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 21.1% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 62.5% more expensive with rent.

😐 Family of 3: Kuala Lumpur is 36.6% more expensive than Kota Bharu without rent, and 37.9% more expensive with rent.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.57 MYR 17.96

$1.79 MYR 7.02

155.31%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$28.75 MYR 113

$20.94 MYR 82.3

37.30%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.61 MYR 18.12

$4.26 MYR 16.74

8.22%

Cappuccino

$3.11 MYR 12.23

$2.29 MYR 9.01

35.81%

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

$0.92 MYR 3.60

$0.49 MYR 1.91

87.76%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.52 MYR 2.06

$0.27 MYR 1.06

92.59%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.15 MYR 16.31

$4.36 MYR 17.14

-4.82%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$5.78 MYR 22.73

$4.25 MYR 16.71

36.00%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.99 MYR 7.82

$1.50 MYR 5.90

32.67%

White Bread (500g)

$1.00 MYR 3.93

$0.75 MYR 2.95

33.33%

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.73 MYR 6.80

$0.83 MYR 3.24

108.43%

Eggs

$2.17 MYR 8.53

$1.47 MYR 5.80

47.62%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.84 MYR 58.3

$14.82 MYR 58.2

0.13%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.56 MYR 17.93

$2.92 MYR 11.48

56.16%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.95 MYR 39.10

$5.96 MYR 23.43

66.95%

Apples (1kg)

$2.95 MYR 11.58

$1.38 MYR 5.44

113.77%

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.41

$1.38 MYR 5.42

18.12%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.59 MYR 10.20

$1.40 MYR 5.49

85.00%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.53 MYR 6.02

$0.85 MYR 3.33

80.00%

Potato (1kg)

$1.24 MYR 4.86

$0.84 MYR 3.29

47.62%

Onion (1kg)

$1.40 MYR 5.48

$1.21 MYR 4.76

15.70%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.15 MYR 4.54

$0.95 MYR 3.72

21.05%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.62 MYR 2.44

$0.43 MYR 1.70

44.19%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.13 MYR 16.24

$2.94 MYR 11.57

40.48%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.75 MYR 73.7

$19.73 MYR 77.5

-4.97%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.26 MYR 12.81

$1.42 MYR 5.60

129.58%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.38 MYR 17.21

$3.40 MYR 13.37

28.82%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.74 MYR 2.92

$0.69 MYR 2.73

7.25%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.98 MYR 47.07

$11.91 MYR 46.82

0.59%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.69

$0.72 MYR 2.84

65.28%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.11 MYR 4.35

$0.54 MYR 2.13

105.56%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.70 MYR 18.46

$3.59 MYR 14.11

30.92%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.47 MYR 1.86

$0.46 MYR 1.82

2.17%

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

$40.2K MYR 157.8K

$30.5K MYR 119.8K

31.78%

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

$32.1K MYR 126.1K

$27.7K MYR 108.9K

15.78%

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

$63.4 MYR 249

$38.69 MYR 152

63.79%

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

$11.31 MYR 44.44

$8.28 MYR 32.55

36.59%

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.29 MYR 99.4

$26.70 MYR 105

-5.28%

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$46.73 MYR 184

$36.78 MYR 145

27.05%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.78 MYR 30.58

$6.06 MYR 23.83

28.38%

Cinema Ticket

$5.34 MYR 20.99

$4.14 MYR 16.27

28.99%

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

$264 MYR 1,036

$118 MYR 463

123.70%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,254 MYR 36.4K

$6,225 MYR 24.5K

48.67%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$59.8 MYR 235

$52.3 MYR 206

14.16%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.87 MYR 145

$18.74 MYR 73.6

96.74%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$87.5 MYR 344

$60.6 MYR 238

44.56%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$80.8 MYR 318

$53.2 MYR 209

51.98%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$564 MYR 2,215

$261 MYR 1,024

116.35%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$368 MYR 1,445

$140 MYR 551

162.11%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,090 MYR 4,284

$852 MYR 3,349

27.91%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$639 MYR 2,513

$481 MYR 1,889

33.02%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,036 MYR 15.9K

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,538 MYR 6,042

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,597 MYR 6,277

$305 MYR 1,199

423.40%

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: March 1, 2026

Last update for Kota Bharu: February 28, 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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