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 $1,082 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $964 in Abakan, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,632 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,453 in Abakan, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,182 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,941 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 19% lower, Abakan 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.81 MYR 19.06

$9.33 ₽681

-48.45%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.80 MYR 110

$19.48 ₽1,422

42.71%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.22

$6.38 ₽465

-23.98%

Cappuccino

$3.12 MYR 12.37

$2.88 ₽210

8.33%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.32

$1.25 ₽90.9

-32.80%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 MYR 1.97

$0.38 ₽27.80

31.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.31 MYR 17.09

$1.22 ₽89.2

253.28%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 MYR 23.65

$1.30 ₽95.2

359.23%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 MYR 7.90

$1.23 ₽89.5

61.79%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.01

$0.71 ₽51.6

42.25%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 6.77

$1.38 ₽101

23.91%

Eggs

$2.28 MYR 9.05

$1.88 ₽137

21.28%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 MYR 57.8

$10.91 ₽796

33.64%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.76 MYR 18.87

$4.84 ₽353

-1.65%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.50 MYR 37.66

$8.91 ₽651

6.62%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 MYR 11.75

$1.82 ₽133

62.64%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 MYR 6.49

$2.18 ₽159

-24.77%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.63

$1.91 ₽139

40.31%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.04

$2.75 ₽201

-44.73%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.89

$1.15 ₽83.7

6.96%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.32

$0.71 ₽52.0

88.73%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 MYR 4.61

$1.34 ₽97.8

-13.43%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.48

$0.67 ₽48.87

-5.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 MYR 17.09

$2.91 ₽213

48.11%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.29 MYR 76.5

$8.04 ₽587

139.93%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 MYR 13.05

$1.03 ₽74.9

219.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.22 MYR 16.74

$1.88 ₽137

124.47%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.90

$0.37 ₽27.24

97.30%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.82 MYR 46.87

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.56

$1.25 ₽91.2

-8.00%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.38

$0.35 ₽25.71

214.29%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.79 MYR 18.99

$6.51 ₽475

-26.42%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 MYR 1.89

$0.73 ₽53.2

-34.25%

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

$39.8K MYR 157.9K

$33.9K ₽2.5M

17.33%

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

$32.3K MYR 128.0K

$35.3K ₽2.6M

-8.55%

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

$65.0 MYR 258

$110 ₽8,031

-40.97%

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

$11.46 MYR 45.44

$6.03 ₽440

90.05%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 MYR 101

$7.88 ₽575

222.59%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.84 MYR 186

$35.86 ₽2,618

30.62%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.85 MYR 31.13

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MYR 20.03

$4.98 ₽364

1.41%

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

$268 MYR 1,064

$330 ₽24.1K

-18.60%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,519 MYR 37.7K

$7,013 ₽511.9K

35.74%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 MYR 238

$50.0 ₽3,649

19.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.97 MYR 147

$49.74 ₽3,630

-25.67%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 MYR 343

$100 ₽7,322

-13.84%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.6 MYR 323

$103 ₽7,500

-20.63%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$561 MYR 2,224

$449 ₽32.8K

24.85%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 MYR 1,465

$308 ₽22.5K

19.83%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,057 MYR 4,189

$756 ₽55.1K

39.84%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 MYR 2,563

$503 ₽36.7K

28.56%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,233 MYR 16.8K

$2,526 ₽184.4K

67.60%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 MYR 6,044

$1,676 ₽122.3K

-9.04%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,785 MYR 7,077

$669 ₽48.8K

166.78%

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: June 1, 2026

Last update for Abakan: June 1, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $561 in Kuala Lumpur versus $449 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 167% 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 $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur versus $19.00 in Abakan. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $203 – 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 $1,623 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,446 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 $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur and $964 in Abakan. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Kindergarten costs $268 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $330 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 $964, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,082. 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.