Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Abakan Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Abakan

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,073 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $956 in Abakan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,604 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,433 in Abakan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,134 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,911 in Abakan, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 12% more than Abakan, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Abakan are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 20% lower, Abakan 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.57 MYR 18.69

$9.45 ₽742

-51.64%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.76 MYR 118

$19.70 ₽1,546

45.99%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 MYR 19.53

$6.25 ₽491

-23.68%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.23

$2.78 ₽218

7.55%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.48

$1.20 ₽93.8

-29.17%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.18

$0.38 ₽30.10

39.47%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.23 MYR 17.29

$1.18 ₽92.9

258.47%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.73 MYR 23.42

$1.24 ₽97.5

362.10%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 MYR 8.12

$1.20 ₽94.0

65.83%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.25

$0.70 ₽54.6

48.57%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.86

$1.36 ₽107

23.53%

Eggs

$2.18 MYR 8.93

$1.79 ₽140

21.79%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.74 MYR 60.3

$10.77 ₽846

36.86%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 MYR 18.79

$4.99 ₽391

-8.02%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.54 MYR 39.03

$8.87 ₽696

7.55%

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 MYR 11.61

$1.80 ₽142

57.78%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MYR 6.43

$2.27 ₽178

-30.84%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 MYR 10.81

$1.98 ₽155

33.33%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.23

$2.79 ₽219

-45.52%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.06

$1.16 ₽91.2

6.90%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 MYR 5.56

$0.67 ₽52.5

102.99%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 MYR 4.95

$1.36 ₽107

-11.03%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.72 ₽56.4

-5.56%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.84

$2.88 ₽226

51.39%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 MYR 76.7

$10.19 ₽800

84.00%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 MYR 13.26

$1.02 ₽80.3

217.65%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 MYR 18.01

$1.94 ₽152

126.80%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 MYR 2.85

$0.38 ₽29.48

84.21%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 MYR 49.14

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.72

$1.30 ₽102

-11.54%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.72

$0.35 ₽27.62

228.57%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 MYR 19.14

$6.41 ₽503

-26.99%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.94

$0.73 ₽57.5

-35.62%

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

$40.7K MYR 166.5K

$34.7K ₽2.7M

17.42%

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

$32.5K MYR 132.8K

$36.0K ₽2.8M

-9.76%

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

$64.5 MYR 264

$109 ₽8,576

-40.96%

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

$11.31 MYR 46.27

$6.04 ₽474

87.25%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.58 MYR 105

$7.73 ₽606

230.92%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.83 MYR 192

$35.87 ₽2,815

30.55%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.89 MYR 32.26

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MYR 20.75

$5.14 ₽403

-1.36%

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

$272 MYR 1,113

$328 ₽25.7K

-16.95%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,520 MYR 38.9K

$7,040 ₽552.6K

35.24%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.8 MYR 249

$50.1 ₽3,936

21.34%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.29 MYR 153

$50.4 ₽3,958

-26.04%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 MYR 356

$101 ₽7,908

-13.50%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.0 MYR 323

$101 ₽7,942

-21.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 MYR 2,350

$442 ₽34.7K

29.99%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 MYR 1,486

$299 ₽23.4K

21.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 MYR 4,456

$764 ₽60.0K

42.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 MYR 2,575

$499 ₽39.2K

26.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,177 MYR 17.1K

$1,774 ₽139.3K

135.45%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 MYR 6,000

$1,451 ₽113.9K

1.13%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,521 MYR 6,222

$623 ₽48.9K

144.31%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

15.33

-70.84%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: July 12, 2026

Last update for Abakan: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $575 in Kuala Lumpur versus $442 in Abakan. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 144% higher in Kuala Lumpur, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur versus $20.00 in Abakan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $265 vs $208 – making Abakan the more affordable choice for daily food spending.

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

Kuala Lumpur vs Abakan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kuala Lumpur is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Groceries & Markets. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,609 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,433 in Abakan. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Abakan, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,073 in Kuala Lumpur and $956 in Abakan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $272 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $328 in Abakan. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

A $1,500 monthly budget goes further in Abakan, where all-in costs run around $956, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,073. In Abakan it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Lumpur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Abakan – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

Both have safer and rougher neighborhoods, but overall safety is comparable to other large cities. Neighborhood choice matters more than the city-level comparison – central, well-trafficked areas feel secure in both.

If budget matters most, go with Abakan. If higher salaries, better infrastructure, or specific career opportunities are the priority, Kuala Lumpur makes more sense. Both are solid long-term options with distinct trade-offs.