Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Johor Bahru

😐 Solo nomad: Kuala Lumpur is 22.2% more expensive than Johor Bahru without rent, and 9.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Kuala Lumpur is 23.6% more expensive than Johor Bahru without rent, and 20.8% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.57 MYR 18.05

$3.50 MYR 13.83

30.57%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.75 MYR 114

$19.14 MYR 75.6

50.21%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.61 MYR 18.22

$4.73 MYR 18.67

-2.54%

Cappuccino

$3.11 MYR 12.29

$3.02 MYR 11.93

2.98%

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

$0.92 MYR 3.62

$0.78 MYR 3.08

17.95%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.07

$0.48 MYR 1.91

8.33%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.15 MYR 16.40

$3.50 MYR 13.83

18.57%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.78 MYR 22.84

$6.75 MYR 26.68

-14.37%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 MYR 7.86

$1.87 MYR 7.37

6.42%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 3.95

$0.96 MYR 3.77

4.17%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 6.83

$1.30 MYR 5.14

33.08%

Eggs

$2.17 MYR 8.57

$1.84 MYR 7.26

17.93%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.84 MYR 58.6

$10.48 MYR 41.42

41.60%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 MYR 18.02

$3.41 MYR 13.45

33.72%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.95 MYR 39.30

$8.02 MYR 31.68

24.06%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MYR 11.64

$2.78 MYR 11.00

6.12%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.44

$1.52 MYR 6.02

7.24%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.25

$2.47 MYR 9.77

4.86%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.05

$1.24 MYR 4.91

23.39%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.88

$1.18 MYR 4.68

5.08%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.51

$1.40 MYR 5.53

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 MYR 4.56

$0.96 MYR 3.78

19.79%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MYR 2.45

$0.51 MYR 2.03

21.57%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 MYR 16.32

$4.18 MYR 16.51

-1.20%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 MYR 74.1

$14.68 MYR 58.0

27.72%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.26 MYR 12.87

$2.66 MYR 10.50

22.56%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 MYR 17.30

$3.03 MYR 11.96

44.55%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 2.93

$0.72 MYR 2.85

2.78%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.98 MYR 47.31

$11.70 MYR 46.22

2.39%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.72

$0.98 MYR 3.88

21.43%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 MYR 4.37

$1.03 MYR 4.07

7.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.70 MYR 18.55

$9.31 MYR 36.77

-49.52%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.87

$0.46 MYR 1.80

2.17%

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

$40.2K MYR 158.6K

$35.5K MYR 140.3K

13.05%

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

$32.1K MYR 126.7K

$28.3K MYR 111.7K

13.43%

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

$63.4 MYR 250

$41.48 MYR 164

52.77%

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

$11.31 MYR 44.67

$9.13 MYR 36.07

23.88%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.29 MYR 99.9

$30.95 MYR 122

-18.29%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.73 MYR 185

$35.11 MYR 139

33.10%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.78 MYR 30.74

$6.05 MYR 23.90

28.60%

Cinema Ticket

$5.34 MYR 21.10

$5.08 MYR 20.08

5.12%

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

$264 MYR 1,041

$187 MYR 740

40.61%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,254 MYR 36.6K

$6,960 MYR 27.5K

32.96%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 MYR 236

$49.99 MYR 197

19.52%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.87 MYR 146

$19.17 MYR 75.7

92.33%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 MYR 346

$54.3 MYR 215

61.14%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 MYR 319

$39.45 MYR 156

104.92%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$564 MYR 2,226

$468 MYR 1,849

20.40%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 MYR 1,452

$404 MYR 1,597

-9.04%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 MYR 4,306

$827 MYR 3,267

31.79%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$639 MYR 2,526

$606 MYR 2,395

5.45%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,036 MYR 15.9K

$2,142 MYR 8,459

88.47%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,538 MYR 6,073

$1,192 MYR 4,709

28.96%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,597 MYR 6,309

$1,153 MYR 4,553

38.57%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

4.07

9.83%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: March 1, 2026

Last update for Johor Bahru: March 2, 2026

City Median Internet Speeds Comparison (Updated December 2025)

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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