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

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,096 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $901 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,700 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,391 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,303 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,881 in Calarasi, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 22% more than Calarasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Calarasi are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 20% lower, Calarasi 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.88 MYR 19.72

$7.66 RON 34.63

-36.29%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$30.14 MYR 122

$27.04 RON 122

11.46%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.84 MYR 19.57

$8.11 RON 36.62

-40.32%

Cappuccino

$3.22 MYR 12.99

$2.14 RON 9.69

50.47%

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

$0.87 MYR 3.50

$1.45 RON 6.54

-40.00%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 MYR 2.00

$1.82 RON 8.23

-72.53%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.36 MYR 17.62

$1.07 RON 4.84

307.48%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.03 MYR 24.37

$1.51 RON 6.82

299.34%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.12 MYR 8.56

$1.59 RON 7.20

33.33%

White Bread (500g)

$1.08 MYR 4.35

$0.94 RON 4.26

14.89%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$2.11 MYR 8.54

$1.62 RON 7.30

30.25%

Eggs

$2.49 MYR 10.05

$2.99 RON 13.53

-16.72%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$15.64 MYR 63.2

$8.38 RON 37.85

86.63%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.95 MYR 20.02

$4.31 RON 19.47

14.85%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.90 MYR 40.02

$8.58 RON 38.76

15.38%

Apples (1kg)

$3.36 MYR 13.57

$1.14 RON 5.16

194.74%

Banana (1kg)

$1.87 MYR 7.56

$1.48 RON 6.69

26.35%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.39 MYR 9.66

$1.32 RON 5.95

81.06%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.66 MYR 6.70

$1.58 RON 7.13

5.06%

Potato (1kg)

$1.39 MYR 5.60

$0.42 RON 1.89

230.95%

Onion (1kg)

$1.38 MYR 5.58

$0.64 RON 2.91

115.62%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MYR 4.76

$0.45 RON 2.04

162.22%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.72 MYR 2.89

$0.82 RON 3.69

-12.20%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.39 MYR 17.74

$6.73 RON 30.39

-34.77%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.40 MYR 78.4

$4.32 RON 19.50

349.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.56 MYR 14.37

$1.03 RON 4.67

245.63%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.06 MYR 20.43

$1.51 RON 6.82

235.10%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.77 MYR 3.10

$0.45 RON 2.04

71.11%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.34 MYR 49.87

$13.12 RON 59.3

-5.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.22 MYR 4.94

$0.67 RON 3.04

82.09%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.26 MYR 5.08

$0.64 RON 2.89

96.88%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$5.03 MYR 20.34

$6.78 RON 30.63

-25.81%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.78 MYR 3.16

$1.76 RON 7.93

-55.68%

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

$41.9K MYR 169.4K

$29.7K RON 134.2K

41.11%

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

$34.7K MYR 140.2K

$26.6K RON 120.4K

30.23%

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

$63.5 MYR 257

$165 RON 746

-61.51%

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

$9.29 MYR 37.55

$6.77 RON 30.56

37.22%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$26.35 MYR 106

$6.93 RON 31.29

280.23%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$48.81 MYR 197

$49.67 RON 224

-1.73%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.73 MYR 31.22

$55.7 RON 251

-86.11%

Cinema Ticket

$5.48 MYR 22.16

$8.95 RON 40.43

-38.77%

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

$302 MYR 1,222

$423 RON 1,909

-28.48%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$12.6K MYR 51.1K

$6,032 RON 27.3K

109.50%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$73.2 MYR 296

$76.0 RON 344

-3.79%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$42.36 MYR 171

$22.21 RON 100

90.72%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$90.0 MYR 364

$96.2 RON 434

-6.47%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$101 MYR 407

$99.4 RON 449

1.42%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$601 MYR 2,430

$330 RON 1,493

81.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 MYR 1,486

$201 RON 909

82.80%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,235 MYR 4,991

$448 RON 2,025

175.60%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 MYR 2,548

$336 RON 1,519

87.55%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,098 MYR 16.6K

$1,240 RON 5,601

230.50%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,546 MYR 6,246

$969 RON 4,378

59.51%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,575 MYR 6,363

$773 RON 3,493

103.64%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.2

7.85

-46.50%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: August 30, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: August 30, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $601 in Kuala Lumpur versus $330 in Calarasi. 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 104% 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 $30.00 in Kuala Lumpur versus $27.00 in Calarasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $285 vs $175 – making Calarasi 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 Calarasi: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,096 in Kuala Lumpur, $901 in Calarasi – roughly 22% apart. Kuala Lumpur costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,644 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,352 in Calarasi. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

Rent is clearly cheaper in Calarasi, especially for central apartments. Housing is actually the single biggest factor behind the overall cost gap between these two cities.

Kindergarten costs $302 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $423 in Calarasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 63% more in Kuala Lumpur, though it depends on what you buy. Local produce may be comparable; imported and premium items show the biggest price gap.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Calarasi, where all-in costs run around $901, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,096. In Calarasi 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 $901 in Calarasi to $1,096 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 Calarasi. 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.