Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Kuala Lumpur Cost of Living Comparison Between Kota Bharu and Kuala Lumpur

🙂 Solo nomad: Kota Bharu is 17.4% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur without rent, and 38.5% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kota Bharu is 26.8% cheaper than Kuala Lumpur without rent, and 27.5% cheaper with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kota Bharu
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$1.79 MYR 7.02
$4.57 MYR 17.96
-60.83%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$20.94 MYR 82.3
$28.75 MYR 113
-27.17%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.26 MYR 16.74
$4.61 MYR 18.12
-7.59%
Cappuccino
$2.29 MYR 9.01
$3.11 MYR 12.23
-26.37%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.49 MYR 1.91
$0.92 MYR 3.60
-46.74%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.27 MYR 1.06
$0.52 MYR 2.06
-48.08%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.36 MYR 17.14
$4.15 MYR 16.31
5.06%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.25 MYR 16.71
$5.78 MYR 22.73
-26.47%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kota Bharu
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$1.50 MYR 5.90
$1.99 MYR 7.82
-24.62%
White Bread (500g)
$0.75 MYR 2.95
$1.00 MYR 3.93
-25.00%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$0.83 MYR 3.24
$1.73 MYR 6.80
-52.02%
Eggs
$1.47 MYR 5.80
$2.17 MYR 8.53
-32.26%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.82 MYR 58.2
$14.84 MYR 58.3
-0.13%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$2.92 MYR 11.48
$4.56 MYR 17.93
-35.96%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$5.96 MYR 23.43
$9.95 MYR 39.10
-40.10%
Apples (1kg)
$1.38 MYR 5.44
$2.95 MYR 11.58
-53.22%
Banana (1kg)
$1.38 MYR 5.42
$1.63 MYR 6.41
-15.34%
Oranges (1kg)
$1.40 MYR 5.49
$2.59 MYR 10.20
-45.95%
Tomato (1kg)
$0.85 MYR 3.33
$1.53 MYR 6.02
-44.44%
Potato (1kg)
$0.84 MYR 3.29
$1.24 MYR 4.86
-32.26%
Onion (1kg)
$1.21 MYR 4.76
$1.40 MYR 5.48
-13.57%
Lettuce (1 head)
$0.95 MYR 3.72
$1.15 MYR 4.54
-17.39%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.43 MYR 1.70
$0.62 MYR 2.44
-30.65%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$2.94 MYR 11.57
$4.13 MYR 16.24
-28.81%
Wine (Bottle)
$19.73 MYR 77.5
$18.75 MYR 73.7
5.23%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$1.42 MYR 5.60
$3.26 MYR 12.81
-56.44%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$3.40 MYR 13.37
$4.38 MYR 17.21
-22.37%
🚌 Getting Around
Kota Bharu
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.69 MYR 2.73
$0.74 MYR 2.92
-6.76%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.91 MYR 46.82
$11.98 MYR 47.07
-0.58%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$0.72 MYR 2.84
$1.19 MYR 4.69
-39.50%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$0.54 MYR 2.13
$1.11 MYR 4.35
-51.35%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$3.59 MYR 14.11
$4.70 MYR 18.46
-23.62%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.46 MYR 1.82
$0.47 MYR 1.86
-2.13%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$30.5K MYR 119.8K
$40.2K MYR 157.8K
-24.12%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$27.7K MYR 108.9K
$32.1K MYR 126.1K
-13.63%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kota Bharu
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$38.69 MYR 152
$63.4 MYR 249
-38.95%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.28 MYR 32.55
$11.31 MYR 44.44
-26.79%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.70 MYR 105
$25.29 MYR 99.4
5.58%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kota Bharu
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$36.78 MYR 145
$46.73 MYR 184
-21.29%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$6.06 MYR 23.83
$7.78 MYR 30.58
-22.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.14 MYR 16.27
$5.34 MYR 20.99
-22.47%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kota Bharu
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$118 MYR 463
$264 MYR 1,036
-55.30%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$6,225 MYR 24.5K
$9,254 MYR 36.4K
-32.74%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kota Bharu
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$52.3 MYR 206
$59.8 MYR 235
-12.40%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$18.74 MYR 73.6
$36.87 MYR 145
-49.17%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$60.6 MYR 238
$87.5 MYR 344
-30.82%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$53.2 MYR 209
$80.8 MYR 318
-34.20%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kota Bharu
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$261 MYR 1,024
$564 MYR 2,215
-53.78%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$140 MYR 551
$368 MYR 1,445
-61.85%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$852 MYR 3,349
$1,090 MYR 4,284
-21.82%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$481 MYR 1,889
$639 MYR 2,513
-24.82%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
-
$4,036 MYR 15.9K
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
-
$1,538 MYR 6,042
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kota Bharu
Kuala Lumpur
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$305 MYR 1,199
$1,597 MYR 6,277
-80.89%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.16
4.47
-6.94%

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

Last update for Kota Bharu: February 28, 2026

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: March 1, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

The chart highlights the Precision Threshold for mobile and fixed broadband internet speeds, updated quarterly.
Digital Nomad Cost of Living Index

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