Cost of Living Comparison Between Ipoh and BrasiliaCost of Living Comparison Between Ipoh and Brasilia
Monthly Cost of Living
🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $944 in Ipoh versus $974 in Brasilia.
🙂Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,403 in Ipoh versus $1,587 in Brasilia.
🙂Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,862 in Ipoh versus $2,201 in Brasilia.
🌍Living in Ipoh costs roughly 3% less than in Brasilia, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Ipoh31% lower, Brasilia29% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.42MYR 13.95
$8.71R$44.87
-60.73%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$19.40MYR 79.2
$38.13R$196
-49.12%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.35MYR 17.78
$8.12R$41.81
-46.43%
Cappuccino
$2.85MYR 11.62
$2.57R$13.21
10.89%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.76MYR 3.10
$1.44R$7.39
-47.22%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.48MYR 1.96
$0.97R$4.97
-50.52%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.35MYR 17.75
$2.31R$11.88
88.31%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.71MYR 19.21
$3.78R$19.46
24.60%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$2.00MYR 8.16
$1.07R$5.53
86.92%
White Bread(500g)
$1.04MYR 4.23
$2.09R$10.77
-50.24%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.40MYR 5.72
$1.32R$6.80
6.06%
Eggs
$2.27MYR 9.27
$2.44R$12.57
-6.97%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$13.79MYR 56.3
$11.71R$60.3
17.76%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.91MYR 20.06
$4.07R$20.93
20.64%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$7.79MYR 31.82
$8.48R$43.64
-8.14%
Apples(1kg)
$2.99MYR 12.19
$2.40R$12.34
24.58%
Banana(1kg)
$1.79MYR 7.32
$1.43R$7.35
25.17%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.33MYR 9.52
$1.31R$6.76
77.86%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.59MYR 6.47
$1.61R$8.30
-1.24%
Potato(1kg)
$1.36MYR 5.57
$1.21R$6.24
12.40%
Onion(1kg)
$1.37MYR 5.60
$1.05R$5.41
30.48%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.21MYR 4.93
$0.80R$4.11
51.25%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.44MYR 1.79
$1.00R$5.13
-56.00%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.45MYR 18.18
$2.39R$12.32
86.19%
Wine(Bottle)
$17.28MYR 70.5
$8.11R$41.74
113.07%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.55MYR 14.48
$1.29R$6.63
175.19%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.57MYR 18.67
$2.34R$12.05
95.30%
🚌 Getting Around
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.73MYR 2.97
$1.04R$5.38
-29.81%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.31MYR 46.19
$34.90R$180
-67.59%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.24MYR 5.08
$1.03R$5.29
20.39%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$0.48MYR 1.95
$0.92R$4.75
-47.83%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.99MYR 20.36
$6.35R$32.69
-21.42%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.52MYR 2.11
$1.29R$6.67
-59.69%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.2KMYR 168.1K
$23.3KR$120.1K
76.47%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$35.3KMYR 144.2K
$32.6KR$167.7K
8.41%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.5MYR 259
$95.0R$489
-33.12%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$9.34MYR 38.12
$12.28R$63.2
-23.94%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.28MYR 107
$22.41R$115
17.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$40.27MYR 164
$31.39R$162
28.29%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.62MYR 27.02
$26.96R$139
-75.45%
Cinema Ticket
$3.54MYR 14.44
$7.85R$40.41
-54.90%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$295MYR 1,205
$811R$4,174
-63.58%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$5,009MYR 20.4K
$16.5KR$85.1K
-69.68%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4MYR 251
$51.8R$267
18.50%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.03MYR 151
$43.78R$225
-15.42%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$62.1MYR 254
$83.1R$428
-25.21%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$60.3MYR 246
$85.6R$441
-29.48%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$417MYR 1,702
$480R$2,473
-13.18%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$310MYR 1,265
$262R$1,347
18.51%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$693MYR 2,831
$1,110R$5,714
-37.53%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$488MYR 1,992
$556R$2,863
-12.28%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$1,941MYR 7,924
$2,497R$12.9K
-22.28%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,187MYR 4,846
$1,707R$8,788
-30.45%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Ipoh
Brasilia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$972MYR 3,969
$809R$4,166
20.13%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate(Annual %)
3.99
12.12
-67.08%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Ipoh: September 14, 2026
Last update for Brasilia: September 13, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $417 in Ipoh and $480 in Brasilia. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Ipoh pays 20% more on average while also being the cheaper of the two. The combined effect is a noticeably stronger local purchasing power.
🛒Dining out: $19.00 in Ipoh vs $38.00 in Brasilia. Groceries flip the comparison at $256 vs $210, 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
What is the total cost difference between living in Ipoh and in Brasilia?
Ipoh and Brasilia differ by about 3% in total monthly costs ($944 vs $974 including rent). Ipoh is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.
Which city pays better: Ipoh or Brasilia?
Average pay runs 20% higher in Ipoh, 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 in Brasilia?
Rent for a central apartment: $417 in Ipoh versus $480 in Brasilia. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
Which city has cheaper restaurants?
Dining out is cheaper in Ipoh – a meal for two runs $19.00 versus $38.00 in Brasilia. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.
Which city is more expensive overall: Ipoh or Brasilia?
All in, you'll spend $944 per month in Ipoh versus $974 in Brasilia – a 3% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
Which city is more doable on $1,000 per month?
At $944 in Ipoh versus $974 in Brasilia, a $1,000 budget is realistic in Ipoh but tight or insufficient in Brasilia. The gap between the two cities makes Ipoh the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
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.
Where should expats move: Ipoh or Brasilia?
Expats usually find Ipoh gentler on the wallet – expenses run 3% less than in Brasilia. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.