🙂Monthly costs for one person with rent: $1,048 in Kuala Lumpur versus $1,050 in Astrakhan.
😐Estimated couple costs with rent: $1,583 in Kuala Lumpur versus $1,510 in Astrakhan.
😐Monthly costs for a family of three with rent: $2,117 in Kuala Lumpur versus $1,970 in Astrakhan.
🙂Monthly costs are close between Kuala Lumpur and Astrakhan; which city is cheaper depends on the spending category.
📊Both cities sit below the global median: Kuala Lumpur22% lower, Astrakhan22% lower.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuala Lumpur
Astrakhan
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.64MYR 18.82
$10.99₽796
-57.78%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.84MYR 117
$33.08₽2,397
-12.82%
Fast Food Meal(McDonalds, etc)
$4.73MYR 19.20
$7.56₽548
-37.43%
Cappuccino
$3.08MYR 12.47
$1.84₽134
67.39%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.91MYR 3.70
$0.92₽66.9
-1.09%
Water(0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53MYR 2.16
$0.52₽37.68
1.92%
Local Beer(0.5 liter draught)
$4.18MYR 16.94
$1.26₽91.0
231.75%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$5.87MYR 23.80
$2.59₽188
126.64%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuala Lumpur
Astrakhan
Difference
Milk(1 liter)
$1.99MYR 8.08
$1.32₽95.8
50.76%
White Bread(500g)
$1.05MYR 4.25
$1.06₽76.5
-0.94%
Rice(white)(1kg)
$1.74MYR 7.05
$1.01₽73.4
72.28%
Eggs
$2.16MYR 8.75
$1.74₽126
24.14%
Local Cheese(1kg)
$14.64MYR 59.4
$24.42₽1,769
-40.05%
Chicken Fillets(1kg)
$4.52MYR 18.31
$4.82₽349
-6.22%
Beef Round Steak(1kg)
$9.83MYR 39.85
$6.72₽487
46.28%
Apples(1kg)
$2.86MYR 11.59
$1.55₽112
84.52%
Banana(1kg)
$1.64MYR 6.66
$1.80₽130
-8.89%
Oranges(1kg)
$2.74MYR 11.10
$1.57₽114
74.52%
Tomato(1kg)
$1.52MYR 6.18
$2.39₽174
-36.40%
Potato(1kg)
$1.28MYR 5.19
$0.95₽68.9
34.74%
Onion(1kg)
$1.38MYR 5.61
$0.57₽41.09
142.11%
Lettuce(1 head)
$1.16MYR 4.71
$1.45₽105
-20.00%
Water(1.5 liter bottle)
$0.64MYR 2.59
$0.65₽46.83
-1.54%
Cigarettes 20 Pack(Marlboro, Camel)
$4.13MYR 16.74
$1.94₽141
112.89%
Wine(Bottle)
$19.03MYR 77.2
$4.19₽304
354.18%
Local Beer(0.5 liter bottle)
$3.36MYR 13.62
$1.05₽76.0
220.00%
Imported Beer(0.33 liter bottle)
$4.28MYR 17.34
$1.95₽141
119.49%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuala Lumpur
Astrakhan
Difference
One-way Ticket(Public Transport)
$0.72MYR 2.94
$0.48₽35.14
50.00%
Public Transport Monthly Pass(Regular Price)
$11.80MYR 47.85
$21.77₽1,577
-45.80%
Taxi Start(Normal Tariff)
$1.16MYR 4.72
$2.46₽179
-52.85%
Taxi(Normal Tariff)(1km)
$1.10MYR 4.46
$0.33₽23.73
233.33%
Taxi 1hour Waiting(Normal Tariff)
$4.70MYR 19.05
$3.83₽277
22.72%
Gasoline(1 liter)
$0.51MYR 2.08
$0.88₽63.4
-42.05%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l(Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.4KMYR 163.8K
$33.9K₽2.5M
19.06%
Compact Sedan 1.6l(Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.8KMYR 133.0K
$31.4K₽2.3M
4.31%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Lumpur
Astrakhan
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment(Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage)(85m2)
$63.6MYR 258
$103₽7,458
-38.25%
SIM Card Monthly Plan(Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.50MYR 46.62
$6.36₽461
80.82%
Internet(50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.57MYR 104
$5.56₽403
359.89%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Lumpur
Astrakhan
Difference
Gym Membership(Monthly)
$45.64MYR 185
$47.88₽3,469
-4.68%
Tennis Court(1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.61MYR 30.87
$24.68₽1,788
-69.17%
Cinema Ticket
$5.04MYR 20.43
$5.30₽384
-4.91%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuala Lumpur
Astrakhan
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child(Monthly)
$263MYR 1,067
$115₽8,298
129.68%
International Primary School, 1 Child(Yearly)
$9,446MYR 38.3K
$7,028₽509.2K
34.41%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Lumpur
Astrakhan
Difference
Jeans(Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.3MYR 249
$57.8₽4,187
6.13%
Summer Dress(H&M, Zara, etc)
$37.36MYR 152
$31.62₽2,291
18.15%
Sport Shoes(Adidas, Nike)
$84.8MYR 344
$88.0₽6,378
-3.68%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$80.2MYR 325
$129₽9,373
-37.97%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuala Lumpur
Astrakhan
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$579MYR 2,347
$421₽30.5K
37.60%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$366MYR 1,485
$321₽23.3K
13.97%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center(Monthly)
$1,070MYR 4,337
$445₽32.2K
140.36%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center(Monthly)
$636MYR 2,578
$381₽27.6K
66.66%
Buy Apartment in City Center(m2)
$4,242MYR 17.2K
$1,345₽97.5K
215.42%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center(m2)
$1,498MYR 6,074
$678₽49.1K
120.86%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuala Lumpur
Astrakhan
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary(After Tax)
$1,727MYR 7,004
$453₽32.8K
281.61%
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 7, 2026
Last update for Astrakhan: June 7, 2026
Cost Breakdown
🏠A one-bedroom apartment in the center runs $579 in Kuala Lumpur and $421 in Astrakhan. Housing cost is often the main lever when comparing two cities.
💰Kuala Lumpur pays 282% more on average. How far that income stretches comes down to housing choices and lifestyle.
🛒Dining out: $29.00 in Kuala Lumpur vs $33.00 in Astrakhan. Groceries flip the comparison at $267 vs $224, with Astrakhan 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
Kuala Lumpur vs Astrakhan: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions
Which city pays better: Kuala Lumpur or Astrakhan?
Kuala Lumpur pays 282% more on average, which matters when comparing affordability. Whether that higher income actually nets you more depends on your spending habits and housing choices.
How do apartment prices compare in Kuala Lumpur and Astrakhan?
Rent for a central apartment: $579 in Kuala Lumpur versus $421 in Astrakhan. Housing is usually the single largest factor when comparing overall living costs between the two.
How do commuting costs compare in Kuala Lumpur and Astrakhan?
A monthly transit pass in Kuala Lumpur runs roughly 84% less than in Astrakhan. Both cities have functional networks, but the price difference matters if you're watching your budget.
Which city has cheaper grocery shopping?
Shoppers in Astrakhan pay roughly 19% less for everyday groceries. It's an unusual reversal that partly offsets higher costs elsewhere.
Which city is more doable on $1,500 per month?
At $1,048 in Kuala Lumpur versus $1,050 in Astrakhan, a $1,500 budget is realistic in Kuala Lumpur but tight or insufficient in Astrakhan. The gap between the two cities makes Kuala Lumpur the clear choice for anyone on this budget.
How does quality of life compare between Kuala Lumpur and Astrakhan?
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.
Is Kuala Lumpur or Astrakhan safer for residents?
Safety-wise, Kuala Lumpur and Astrakhan are on par. Petty crime is typical for cities this size, and most residents feel comfortable going about their daily routines in either place.
How do I decide between Kuala Lumpur and Astrakhan?
It comes down to priorities – Kuala Lumpur wins on affordability, Astrakhan on earning potential. Factor in climate, language, visa rules, and proximity to places that matter to you before deciding.
Kuala Lumpur vs other spots: cost of living compared