Cost of Living Comparison Between Ipoh and Brasilia Cost of Living Comparison Between Ipoh and Brasilia

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $859 in Ipoh versus $860 in Brasilia.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,305 in Ipoh versus $1,410 in Brasilia.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,752 in Ipoh versus $1,961 in Brasilia.

Monthly costs are close between Ipoh and Brasilia; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.

Both cities sit below the global median: Ipoh 36% lower, Brasilia 36% lower.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$2.57 MYR 10.40
$7.02 R$35.53
-63.39%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$18.80 MYR 76.2
$38.85 R$197
-51.61%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$3.70 MYR 15.00
$6.40 R$32.41
-42.19%
Cappuccino
$2.32 MYR 9.40
$1.94 R$9.80
19.59%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.77 MYR 3.10
$1.15 R$5.85
-33.04%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.33 MYR 1.35
$0.86 R$4.36
-61.63%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.47 MYR 14.05
$1.78 R$9.01
94.94%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.58 MYR 18.57
$3.19 R$16.14
43.57%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.87 MYR 7.60
$0.99 R$5.00
88.89%
White Bread (500g)
$0.99 MYR 4.01
$1.66 R$8.39
-40.36%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.35 MYR 5.48
$1.49 R$7.52
-9.40%
Eggs
$1.83 MYR 7.43
$2.01 R$10.19
-8.96%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.27 MYR 53.8
$8.99 R$45.53
47.61%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$5.16 MYR 20.91
$3.30 R$16.68
56.36%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$7.63 MYR 30.92
$6.64 R$33.61
14.91%
Apples (1kg)
$3.00 MYR 12.17
$2.02 R$10.23
48.51%
Banana (1kg)
$1.81 MYR 7.35
$1.40 R$7.09
29.29%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.97 MYR 12.03
$1.20 R$6.09
147.50%
Tomato (1kg)
$2.02 MYR 8.19
$1.62 R$8.19
24.69%
Potato (1kg)
$1.45 MYR 5.89
$1.29 R$6.54
12.40%
Onion (1kg)
$1.35 MYR 5.47
$1.31 R$6.61
3.05%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.65 MYR 6.71
$0.81 R$4.09
103.70%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.45 MYR 1.84
$0.62 R$3.16
-27.42%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.15 MYR 16.83
$2.17 R$10.99
91.24%
Wine (Bottle)
$17.68 MYR 71.7
$8.67 R$43.91
103.92%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.58 MYR 14.52
$1.06 R$5.37
237.74%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.37 MYR 17.72
$2.25 R$11.41
94.22%
🚌 Getting Around
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.74 MYR 3.01
$1.01 R$5.12
-26.73%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.55 MYR 46.83
$44.27 R$224
-73.91%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.17 MYR 4.74
$1.00 R$5.08
17.00%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 MYR 4.48
$0.81 R$4.08
35.80%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.42 MYR 17.94
$5.71 R$28.91
-22.59%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 MYR 1.87
$1.14 R$5.78
-59.65%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$43.9K MYR 177.9K
$24.8K R$125.7K
76.69%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$31.4K MYR 127.4K
$28.6K R$144.7K
9.98%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$64.0 MYR 259
$69.8 R$353
-8.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.26 MYR 37.56
$13.07 R$66.2
-29.15%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.65 MYR 112
$20.51 R$104
34.81%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$23.76 MYR 96.4
$24.95 R$126
-4.77%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$5.83 MYR 23.62
$22.00 R$111
-73.50%
Cinema Ticket
$3.15 MYR 12.78
$7.28 R$36.86
-56.73%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$116 MYR 470
$491 R$2,485
-76.37%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$2,359 MYR 9,567
$15.5K R$78.5K
-84.79%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$57.9 MYR 235
$59.0 R$299
-1.88%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$27.24 MYR 110
$41.13 R$208
-33.77%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$76.2 MYR 309
$67.9 R$344
12.37%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.7 MYR 218
$63.8 R$323
-15.75%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$384 MYR 1,559
$414 R$2,093
-7.05%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$272 MYR 1,103
$259 R$1,311
5.02%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$644 MYR 2,610
$954 R$4,831
-32.55%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$463 MYR 1,879
$552 R$2,794
-16.02%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,899 MYR 7,701
$2,480 R$12.6K
-23.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$934 MYR 3,787
$1,683 R$8,520
-44.52%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$978 MYR 3,967
$929 R$4,705
5.26%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
3.96
11.87
-66.64%

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

Last update for Ipoh: June 7, 2026

Last update for Brasilia: June 8, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $384 in Ipoh and $414 in Brasilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Ipoh pays 5% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.

Dining out: $19.00 in Ipoh vs $39.00 in Brasilia. Groceries flip the comparison at $259 vs $180, with Brasilia cheaper for home cooking.

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 Brasilia: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city pays better: Ipoh or Brasilia?
Ipoh pays 5% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Ipoh and Brasilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $384 in Ipoh versus $414 in Brasilia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
What is the difference in childcare costs between Ipoh and Brasilia?
Childcare runs $116 in Ipoh versus $491 in Brasilia. Over years of preschool, even a modest monthly gap compounds into a major financial factor for families.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ipoh – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $39.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
How far does $800 go in Ipoh vs Brasilia?
Either city works on $800 a month, though Ipoh gives you more room to save. At this income level, the choice is more about lifestyle than financial pressure.
How does quality of life compare between Ipoh and Brasilia?
Both cities offer a good standard of living with different trade-offs. Neither is objectively better – the right pick depends on what matters most: affordability, career, cultural scene, or climate.
Is Ipoh or Brasilia safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Ipoh and Brasilia are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
How do I decide between Ipoh and Brasilia?
It comes down to priorities – Ipoh wins on affordability, Brasilia on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.

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