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

😐 Solo nomad: Kuala Lumpur is 15.4% more expensive than Ipoh without rent, and 26.2% more expensive with rent.
😐 Family of 3: Kuala Lumpur is 39.7% more expensive than Ipoh without rent, and 27.6% more expensive with rent.
Currency
🍽 Eating Out
Kuala Lumpur
Ipoh
Difference
Meal at Budget Restaurant
$4.82 MYR 19.04
$2.65 MYR 10.48
81.89%
Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range
$28.46 MYR 112
$19.14 MYR 75.6
48.69%
Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)
$4.74 MYR 18.71
$3.85 MYR 15.19
23.12%
Cappuccino
$2.99 MYR 11.83
$2.27 MYR 8.95
31.72%
Coke/Pepsi/Fanta/Sprite (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.92 MYR 3.64
$0.73 MYR 2.88
26.03%
Water (0.33 liter bottle)
$0.53 MYR 2.11
$0.37 MYR 1.45
43.24%
Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)
$4.13 MYR 16.33
$3.49 MYR 13.78
18.34%
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$5.73 MYR 22.65
$4.35 MYR 17.18
31.72%
🛒 Groceries & Markets
Kuala Lumpur
Ipoh
Difference
Milk (1 liter)
$2.07 MYR 8.16
$1.82 MYR 7.20
13.74%
White Bread (500g)
$1.01 MYR 3.99
$0.99 MYR 3.90
2.02%
Rice (white) (1kg)
$1.65 MYR 6.51
$1.36 MYR 5.37
21.32%
Eggs
$2.26 MYR 8.92
$1.85 MYR 7.29
22.16%
Local Cheese (1kg)
$14.58 MYR 57.6
$12.83 MYR 50.7
13.64%
Chicken Fillets (1kg)
$4.50 MYR 17.78
$5.34 MYR 21.10
-15.73%
Beef Round Steak (1kg)
$9.46 MYR 37.38
$7.66 MYR 30.24
23.50%
Apples (1kg)
$2.98 MYR 11.78
$2.90 MYR 11.45
2.76%
Banana (1kg)
$1.63 MYR 6.45
$1.81 MYR 7.14
-9.94%
Oranges (1kg)
$2.67 MYR 10.55
$3.06 MYR 12.09
-12.75%
Tomato (1kg)
$1.48 MYR 5.83
$2.03 MYR 8.04
-27.09%
Potato (1kg)
$1.28 MYR 5.07
$1.45 MYR 5.71
-11.72%
Onion (1kg)
$1.33 MYR 5.26
$1.36 MYR 5.35
-2.21%
Lettuce (1 head)
$1.21 MYR 4.78
$1.64 MYR 6.50
-26.22%
Water (1.5 liter bottle)
$0.63 MYR 2.47
$0.46 MYR 1.80
36.96%
Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)
$4.28 MYR 16.92
$4.31 MYR 17.02
-0.70%
Wine (Bottle)
$18.74 MYR 74.0
$17.84 MYR 70.5
5.04%
Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)
$3.40 MYR 13.44
$3.40 MYR 13.45
-
Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)
$4.45 MYR 17.57
$4.33 MYR 17.10
2.77%
🚌 Getting Around
Kuala Lumpur
Ipoh
Difference
One-way Ticket (Public Transport)
$0.70 MYR 2.76
$0.73 MYR 2.90
-4.11%
Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)
$11.87 MYR 46.90
$11.55 MYR 45.61
2.77%
Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)
$1.19 MYR 4.72
$1.21 MYR 4.79
-1.65%
Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)
$1.10 MYR 4.35
$1.14 MYR 4.51
-3.51%
Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)
$4.84 MYR 19.12
$4.29 MYR 16.93
12.82%
Gasoline (1 liter)
$0.51 MYR 2.01
$0.50 MYR 1.97
2.00%
Midsize Hatchback 1.4l (Volkswagen Golf, Toyota Prius, Honda Civic, etc)
$40.1K MYR 158.3K
$43.5K MYR 171.8K
-7.85%
Compact Sedan 1.6l (Toyota Corolla, Mazda3, Kia K4, Hyundai Elantra, etc)
$32.7K MYR 129.4K
$31.6K MYR 124.6K
3.78%
🧾 Monthly Utilities & Internet
Kuala Lumpur
Ipoh
Difference
Utilities for 2 People in 2-bedroom Apartment (Heating, Electricity, Gas, Water, Garbage) (85m2)
$63.6 MYR 251
$64.7 MYR 256
-1.84%
SIM Card Monthly Plan (Calls and 10GB+ Data)
$11.31 MYR 44.66
$9.68 MYR 38.24
16.84%
Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)
$25.49 MYR 101
$28.50 MYR 113
-10.56%
🎉 Sport & Entertainment
Kuala Lumpur
Ipoh
Difference
Gym Membership (Monthly)
$45.57 MYR 180
$23.92 MYR 94.5
90.51%
Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)
$7.62 MYR 30.10
$6.04 MYR 23.86
26.16%
Cinema Ticket
$5.11 MYR 20.19
$3.03 MYR 11.97
68.65%
🧸 Childcare & Education
Kuala Lumpur
Ipoh
Difference
Preschool or Kindergarten, Full Day, Private, 1 Child (Monthly)
$272 MYR 1,073
$117 MYR 461
132.74%
International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)
$9,452 MYR 37.3K
$2,380 MYR 9,400
297.17%
👕👟 Clothing & Footwear
Kuala Lumpur
Ipoh
Difference
Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)
$61.4 MYR 243
$59.8 MYR 236
2.67%
Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)
$36.67 MYR 145
$27.29 MYR 108
34.37%
Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)
$85.0 MYR 336
$75.1 MYR 297
13.15%
Men's Leather Business Shoes
$79.2 MYR 313
$53.7 MYR 212
47.65%
🏠 Accommodation & Living
Kuala Lumpur
Ipoh
Difference
1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$575 MYR 2,270
$380 MYR 1,503
51.06%
1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$376 MYR 1,486
$267 MYR 1,056
40.77%
3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)
$1,086 MYR 4,290
$647 MYR 2,556
67.86%
3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)
$631 MYR 2,492
$478 MYR 1,887
32.10%
Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)
$3,936 MYR 15.5K
-
-
Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)
$1,551 MYR 6,125
-
-
💵 Salaries & Financials
Kuala Lumpur
Ipoh
Difference
Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)
$1,633 MYR 6,451
$972 MYR 3,840
67.99%
20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)
4.47
3.96
12.88%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: April 12, 2026

Last update for Ipoh: April 13, 2026

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

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