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 $1,082 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $989 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,632 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,477 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,182 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,964 in Calarasi, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 9% more than Calarasi, driven mainly by Groceries & Markets.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Calarasi are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 19% lower, Calarasi 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.81 MYR 19.06

$10.06 RON 45.46

-52.19%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.80 MYR 110

$27.26 RON 123

1.98%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.85 MYR 19.22

$7.71 RON 34.86

-37.09%

Cappuccino

$3.12 MYR 12.37

$2.65 RON 11.97

17.74%

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

$0.84 MYR 3.32

$1.53 RON 6.92

-45.10%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.50 MYR 1.97

$1.79 RON 8.11

-72.07%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.31 MYR 17.09

$2.24 RON 10.12

92.41%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.97 MYR 23.65

$3.52 RON 15.91

69.60%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 MYR 7.90

$1.34 RON 6.08

48.51%

White Bread (500g)

$1.01 MYR 4.01

$1.09 RON 4.91

-7.34%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 6.77

$1.77 RON 7.98

-3.39%

Eggs

$2.28 MYR 9.05

$3.40 RON 15.35

-32.94%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.58 MYR 57.8

$8.50 RON 38.41

71.53%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.76 MYR 18.87

$7.12 RON 32.20

-33.15%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.50 MYR 37.66

$9.15 RON 41.35

3.83%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 MYR 11.75

$1.18 RON 5.31

150.85%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 MYR 6.49

$1.47 RON 6.66

11.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.68 MYR 10.63

$1.33 RON 6.02

101.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.04

$1.91 RON 8.62

-20.42%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.89

$0.75 RON 3.37

64.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.34 MYR 5.32

$0.95 RON 4.31

41.05%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.16 MYR 4.61

$0.71 RON 3.20

63.38%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.63 MYR 2.48

$0.80 RON 3.62

-21.25%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.31 MYR 17.09

$5.71 RON 25.79

-24.52%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.29 MYR 76.5

$4.48 RON 20.27

330.58%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.29 MYR 13.05

$0.98 RON 4.45

235.71%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.22 MYR 16.74

$1.42 RON 6.42

197.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.73 MYR 2.90

$0.45 RON 2.03

62.22%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.82 MYR 46.87

$14.09 RON 63.7

-16.11%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.56

$0.67 RON 3.03

71.64%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.38

$0.66 RON 2.97

66.67%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.79 MYR 18.99

$5.62 RON 25.39

-14.77%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 MYR 1.89

$1.54 RON 6.98

-68.83%

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

$39.8K MYR 157.9K

$25.4K RON 114.7K

56.99%

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

$32.3K MYR 128.0K

$27.4K RON 123.9K

17.83%

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

$65.0 MYR 258

$148 RON 669

-56.09%

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

$11.46 MYR 45.44

$8.65 RON 39.09

32.49%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.42 MYR 101

$7.62 RON 34.44

233.60%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.84 MYR 186

$68.6 RON 310

-31.70%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.85 MYR 31.13

$19.52 RON 88.2

-59.78%

Cinema Ticket

$5.05 MYR 20.03

$5.92 RON 26.77

-14.70%

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

$268 MYR 1,064

$424 RON 1,915

-36.65%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,519 MYR 37.7K

$6,966 RON 31.5K

36.64%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.9 MYR 238

$81.3 RON 367

-26.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.97 MYR 147

$42.81 RON 194

-13.64%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 MYR 343

$75.6 RON 342

14.28%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.6 MYR 323

$96.8 RON 437

-15.73%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$561 MYR 2,224

$391 RON 1,768

43.37%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 MYR 1,465

$228 RON 1,032

61.77%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,057 MYR 4,189

$599 RON 2,709

76.30%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$646 MYR 2,563

$369 RON 1,666

75.35%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,233 MYR 16.8K

$1,236 RON 5,587

242.49%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,524 MYR 6,044

$986 RON 4,458

54.58%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,785 MYR 7,077

$773 RON 3,495

130.86%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

6.62

-32.48%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: June 1, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: May 31, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $561 in Kuala Lumpur versus $391 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 131% 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 $27.00 in Calarasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $267 vs $196 – 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: $1,082 in Kuala Lumpur, $989 in Calarasi – roughly 9% apart. Kuala Lumpur costs more across the board, with Groceries & Markets showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,623 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,484 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 $268 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $424 in Calarasi. For families with young kids, this one expense can tip the scales when choosing between the two cities.

Groceries cost about 36% 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 $989, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,082. 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 $989 in Calarasi 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 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.