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 $1,073 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $932 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,604 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,446 in Bijeljina, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,134 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,960 in Bijeljina, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 15% more than Bijeljina, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Bijeljina are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 20% lower, Bijeljina 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.57 MYR 18.70

$9.08 BAM 15.51

-49.67%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.76 MYR 118

$35.23 BAM 60.2

-18.37%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 MYR 19.54

$5.07 BAM 8.66

-5.92%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.23

$1.49 BAM 2.54

100.67%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.48

$1.74 BAM 2.98

-51.15%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.18

$1.05 BAM 1.79

-49.52%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.23 MYR 17.30

$1.81 BAM 3.09

133.70%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.73 MYR 23.44

$2.39 BAM 4.08

139.75%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 MYR 8.13

$1.57 BAM 2.69

26.75%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.26

$1.26 BAM 2.16

-17.46%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.86

$1.75 BAM 2.98

-4.00%

Eggs

$2.18 MYR 8.94

$3.14 BAM 5.36

-30.57%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.74 MYR 60.3

$7.71 BAM 13.16

91.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 MYR 18.80

$8.19 BAM 13.99

-43.96%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.54 MYR 39.05

$12.18 BAM 20.80

-21.67%

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 MYR 11.61

$1.61 BAM 2.75

76.40%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MYR 6.43

$1.91 BAM 3.27

-17.80%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 MYR 10.82

$1.91 BAM 3.26

38.22%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.24

$2.73 BAM 4.67

-44.32%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.06

$1.58 BAM 2.70

-21.52%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 MYR 5.56

$1.46 BAM 2.50

-6.85%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 MYR 4.95

$1.18 BAM 2.02

2.54%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.66 BAM 1.14

3.03%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.85

$3.80 BAM 6.49

14.74%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 MYR 76.7

$8.72 BAM 14.91

115.02%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 MYR 13.26

$0.86 BAM 1.47

276.74%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 MYR 18.02

$1.51 BAM 2.58

191.39%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 MYR 2.86

$2.38 BAM 4.06

-70.59%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 MYR 49.17

$17.85 BAM 30.49

-32.72%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.72

$1.51 BAM 2.58

-23.84%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.72

$0.57 BAM 0.97

101.75%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 MYR 19.15

$11.89 BAM 20.31

-60.64%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.94

$1.45 BAM 2.48

-67.59%

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

$40.7K MYR 166.6K

$26.4K BAM 45.2K

53.99%

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

$32.5K MYR 132.9K

$26.2K BAM 44.7K

24.02%

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

$64.5 MYR 264

$144 BAM 245

-55.07%

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

$11.31 MYR 46.29

$18.99 BAM 32.44

-40.44%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.58 MYR 105

$24.13 BAM 41.23

6.01%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.83 MYR 192

$30.33 BAM 51.8

54.40%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.89 MYR 32.28

$8.77 BAM 14.99

-10.03%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MYR 20.76

$4.87 BAM 8.33

4.11%

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

$272 MYR 1,114

$209 BAM 356

30.51%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,520 MYR 39.0K

$3,282 BAM 5,607

190.08%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.8 MYR 249

$57.5 BAM 98.3

5.77%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.29 MYR 153

$26.84 BAM 45.85

38.93%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 MYR 357

$132 BAM 226

-34.21%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.0 MYR 323

$124 BAM 213

-36.50%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 MYR 2,352

$262 BAM 447

119.59%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 MYR 1,487

$172 BAM 293

111.61%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 MYR 4,459

$366 BAM 625

197.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 MYR 2,576

$293 BAM 500

115.06%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,177 MYR 17.1K

$1,847 BAM 3,156

126.11%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 MYR 6,003

$1,370 BAM 2,341

7.06%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,521 MYR 6,226

$766 BAM 1,309

98.50%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Bijeljina: July 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $575 in Kuala Lumpur versus $262 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 99% 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 $35.00 in Bijeljina. Groceries tell a different story – $265 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: $1,073 in Kuala Lumpur, $932 in Bijeljina – roughly 15% apart. Kuala Lumpur costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,609 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,398 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 $1,073 in Kuala Lumpur and $932 in Bijeljina. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

Public transport costs about 49% 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 $932, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,073. 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 $932 in Bijeljina to $1,073 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.