Last update: Oct 2026

Cost of Living Comparison Between Kepong and Austin, TX

For one person, living is cheaper in Kepong: $909 a month against $2,663 in Austin, TX, rent and utilities included – about $21,000 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.

Kepong
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$909
/mo nomad
Austin, TX
🇺🇸 United States
$2,663
/mo nomad
Monthly Cost of Living

How much you'll spend in Kepong 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 Kepong and in Austin, TX actually costs, broken down by who's living it.

Monthly costs for one person with rent: $909 in Kepong versus $2,663 in Austin, TX.

  • Kepong $909
  • Austin, TX $2,663

Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,366 in Kepong versus $4,133 in Austin, TX.

  • Kepong $1,366
  • Austin, TX $4,133

Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $1,823 in Kepong versus $5,603 in Austin, TX.

  • Kepong $1,823
  • Austin, TX $5,603

Living in Kepong costs roughly 66% less than in Austin, TX, and outside of rent the biggest gap is in eating out.

The two cities straddle the global median: Kepong is 33% below, Austin, TX is 97% above.

Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kepong
Austin, TX
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$3.75 MYR 15.31
$20.77 $20.77
-81.95%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$24.50 MYR 100.0
$84.6 $84.6
-71.04%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.94 MYR 20.13
$12.32 $12.32
-59.90%
Cappuccino
$3.01 MYR 12.28
$5.63 $5.63
-46.54%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.87 MYR 3.55
$3.72 $3.72
-76.61%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 MYR 1.82
$2.50 $2.50
-82.00%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$3.40 MYR 13.86
$8.05 $8.05
-57.76%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.84 MYR 23.81
$9.01 $9.01
-35.18%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kepong
Austin, TX
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.76 MYR 7.18
$1.12 $1.12
57.14%
White Bread (500g)
$1.04 MYR 4.24
$3.75 $3.75
-72.27%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.42 MYR 5.81
$3.26 $3.26
-56.44%
Eggs
$1.80 MYR 7.34
$4.17 $4.17
-56.83%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$9.81 MYR 40.00
$12.90 $12.90
-23.95%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$3.30 MYR 13.47
$14.16 $14.16
-76.69%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.58 MYR 39.08
$16.22 $16.22
-40.94%
Apples (1kg)
$3.31 MYR 13.51
$4.33 $4.33
-23.56%
Banana (1kg)
$1.69 MYR 6.91
$1.46 $1.46
15.75%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.71 MYR 11.06
$4.51 $4.51
-39.91%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.70 MYR 6.93
$4.34 $4.34
-60.83%
Potato (1kg)
$1.47 MYR 5.99
$2.58 $2.58
-43.02%
Onion (1kg)
$1.66 MYR 6.77
$2.35 $2.35
-29.36%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.32 MYR 5.37
$1.78 $1.78
-25.84%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.55 MYR 2.22
$2.22 $2.22
-75.23%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.17 MYR 17.00
$9.88 $9.88
-57.79%
Wine (Bottle)
$13.90 MYR 56.7
$15.08 $15.08
-7.82%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$2.67 MYR 10.90
$2.92 $2.92
-8.56%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$2.99 MYR 12.20
$3.46 $3.46
-13.58%
🚌 Getting Around
Kepong
Austin, TX
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.82 MYR 3.34
$1.49 $1.49
-44.97%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.06 MYR 49.18
$41.72 $41.72
-71.09%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.00 MYR 4.09
$2.73 $2.73
-63.37%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.38 MYR 1.56
$1.66 $1.66
-77.11%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$9.05 MYR 36.91
$35.30 $35.30
-74.36%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 MYR 3.53
$0.95 $0.95
-9.47%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.3K MYR 168.5K
$36.0K $36.0K
14.56%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.0K MYR 130.6K
$27.1K $27.1K
18.26%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kepong
Austin, TX
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$49.51 MYR 202
$229 $229
-78.38%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.27 MYR 33.74
$59.4 $59.4
-86.08%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$27.27 MYR 111
$69.9 $69.9
-60.99%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kepong
Austin, TX
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$39.01 MYR 159
$57.2 $57.2
-31.85%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.74 MYR 27.48
$16.33 $16.33
-58.73%
Cinema Ticket
$4.86 MYR 19.82
$14.28 $14.28
-65.97%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kepong
Austin, TX
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$164 MYR 668
$1,506 $1,506
-89.12%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$4,528 MYR 18.5K
$21.5K $21.5K
-78.90%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kepong
Austin, TX
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$54.7 MYR 223
$52.8 $52.8
3.64%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$24.36 MYR 99.4
$43.82 $43.82
-44.41%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$82.3 MYR 336
$84.8 $84.8
-2.87%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$84.5 MYR 345
$103 $103
-17.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kepong
Austin, TX
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$404 MYR 1,649
$1,907 $1,907
-78.81%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$303 MYR 1,235
$1,274 $1,274
-76.23%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$668 MYR 2,726
$3,664 $3,664
-81.76%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$482 MYR 1,967
$2,538 $2,538
-81.00%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$1,997 MYR 8,147
$7,614 $7,614
-73.77%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,073 MYR 4,378
$3,157 $3,157
-66.01%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kepong
Austin, TX
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$644 MYR 2,628
$5,121 $5,121
-87.42%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.06
6.79
-40.21%

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

Last update for Kepong: October 11, 2026

Last update for Austin, TX: October 12, 2026

Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kepong
$303
Austin, TX
$1.3K 321% $971
Groceries & Markets
Kepong
$228
Austin, TX
$405 77.2% $176
Eating Out
Kepong
$115
Austin, TX
$354 208% $239
Clothing & Footwear
Kepong
$111
Austin, TX
$128 15.6% $17
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kepong
$85
Austin, TX
$358 321% $273
Sport & Entertainment
Kepong
$49
Austin, TX
$86 76.1% $37
Getting Around
Kepong
$18
Austin, TX
$59 222% $40

Cost Breakdown

A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $404 in Kepong and $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.

Austin, TX pays 695% 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: $25.00 in Kepong vs $85.0 in Austin, TX for a mid-range dinner for two. Groceries echo the gap at $228 vs $405 per month, with Kepong cheaper across the board.

Good to know
🇲🇾 Kepong
🇺🇸 Austin, TX
🕒 Local time
13:08 1:08 PM
00:08 12:08 AM
13 h behind Kepong
🌤 Weather
👥 Population
85,960
974,447
Exchange rates and currency converter

USD, EUR to MYR – Malaysian Ringgit Converter

Malaysian Ringgit exchange rates as of October 18, 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 18, 2026: 1 EUR = 1.12 USD (1 USD = 0.89 EUR).

On the map
Between locations
  • Kepong Austin, TX 15,760 km ≈ 20 h nonstop flight
From you
  • Kepong
  • 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
Kepong vs Austin, TX: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city is more expensive, Kepong or Austin, TX?
Kepong wins on cost – living expenses run 193% lower than in Austin, TX. Housing and daily spending are where you'll feel the difference most, making Kepong the obvious pick if budget is a priority.
Are salaries higher in Kepong or in Austin, TX?
On paper, salaries run 695% 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.
How much does a 1-bedroom apartment cost in Kepong compared to Austin, TX?
Rent for a central apartment: $404 in Kepong versus $1,907 in Austin, TX. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How much does it cost to live in Kepong compared to Austin, TX?
All in, you'll spend $909 per month in Kepong versus $2,663 in Austin, TX – a 193% gap that adds up to real savings over time for anyone picking the cheaper option.
How expensive is transport in Kepong compared to Austin, TX?
A monthly transit pass in Kepong runs roughly 246% less than in Austin, TX. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Can you live on $2,000/month in Kepong or in Austin, TX?
At $909 in Kepong versus $2,663 in Austin, TX, a $2,000 budget is realistic in Kepong but tight or insufficient in Austin, TX. The gap between the two cities makes Kepong the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
Which city offers a better quality of life: Kepong or Austin, TX?
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.
How safe is Kepong compared to Austin, TX?
Safety-wise, Kepong 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.
Which city is more affordable for expats?
Expats usually find Kepong gentler on the wallet – expenses run 193% less than in Austin, TX. Beyond cost, consider language, visa policies, and how big the international community is in each city.

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