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 $1,045 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $877 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,581 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,334 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,117 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,791 in Kangar, Perlis, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 19% more than Kangar, Perlis, driven mainly by Clothing & Footwear.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Kangar, Perlis are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 22% lower, Kangar, Perlis 34% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.82 MYR 19.82

$3.60 MYR 14.82

33.89%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.89 MYR 115

$18.94 MYR 77.9

47.25%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 MYR 19.42

$4.75 MYR 19.53

-0.63%

Cappuccino

$3.00 MYR 12.34

$2.87 MYR 11.80

4.53%

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

$0.91 MYR 3.73

$0.73 MYR 3.01

24.66%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.18

$0.37 MYR 1.51

43.24%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.14 MYR 17.04

$3.50 MYR 14.39

18.29%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 MYR 24.67

$5.03 MYR 20.72

19.28%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 MYR 8.16

$1.88 MYR 7.73

5.32%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.37

$0.99 MYR 4.08

7.07%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 7.02

$1.30 MYR 5.35

31.54%

Eggs

$2.21 MYR 9.09

$2.11 MYR 8.69

4.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.88 MYR 61.2

$15.08 MYR 62.1

-1.33%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 MYR 18.90

$4.44 MYR 18.25

3.38%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 MYR 38.76

$9.40 MYR 38.68

0.21%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 12.26

$3.00 MYR 12.34

-0.67%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.70

$1.47 MYR 6.05

10.88%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 MYR 10.81

$2.53 MYR 10.39

3.95%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.22

$1.45 MYR 5.97

4.14%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.19

$1.19 MYR 4.89

5.88%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 MYR 5.79

$1.26 MYR 5.19

11.90%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 MYR 4.81

$0.99 MYR 4.08

18.18%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MYR 2.79

$0.56 MYR 2.30

21.43%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 17.66

$4.33 MYR 17.80

-0.92%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.96 MYR 78.0

$18.87 MYR 77.6

0.48%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.38 MYR 13.89

$2.76 MYR 11.35

22.46%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 MYR 17.57

$2.86 MYR 11.78

49.30%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.85

$0.72 MYR 2.97

-4.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.77 MYR 48.43

$11.83 MYR 48.68

-0.51%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.91

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.52

$1.04 MYR 4.26

5.77%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 MYR 19.68

$5.73 MYR 23.59

-16.58%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.10

$0.46 MYR 1.91

10.87%

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

$40.8K MYR 168.0K

$35.8K MYR 147.4K

13.96%

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

$32.0K MYR 131.5K

$31.1K MYR 128.0K

2.74%

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

$65.2 MYR 268

$43.08 MYR 177

51.30%

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

$11.50 MYR 47.31

$9.26 MYR 38.09

24.19%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.84 MYR 106

$28.55 MYR 117

-9.49%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.90 MYR 189

$36.94 MYR 152

24.26%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.77 MYR 31.98

$6.03 MYR 24.80

28.86%

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 MYR 21.07

$4.81 MYR 19.80

6.44%

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

$271 MYR 1,115

$191 MYR 785

42.01%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,415 MYR 38.7K

$6,937 MYR 28.5K

35.73%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.2 MYR 252

$60.8 MYR 250

0.64%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.70 MYR 151

$27.37 MYR 113

34.09%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 MYR 355

$74.1 MYR 305

16.55%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.2 MYR 334

$50.6 MYR 208

60.51%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 MYR 2,332

$387 MYR 1,594

46.27%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 MYR 1,547

$269 MYR 1,105

39.92%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MYR 4,399

$634 MYR 2,609

68.62%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$639 MYR 2,630

$464 MYR 1,910

37.67%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,065 MYR 16.7K

$2,158 MYR 8,878

88.41%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 MYR 6,039

$830 MYR 3,414

76.88%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,691 MYR 6,958

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: June 16, 2026

Last update for Kangar, Perlis: June 15, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $567 in Kuala Lumpur versus $387 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: $267 vs $253 – 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: $1,045 in Kuala Lumpur, $877 in Kangar, Perlis – roughly 19% apart. Kuala Lumpur costs more across the board, with Clothing & Footwear showing the biggest gap.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,568 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,316 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 $1,045 in Kuala Lumpur and $877 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 $877, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,045. 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 $877 in Kangar, Perlis to $1,045 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.