Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Bharu Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Kota Bharu

😐 Solo nomad: Kuala Lumpur is 48.8% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 66.4% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Kuala Lumpur is 58.5% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 37.3% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.58 MYR 19.31

$1.82 MYR 7.66

151.65%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.83 MYR 122

$21.31 MYR 89.9

35.29%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.77 MYR 20.13

$4.21 MYR 17.76

13.30%

Cappuccino

$2.96 MYR 12.48

$2.32 MYR 9.79

27.59%

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

$0.85 MYR 3.58

$0.45 MYR 1.9

88.89%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.5 MYR 2.11

$0.27 MYR 1.15

85.19%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.23 MYR 17.82

$4.27 MYR 18.02

-0.94%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.95 MYR 25.11

$4.17 MYR 17.58

42.69%

Milk (1 liter)

$2.08 MYR 8.78

$1.57 MYR 6.62

32.48%

White Bread (500g)

$1 MYR 4.22

$0.76 MYR 3.19

31.58%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.64 MYR 6.92

$0.83 MYR 3.51

97.59%

Eggs

$2.29 MYR 9.64

$1.55 MYR 6.55

47.74%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.84 MYR 62.6

$15.17 MYR 64

-2.18%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.52 MYR 19.05

$2.95 MYR 12.43

53.22%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.51 MYR 40.1

$6.19 MYR 26.11

53.63%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MYR 12.46

$1.4 MYR 5.88

110.71%

Banana (1kg)

$1.62 MYR 6.85

$1.43 MYR 6.04

13.29%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.7 MYR 11.37

$1.38 MYR 5.8

95.65%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.38

$0.9 MYR 3.8

67.78%

Potato (1kg)

$1.21 MYR 5.11

$0.83 MYR 3.5

45.78%

Onion (1kg)

$1.4 MYR 5.92

$1.16 MYR 4.89

20.69%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.21 MYR 5.09

$0.92 MYR 3.86

31.52%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MYR 2.87

$0.4 MYR 1.71

70.00%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.19 MYR 17.68

$3.07 MYR 12.97

36.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.11 MYR 76.4

$14.59 MYR 61.5

24.13%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.33 MYR 14.06

$1.4 MYR 5.9

137.86%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.39 MYR 18.5

$3.43 MYR 14.45

27.99%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.72 MYR 3.06

$0.74 MYR 3.12

-2.70%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.74 MYR 49.49

$11.63 MYR 49.04

0.95%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.21 MYR 5.11

$0.69 MYR 2.91

75.36%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.13 MYR 4.78

$0.54 MYR 2.26

109.26%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.59 MYR 19.35

$3.64 MYR 15.35

26.10%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.48 MYR 2.01

$0.5 MYR 2.11

-4.00%

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

$40K MYR 168.8K

$31K MYR 130.6K

29.25%

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

$33K MYR 139.2K

$27.2K MYR 114.8K

21.19%

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

$64.8 MYR 273

$38.1 MYR 161

70.05%

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

$11.7 MYR 49.34

$8.15 MYR 34.38

43.56%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.5 MYR 108

$26.59 MYR 112

-4.10%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.93 MYR 194

$36.56 MYR 154

25.63%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.76 MYR 32.73

$5.77 MYR 24.33

34.49%

Cinema Ticket

$5.23 MYR 22.03

$4.26 MYR 17.98

22.77%

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

$266 MYR 1,122

$116 MYR 489

129.63%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,267 MYR 39.1K

$6,301 MYR 26.6K

47.07%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.5 MYR 259

$53.4 MYR 225

15.31%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$38.04 MYR 160

$18.9 MYR 79.7

101.27%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.3 MYR 364

$61.7 MYR 260

39.80%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$79.6 MYR 336

$51.8 MYR 219

53.52%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$578 MYR 2,437

$264 MYR 1,114

118.71%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$371 MYR 1,566

$141 MYR 595

163.24%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,061 MYR 4,472

$845 MYR 3,565

25.45%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$628 MYR 2,649

$478 MYR 2,015

31.52%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$3,071 MYR 12.9K

$1,767 MYR 7,450

73.81%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,532 MYR 6,459

$1,061 MYR 4,474

44.35%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,342 MYR 5,659

$325 MYR 1,371

312.88%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

4.16

7.45%

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: October 28, 2025

Last update for Kota Bharu: October 28, 2025

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