Last update: Oct 2026
Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Australia
For one person, living is cheaper in Kuala Lumpur: $1,067 a month against $2,537 in Australia, rent and utilities included – about $17,600 less a year. Rent and utilities account for most of the difference.
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Kuala Lumpur Living Index53Cost of Living Index in Kuala LumpurLearn more -
Australia Living Index124Cost of Living Index in AustraliaLearn more
🙂 Solo nomad: Kuala Lumpur is 43.6% cheaper than Australia without rent, and 58% cheaper with rent.
🙂 Family of 3: Kuala Lumpur is 45.8% cheaper than Australia without rent, and 53.2% cheaper with rent.
🍽 Eating Out
Kuala Lumpur
Australia
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.80 MYR 19.60
$17.66 A$25.27
-72.82%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.82 MYR 118
$82.8 A$118
-65.18%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$5.00 MYR 20.40
$11.22 A$16.05
-55.44%
Cappuccino
$3.05 MYR 12.47
$3.85 A$5.51
-20.78%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.85 MYR 3.46
$2.85 A$4.08
-70.18%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.45 MYR 1.84
$2.37 A$3.39
-81.01%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.51 MYR 18.41
$7.85 A$11.23
-42.55%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$6.00 MYR 24.50
$8.49 A$12.16
-29.33%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuala Lumpur
Australia
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.11 MYR 8.63
$1.74 A$2.49
21.26%
White Bread (500g)
$1.08 MYR 4.40
$2.78 A$3.98
-61.15%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$2.02 MYR 8.24
$2.21 A$3.16
-8.60%
Eggs
$2.55 MYR 10.40
$5.06 A$7.25
-49.60%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$13.85 MYR 56.6
$9.87 A$14.12
40.32%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.39 MYR 17.91
$8.95 A$12.80
-50.95%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.66 MYR 39.46
$14.71 A$21.06
-34.33%
Apples (1kg)
$3.47 MYR 14.16
$3.76 A$5.39
-7.71%
Banana (1kg)
$1.77 MYR 7.23
$2.99 A$4.28
-40.80%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.25 MYR 9.21
$3.10 A$4.43
-27.42%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.55 MYR 6.34
$4.62 A$6.61
-66.45%
Potato (1kg)
$1.33 MYR 5.43
$2.82 A$4.03
-52.84%
Onion (1kg)
$1.38 MYR 5.64
$2.30 A$3.29
-40.00%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.17 MYR 4.79
$2.32 A$3.32
-49.57%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.67 MYR 2.73
$1.71 A$2.44
-60.82%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.38 MYR 17.87
$38.17 A$54.6
-88.53%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.87 MYR 77.1
$13.77 A$19.70
37.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.62 MYR 14.78
$4.91 A$7.02
-26.27%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.06 MYR 20.64
$5.02 A$7.19
0.80%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuala Lumpur
Australia
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.72 MYR 2.92
$2.84 A$4.07
-74.65%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$12.46 MYR 50.9
$94.3 A$135
-86.79%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.25 MYR 5.11
$3.44 A$4.92
-63.66%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.24 MYR 5.05
$1.59 A$2.28
-22.01%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.82 MYR 19.68
$39.37 A$56.3
-87.76%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.86 MYR 3.52
$1.31 A$1.88
-34.35%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$41.4K MYR 168.8K
$27.7K A$39.7K
49.09%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$34.6K MYR 141.1K
$28.1K A$40.2K
23.10%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Lumpur
Australia
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$61.5 MYR 251
$201 A$288
-69.44%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$8.60 MYR 35.12
$28.45 A$40.72
-69.77%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$26.25 MYR 107
$57.4 A$82.2
-54.27%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Lumpur
Australia
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$49.06 MYR 200
$56.7 A$81.1
-13.40%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.69 MYR 31.39
$19.28 A$27.60
-60.11%
Cinema Ticket
$4.95 MYR 20.23
$15.07 A$21.56
-67.15%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuala Lumpur
Australia
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$295 MYR 1,204
$2,116 A$3,028
-86.07%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$13.2K MYR 54.0K
$18.3K A$26.1K
-27.62%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Lumpur
Australia
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$72.6 MYR 296
$79.5 A$114
-8.73%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$41.57 MYR 170
$54.9 A$78.5
-24.23%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.7 MYR 350
$113 A$161
-23.86%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$95.2 MYR 389
$122 A$175
-21.92%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuala Lumpur
Australia
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$625 MYR 2,553
$1,582 A$2,264
-60.47%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$378 MYR 1,545
$1,225 A$1,753
-69.11%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,177 MYR 4,806
$2,409 A$3,447
-51.13%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$639 MYR 2,608
$1,911 A$2,734
-66.57%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$4,112 MYR 16.8K
$7,995 A$11.4K
-48.56%
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,504 MYR 6,141
$5,968 A$8,541
-74.80%
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuala Lumpur
Australia
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,491 MYR 6,088
$3,926 A$5,619
-62.02%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.18
5.92
-29.39%
CityCost data is based on AI and user input – minor inaccuracies may occur.
Last update for Kuala Lumpur: October 5, 2026
Last update for Australia: October 4, 2026
Monthly budget structure
Share of the monthly basket for one person, rent included.
Share of the monthly basket for a family of three, rent included.
Accommodation & Living
Kuala Lumpur $378 34.7%
Australia $1.2K 48% 224% $846
Groceries & Markets
Kuala Lumpur $273 25%
Australia $370 14.5% 35.6% $97
Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Lumpur $133 12.2%
Australia $166 6.5% 25% $33
Eating Out
Kuala Lumpur $130 11.9%
Australia $298 11.7% 130% $168
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Lumpur $96 8.8%
Australia $287 11.3% 198% $191
Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Lumpur $59 5.4%
Australia $87 3.4% 47.2% $28
Getting Around
Kuala Lumpur $23 2.1%
Australia $117 4.6% 415% $94
Accommodation & Living
Kuala Lumpur $639 28.9%
Australia $1.9K 39.2% 199% $1.3K
Groceries & Markets
Kuala Lumpur $603 27.3%
Australia $839 17.2% 39% $235
Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Lumpur $295 13.4%
Australia $369 7.6% 25% $74
Eating Out
Kuala Lumpur $397 17.9%
Australia $1K 20.7% 154% $611
Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Lumpur $105 4.8%
Australia $315 6.5% 201% $211
Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Lumpur $126 5.7%
Australia $193 4% 53.5% $67
Getting Around
Kuala Lumpur $47 2.1%
Australia $240 4.9% 411% $193
Good to know
🇲🇾 Kuala Lumpur
🇦🇺 Australia
Weather
Population
1,982,112 Capital
26,473,055
Exchange rates and currency converter
On the map
Lowest
Highest
Between locations
- Kuala Lumpur Australia 6,530 km ≈ 9 h nonstop flight
From you
- Kuala Lumpur
- Australia
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
Kuala Lumpur vs other spots: cost of living compared
Kuala Lumpur
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$1,067
/mo nomad
Da Nang
🇻🇳 Vietnam
$844
/mo nomad
Kuala Lumpur
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$1,067
/mo nomad
Penang
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$839
/mo nomad
Kuala Lumpur
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$1,067
/mo nomad
Langkawi
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$537
/mo nomad
Kuala Lumpur
🇲🇾 Malaysia
$1,067
/mo nomad
Lisbon
🇵🇹 Portugal
$2,203
/mo nomad
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