Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Kangar, Perlis Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Kangar, Perlis

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,059 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $875 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,608 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,342 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,156 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,808 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 21% more than Kangar, Perlis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Kangar, Perlis are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 21% lower, Kangar, Perlis 35% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.66 MYR 18.40

$3.46 MYR 13.68

34.68%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.90 MYR 110

$19.11 MYR 75.5

46.00%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.60 MYR 18.18

$4.73 MYR 18.70

-2.75%

Cappuccino

$3.14 MYR 12.39

$2.82 MYR 11.13

11.35%

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

$0.92 MYR 3.62

$0.73 MYR 2.87

26.03%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.09

$0.36 MYR 1.43

47.22%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.12 MYR 16.26

$3.45 MYR 13.62

19.42%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.77 MYR 22.79

$4.89 MYR 19.32

18.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.05 MYR 8.11

$1.82 MYR 7.18

12.64%

White Bread (500g)

$1.05 MYR 4.15

$0.99 MYR 3.91

6.06%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 6.76

$1.26 MYR 4.96

35.71%

Eggs

$2.27 MYR 8.96

$2.11 MYR 8.32

7.58%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.33 MYR 56.6

$15.08 MYR 59.6

-4.97%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.67 MYR 18.46

$4.34 MYR 17.13

7.60%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.72 MYR 38.40

$9.46 MYR 37.35

2.75%

Apples (1kg)

$2.96 MYR 11.70

$2.84 MYR 11.21

4.23%

Banana (1kg)

$1.64 MYR 6.47

$1.47 MYR 5.82

11.56%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.61 MYR 10.30

$2.51 MYR 9.93

3.98%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.45 MYR 5.74

$1.43 MYR 5.66

1.40%

Potato (1kg)

$1.23 MYR 4.87

$1.18 MYR 4.68

4.24%

Onion (1kg)

$1.33 MYR 5.26

$1.29 MYR 5.09

3.10%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.18 MYR 4.65

$0.99 MYR 3.92

19.19%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.64 MYR 2.52

$0.55 MYR 2.18

16.36%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.33 MYR 17.10

$4.34 MYR 17.13

-0.23%

Wine (Bottle)

$19.33 MYR 76.4

$17.98 MYR 71.0

7.51%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.39 MYR 13.38

$2.82 MYR 11.16

20.21%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.40 MYR 17.38

$2.97 MYR 11.72

48.15%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 2.85

$0.73 MYR 2.88

-1.37%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.92 MYR 47.10

$11.58 MYR 45.75

2.94%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.15 MYR 4.53

$1.15 MYR 4.55

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.47

$0.99 MYR 3.91

14.14%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.64 MYR 18.34

$5.95 MYR 23.49

-22.02%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.50 MYR 1.98

$0.50 MYR 1.96

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

$40.3K MYR 159.2K

$35.4K MYR 139.7K

13.99%

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

$32.2K MYR 127.0K

$31.2K MYR 123.3K

3.00%

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

$63.7 MYR 252

$43.03 MYR 170

48.06%

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

$11.44 MYR 45.19

$9.19 MYR 36.31

24.48%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.19 MYR 99.5

$28.86 MYR 114

-12.72%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.61 MYR 184

$37.24 MYR 147

25.16%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.59 MYR 29.98

$5.82 MYR 23.00

30.41%

Cinema Ticket

$5.26 MYR 20.80

$4.89 MYR 19.32

7.57%

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

$266 MYR 1,049

$186 MYR 734

42.99%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,549 MYR 37.7K

$7,019 MYR 27.7K

36.04%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.7 MYR 244

$60.0 MYR 237

2.88%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.70 MYR 145

$27.64 MYR 109

32.78%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 MYR 346

$73.5 MYR 290

19.06%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 MYR 315

$50.6 MYR 200

57.53%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$563 MYR 2,223

$388 MYR 1,533

45.07%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$369 MYR 1,459

$273 MYR 1,079

35.19%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,048 MYR 4,139

$644 MYR 2,542

62.78%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$625 MYR 2,469

$462 MYR 1,825

35.28%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,024 MYR 15.9K

$1,676 MYR 6,621

140.10%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,556 MYR 6,144

$950 MYR 3,751

63.81%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,594 MYR 6,296

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: April 27, 2026

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: April 26, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $563 in Kuala Lumpur versus $388 in Kangar, Perlis. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur versus $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis. Monthly groceries follow the same trend: $268 vs $250 – making Kangar, Perlis 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 Kangar, Perlis: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Monthly costs with rent: $1,059 in Kuala Lumpur, $875 in Kangar, Perlis – roughly 21% apart. Kuala Lumpur costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,588 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,312 in Kangar, Perlis. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur and $19.00 in Kangar, Perlis. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

Monthly expenses with rent come to $1,059 in Kuala Lumpur and $875 in Kangar, Perlis. The difference isn't just one category – it shows up across housing, food, transport, and services.

A $2,000 monthly budget goes further in Kangar, Perlis, where all-in costs run around $875, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,059. In Kangar, Perlis 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 $875 in Kangar, Perlis to $1,059 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 Kangar, Perlis. 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.