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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,082 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $963 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,632 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,460 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,182 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,957 in Bijeljina, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 12% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Bijeljina are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 19% lower, Bijeljina 28% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.81 MYR 19.06

$8.90 BAM 14.96

-45.96%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.80 MYR 110

$35.33 BAM 59.4

-21.31%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.22

$4.99 BAM 8.39

-2.81%

Cappuccino

$3.12 MYR 12.37

$1.44 BAM 2.41

116.67%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.32

$1.73 BAM 2.90

-51.45%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 MYR 1.97

$1.09 BAM 1.83

-54.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.31 MYR 17.09

$1.80 BAM 3.02

139.44%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 MYR 23.65

$2.38 BAM 3.99

150.84%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 MYR 7.90

$1.61 BAM 2.71

23.60%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.01

$1.20 BAM 2.02

-15.83%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 6.77

$1.73 BAM 2.91

-1.16%

Eggs

$2.28 MYR 9.05

$3.10 BAM 5.21

-26.45%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 MYR 57.8

$7.98 BAM 13.41

82.71%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.76 MYR 18.87

$8.05 BAM 13.52

-40.87%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.50 MYR 37.66

$12.18 BAM 20.47

-22.00%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 MYR 11.75

$1.67 BAM 2.81

77.25%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 MYR 6.49

$1.85 BAM 3.10

-11.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.63

$1.83 BAM 3.07

46.45%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.04

$2.67 BAM 4.49

-43.07%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.89

$1.60 BAM 2.69

-23.13%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.32

$1.47 BAM 2.47

-8.84%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 MYR 4.61

$1.14 BAM 1.91

1.75%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.48

$0.67 BAM 1.12

-5.97%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 MYR 17.09

$3.73 BAM 6.27

15.55%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.29 MYR 76.5

$9.02 BAM 15.15

113.86%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 MYR 13.05

$0.84 BAM 1.42

291.67%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.22 MYR 16.74

$1.45 BAM 2.44

191.03%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.90

$2.41 BAM 4.04

-69.71%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.82 MYR 46.87

$17.94 BAM 30.15

-34.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.56

$1.45 BAM 2.43

-20.69%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.38

$0.56 BAM 0.93

96.43%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.79 MYR 18.99

$11.77 BAM 19.78

-59.30%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 MYR 1.89

$1.41 BAM 2.37

-65.96%

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

$39.8K MYR 157.9K

$26.2K BAM 44.0K

51.94%

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

$32.3K MYR 128.0K

$26.5K BAM 44.5K

21.99%

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

$65.0 MYR 258

$141 BAM 237

-53.92%

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

$11.46 MYR 45.44

$19.14 BAM 32.16

-40.13%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 MYR 101

$24.88 BAM 41.79

2.17%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.84 MYR 186

$30.66 BAM 51.5

52.77%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.85 MYR 31.13

$8.80 BAM 14.78

-10.80%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MYR 20.03

$5.06 BAM 8.50

-0.20%

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

$268 MYR 1,064

$214 BAM 359

25.44%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,519 MYR 37.7K

$3,300 BAM 5,544

188.46%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 MYR 238

$58.6 BAM 98.4

2.36%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.97 MYR 147

$26.71 BAM 44.87

38.41%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 MYR 343

$135 BAM 227

-35.94%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.6 MYR 323

$124 BAM 208

-34.04%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$561 MYR 2,224

$259 BAM 436

116.14%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 MYR 1,465

$167 BAM 281

121.02%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,057 MYR 4,189

$370 BAM 622

185.22%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 MYR 2,563

$291 BAM 488

122.39%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,233 MYR 16.8K

$1,891 BAM 3,177

123.89%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 MYR 6,044

$1,425 BAM 2,394

6.97%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,785 MYR 7,077

$759 BAM 1,276

135.09%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

-25.50%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: June 1, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $561 in Kuala Lumpur versus $259 in Bijeljina. 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 135% 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 $35.00 in Bijeljina. Groceries tell a different story – $267 in Kuala Lumpur vs $234 in Bijeljina – so Bijeljina wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Bijeljina: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur, $963 in Bijeljina – roughly 12% apart. Kuala Lumpur costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,623 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,444 in Bijeljina. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Bijeljina, 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 $963 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 52% less in Bijeljina. For daily commuters, that gap adds up to noticeable savings over a year.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Bijeljina, where all-in costs run around $963, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,082. In Bijeljina it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Lumpur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

It depends on your priorities. Kuala Lumpur has an edge in some lifestyle areas, with costs from $963 in Bijeljina to $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur. Climate, culture, job market, and personal taste all factor in.

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 Bijeljina. 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.