Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Ipoh and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Ipoh: $922 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $20,900 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

45

Cost of Living Index in Ipoh
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Ipoh Living Index
130

Cost of Living Index in Austin, TX
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Austin, TX Living Index

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Ipoh

🇲🇾 Malaysia

$922

/mo nomad

Austin, TX

🇺🇸 United States

$2,663

/mo nomad

Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Ipoh and in Austin, TX

Real prices from locals and on-the-ground checks – rent, groceries, transit and the daily extras. Here's what a month in Ipoh and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $922 in Ipoh versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

Ipoh $922
Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,372 in Ipoh versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

Ipoh $1,372
Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,821 in Ipoh versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

Ipoh $1,821
Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Ipoh costs roughly 65% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Ipoh is 32% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.26 MYR 13.29

$20.77 $20.77

-84.30%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$19.29 MYR 78.7

$84.6 $84.6

-77.20%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.51 MYR 18.38

$12.32 $12.32

-63.39%

Cappuccino

$2.80 MYR 11.41

$5.63 $5.63

-50.27%

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

$0.70 MYR 2.86

$3.72 $3.72

-81.18%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.44 MYR 1.81

$2.50 $2.50

-82.40%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.34 MYR 17.70

$8.05 $8.05

-46.09%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.52 MYR 18.42

$9.01 $9.01

-49.83%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.97 MYR 8.05

$1.12 $1.12

75.89%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.29

$3.75 $3.75

-72.00%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.36 MYR 5.56

$3.26 $3.26

-58.28%

Eggs

$2.21 MYR 9.03

$4.17 $4.17

-47.00%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$13.65 MYR 55.7

$12.90 $12.90

5.81%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 MYR 18.62

$14.16 $14.16

-67.80%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$7.64 MYR 31.15

$16.22 $16.22

-52.90%

Apples (1kg)

$3.01 MYR 12.27

$4.33 $4.33

-30.48%

Banana (1kg)

$1.77 MYR 7.21

$1.46 $1.46

21.23%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.22 MYR 9.05

$4.51 $4.51

-50.78%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.56 MYR 6.34

$4.34 $4.34

-64.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.28 MYR 5.21

$2.58 $2.58

-50.39%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.48

$2.35 $2.35

-42.98%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.13 MYR 4.62

$1.78 $1.78

-36.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.45 MYR 1.82

$2.22 $2.22

-79.73%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.32 MYR 17.63

$9.88 $9.88

-56.28%

Wine (Bottle)

$16.98 MYR 69.3

$15.08 $15.08

12.60%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.48 MYR 14.21

$2.92 $2.92

19.18%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.57 MYR 18.64

$3.46 $3.46

32.08%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.62 MYR 2.54

$1.49 $1.49

-58.39%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.56 MYR 47.14

$41.72 $41.72

-72.29%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.24 MYR 5.07

$2.73 $2.73

-54.58%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.23 MYR 5.04

$1.66 $1.66

-25.90%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.04 MYR 20.55

$35.30 $35.30

-85.72%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.52 MYR 2.11

$0.95 $0.95

-45.26%

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

$41.3K MYR 168.6K

$36.0K $36.0K

14.68%

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

$34.7K MYR 141.4K

$27.1K $27.1K

28.02%

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

$61.9 MYR 253

$229 $229

-72.95%

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

$8.92 MYR 36.37

$59.4 $59.4

-84.98%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.24 MYR 107

$69.9 $69.9

-62.47%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.16 MYR 164

$57.2 $57.2

-29.84%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$6.93 MYR 28.25

$16.33 $16.33

-57.56%

Cinema Ticket

$3.33 MYR 13.59

$14.28 $14.28

-76.68%

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

$305 MYR 1,242

$1,506 $1,506

-79.78%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$13.3K MYR 54.2K

$21.5K $21.5K

-38.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 MYR 251

$52.8 $52.8

16.44%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.00 MYR 147

$43.82 $43.82

-17.85%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$61.8 MYR 252

$84.8 $84.8

-27.10%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$62.0 MYR 253

$103 $103

-39.86%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$401 MYR 1,634

$1,907 $1,907

-78.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$298 MYR 1,217

$1,274 $1,274

-76.58%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$679 MYR 2,769

$3,664 $3,664

-81.47%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$490 MYR 2,000

$2,538 $2,538

-80.68%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,059 MYR 8,399

$7,614 $7,614

-72.96%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,093 MYR 4,457

$3,157 $3,157

-65.39%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$973 MYR 3,968

$5,121 $5,121

-81.00%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

3.99

6.79

-41.24%

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

Last update for Ipoh: October 10, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure

Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.

Accommodation & Living

Ipoh

$298 32.4%

Austin, TX

$1.3K 47.8% 327% $976

Groceries & Markets

Ipoh

$250 27.2%

Austin, TX

$405 15.2% 61.5% $154

Eating Out

Ipoh

$108 11.8%

Austin, TX

$354 13.3% 226% $245

Clothing & Footwear

Ipoh

$100 10.8%

Austin, TX

$128 4.8% 28.5% $28

Monthly Utilities & Internet

Ipoh

$97 10.5%

Austin, TX

$358 13.5% 269% $261

Sport & Entertainment

Ipoh

$47 5.1%

Austin, TX

$86 3.2% 83.2% $39

Getting Around

Ipoh

$21 2.3%

Austin, TX

$59 2.2% 173% $37

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $401 in Ipoh and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 426% 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: $19.00 in Ipoh vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $250 vs $405 per month, with Ipoh cheaper across the board.

Good to know

🇲🇾 Ipoh

🇺🇸 Austin, TX

🕒 Local time

23:07 11:07 PM

10:07 10:07 AM

13 h behind Ipoh

🌤 Weather

👥 Population

759,952

974,447

💱 Currency

Malaysian Ringgit MYR RM

United States Dollar USD $

📈 Exchange rate

1 MYR = 0.245 USD

1 MYR = 0.218 EUR

1 USD = 0.889 EUR

Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MYR – Malaysian Ringgit Converter

🇺🇸 United States Dollar ($)

🇲🇾 Malaysian Ringgit (RM)

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 USD = 4.08 MYR (1 MYR = 0.245 USD). 1 EUR = 4.59 MYR (1 MYR = 0.218 EUR).

United States Dollar exchange rates as of October 17, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.889 EUR).

USD to MYR in detail →

On the map

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Between locations

Ipoh Austin, TX 15,650 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight

From you

Ipoh
Austin, TX

Distances are measured in a straight line. Your location is detected approximately.

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

Ipoh vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Ipoh wins on cost – living expenses run 189% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Ipoh the obvious pick if budget is a priority.

On paper, salaries run 426% lower in Austin, TX. 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: $401 in Ipoh versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

All in, you'll spend $922 per month in Ipoh versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 189% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

A monthly transit pass in Ipoh runs roughly 261% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.

At $922 in Ipoh versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ipoh but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Ipoh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

Both work as nomad bases, but Ipoh delivers better value – similar infrastructure at $922 monthly. If stretching your runway or maximizing savings is the goal, the price difference makes Ipoh hard to pass up.

Safety-wise, Ipoh and Austin, TX 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 Ipoh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 189% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.