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 $1,073 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $988 in Calarasi, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,604 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,476 in Calarasi, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,134 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,965 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 20% lower, Calarasi 26% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.57 MYR 18.69

$9.83 RON 45.08

-53.51%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.76 MYR 118

$27.88 RON 128

3.16%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 MYR 19.53

$7.98 RON 36.58

-40.23%

Cappuccino

$2.99 MYR 12.23

$2.69 RON 12.34

11.15%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.48

$1.53 RON 7.01

-44.44%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.18

$1.79 RON 8.23

-70.39%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.23 MYR 17.29

$2.28 RON 10.45

85.53%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.73 MYR 23.42

$3.38 RON 15.51

69.53%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 MYR 8.12

$1.36 RON 6.23

46.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.04 MYR 4.25

$1.10 RON 5.03

-5.45%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.68 MYR 6.86

$1.69 RON 7.74

-0.59%

Eggs

$2.18 MYR 8.93

$3.25 RON 14.92

-32.92%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.74 MYR 60.3

$8.56 RON 39.28

72.20%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 MYR 18.79

$6.94 RON 31.81

-33.86%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.54 MYR 39.03

$9.17 RON 42.04

4.03%

Apples (1kg)

$2.84 MYR 11.61

$1.18 RON 5.40

140.68%

Banana (1kg)

$1.57 MYR 6.43

$1.46 RON 6.70

7.53%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.64 MYR 10.81

$1.33 RON 6.11

98.50%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.52 MYR 6.23

$1.98 RON 9.10

-23.23%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 5.06

$0.80 RON 3.68

55.00%

Onion (1kg)

$1.36 MYR 5.56

$0.95 RON 4.37

43.16%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 MYR 4.95

$0.71 RON 3.25

70.42%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MYR 2.78

$0.80 RON 3.69

-15.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.36 MYR 17.84

$5.69 RON 26.08

-23.37%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 MYR 76.7

$4.32 RON 19.82

334.03%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.24 MYR 13.26

$0.89 RON 4.10

264.04%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 MYR 18.01

$1.37 RON 6.28

221.17%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.70 MYR 2.85

$0.44 RON 2.04

59.09%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$12.01 MYR 49.14

$13.57 RON 62.2

-11.50%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.72

$0.71 RON 3.26

61.97%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.15 MYR 4.72

$0.64 RON 2.94

79.69%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.68 MYR 19.14

$5.81 RON 26.64

-19.45%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.94

$1.60 RON 7.32

-70.63%

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

$40.7K MYR 166.5K

$24.7K RON 113.3K

64.78%

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

$32.5K MYR 132.8K

$26.9K RON 123.3K

20.79%

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

$64.5 MYR 264

$148 RON 680

-56.51%

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

$11.31 MYR 46.27

$8.24 RON 37.77

37.26%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.58 MYR 105

$7.53 RON 34.54

239.71%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.83 MYR 192

$69.8 RON 320

-32.94%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.89 MYR 32.26

$18.92 RON 86.8

-58.30%

Cinema Ticket

$5.07 MYR 20.75

$6.01 RON 27.58

-15.64%

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

$272 MYR 1,113

$434 RON 1,989

-37.23%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,520 MYR 38.9K

$6,908 RON 31.7K

37.82%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$60.8 MYR 249

$82.5 RON 378

-26.25%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$37.29 MYR 153

$42.72 RON 196

-12.71%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.2 MYR 356

$75.5 RON 346

15.51%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.0 MYR 323

$99.8 RON 458

-20.84%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$575 MYR 2,350

$383 RON 1,754

50.21%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$363 MYR 1,486

$231 RON 1,058

57.42%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,089 MYR 4,456

$579 RON 2,656

88.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$630 MYR 2,575

$364 RON 1,671

72.80%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,177 MYR 17.1K

$1,240 RON 5,688

236.79%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 MYR 6,000

$984 RON 4,514

49.02%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,521 MYR 6,222

$741 RON 3,396

105.41%

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: July 12, 2026

Last update for Calarasi: July 12, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $575 in Kuala Lumpur versus $383 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 105% 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 $28.00 in Calarasi. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $265 vs $195 – 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: $1,073 in Kuala Lumpur, $988 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 $1,609 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,481 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 $272 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $434 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 $988, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,073. 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 $988 in Calarasi 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 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.