 192

-17.08%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$3.79 MYR 15.51

$7.89 MYR 32.28

-51.96%

Cinema Ticket

$3.98 MYR 16.27

$5.07 MYR 20.76

-21.50%

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

$148 MYR 606

$272 MYR 1,114

-45.62%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,625 MYR 18.9K

$9,520 MYR 39.0K

-51.42%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$51.8 MYR 212

$60.8 MYR 249

-14.86%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$28.85 MYR 118

$37.29 MYR 153

-22.63%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.1 MYR 250

$87.2 MYR 357

-29.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$53.7 MYR 220

$79.0 MYR 323

-32.08%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$370 MYR 1,513

$575 MYR 2,352

-35.68%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$252 MYR 1,033

$363 MYR 1,487

-30.54%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$714 MYR 2,923

$1,089 MYR 4,459

-34.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$500 MYR 2,046

$630 MYR 2,576

-20.58%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,177 MYR 17.1K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 MYR 6,003

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,078 MYR 4,412

$1,521 MYR 6,226

-29.13%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.16

4.47

-6.94%

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

Last update for George Town: July 12, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $370 in George Town and $575 in Kuala Lumpur. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Kuala Lumpur pays 41% 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: $21.00 in George Town vs $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $265 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, Eating Out, Clothing & Footwear, Sport & Entertainment, Getting Around. The 26% gap adds up to real monthly savings that compound significantly over time.

On paper, salaries run 41% 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: $370 in George Town versus $575 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 4% less than in Kuala Lumpur. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

Childcare runs $148 in George Town versus $272 in Kuala Lumpur. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.

At $850 in George Town versus $1,073 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 26% less than in Kuala Lumpur. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.