Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Kyiv Cost of Living Comparison Between Johor Bahru and Kyiv

Monthly Cost of Living

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,061 in Johor Bahru versus $1,015 in Kyiv.

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,551 in Johor Bahru versus $1,600 in Kyiv.

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,042 in Johor Bahru versus $2,185 in Kyiv.

Living in Johor Bahru is roughly 4% more expensive than in Kyiv, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both cities sit below the global median: Johor Bahru 23% lower, Kyiv 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$3.64 MYR 14.81

$11.18 ₴498

-67.44%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$21.40 MYR 87.1

$33.43 ₴1,489

-35.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.95 MYR 20.14

$6.70 ₴298

-26.12%

Cappuccino

$3.03 MYR 12.31

$1.73 ₴77.1

75.14%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.43

$0.73 ₴32.53

15.07%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.11

$0.55 ₴24.71

-5.45%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.40 MYR 17.91

$1.31 ₴58.4

235.88%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.13 MYR 24.95

$2.04 ₴91.1

200.49%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.75 MYR 7.13

$1.36 ₴60.8

28.68%

White Bread (500g)

$1.11 MYR 4.51

$0.82 ₴36.72

35.37%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.46 MYR 5.95

$1.47 ₴65.7

-0.68%

Eggs

$1.76 MYR 7.16

$2.01 ₴89.6

-12.44%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$18.53 MYR 75.4

$9.89 ₴441

87.36%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.64 MYR 18.86

$5.45 ₴243

-14.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$10.85 MYR 44.12

$8.81 ₴393

23.16%

Apples (1kg)

$3.47 MYR 14.11

$1.22 ₴54.4

184.43%

Banana (1kg)

$1.69 MYR 6.86

$1.53 ₴68.3

10.46%

Oranges (1kg)

$3.96 MYR 16.09

$1.93 ₴86.0

105.18%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.64

$2.73 ₴122

-40.29%

Potato (1kg)

$1.47 MYR 5.98

$0.65 ₴29.17

126.15%

Onion (1kg)

$1.74 MYR 7.08

$0.48 ₴21.52

262.50%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.33 MYR 5.43

$1.48 ₴65.8

-10.14%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.55 MYR 2.25

$0.62 ₴27.56

-11.29%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.28 MYR 17.41

$3.28 ₴146

30.49%

Wine (Bottle)

$14.41 MYR 58.6

$5.74 ₴256

151.05%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$2.87 MYR 11.66

$0.90 ₴40.03

218.89%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$3.04 MYR 12.35

$1.44 ₴64.2

111.11%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.13

$0.50 ₴22.14

54.00%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.45 MYR 50.6

$11.45 ₴510

8.73%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.44 MYR 5.85

$2.24 ₴99.7

-35.71%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$0.71 MYR 2.89

$0.44 ₴19.57

61.36%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$9.69 MYR 39.44

$4.28 ₴191

126.40%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 MYR 3.19

$1.70 ₴75.6

-54.12%

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

$42.9K MYR 174.6K

$29.9K ₴1.3M

43.62%

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

$36.1K MYR 146.9K

$26.2K ₴1.2M

38.02%

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

$53.3 MYR 217

$96.7 ₴4,309

-44.88%

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

$11.37 MYR 46.27

$6.83 ₴304

66.47%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$29.26 MYR 119

$6.66 ₴297

339.34%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$40.41 MYR 164

$36.55 ₴1,628

10.56%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$5.62 MYR 22.86

$17.77 ₴792

-68.37%

Cinema Ticket

$4.86 MYR 19.75

$5.79 ₴258

-16.06%

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

$167 MYR 679

$402 ₴17.9K

-58.52%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$4,463 MYR 18.2K

$14.8K ₴659.2K

-69.84%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$66.5 MYR 271

$71.0 ₴3,163

-6.32%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$16.90 MYR 68.8

$39.90 ₴1,778

-57.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$81.7 MYR 332

$94.7 ₴4,217

-13.74%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$40.29 MYR 164

$117 ₴5,232

-65.69%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$518 MYR 2,108

$644 ₴28.7K

-19.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$395 MYR 1,606

$361 ₴16.1K

9.40%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$903 MYR 3,673

$1,353 ₴60.3K

-33.25%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$631 MYR 2,567

$664 ₴29.6K

-4.99%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$2,032 MYR 8,266

$2,633 ₴117.3K

-22.84%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,176 MYR 4,784

$1,144 ₴51.0K

2.78%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,090 MYR 4,434

$801 ₴35.7K

35.99%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.06

18.25

-77.75%

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

Last update for Johor Bahru: September 6, 2026

Last update for Kyiv: September 5, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $518 in Johor Bahru and $644 in Kyiv. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Johor Bahru pays 36% 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 Johor Bahru vs $33.00 in Kyiv. Groceries flip the comparison at $273 vs $191, with Kyiv 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

Johor Bahru vs Kyiv: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Johor Bahru and Kyiv differ by about 4% in total monthly costs ($1,061 vs $1,015 including rent). Kyiv is meaningfully more affordable – a gap that matters a lot on a fixed or modest income.

Average pay runs 36% higher in Johor Bahru, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.

Rent for a central apartment: $518 in Johor Bahru versus $644 in Kyiv. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.

Dining out is cheaper in Kyiv – a meal for two runs $33.00 versus $21.00 in Johor Bahru. If you eat out regularly, this makes a real dent in your monthly spending.

All in, you'll spend $1,061 per month in Johor Bahru versus $1,015 in Kyiv – a 4% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.

At $1,015 in Kyiv versus $1,061 in Johor Bahru, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kyiv but tight or insufficient in Johor Bahru. The gap between the two cities makes Kyiv the clear choice for anyone on this budget.

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.

Safety-wise, Johor Bahru and Kyiv 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 Kyiv gentler on the wallet – expenses run 4% less than in Johor Bahru. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.