Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Lumut, Perak Cost of Living Comparison Between Kuala Lumpur and Lumut, Perak

Monthly Cost of Living

A single person spends $1,045 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $931 in Lumut, Perak, rent included.

A couple spends around $1,581 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,400 in Lumut, Perak, rent included.

A family of three spends $2,117 per month in Kuala Lumpur vs $1,870 in Lumut, Perak, rent included.

Kuala Lumpur costs about 12% more than Lumut, Perak, driven mainly by Eating Out.

Both Kuala Lumpur and Lumut, Perak are more affordable than the global median – Kuala Lumpur 22% lower, Lumut, Perak 30% lower.

Meal at Budget Restaurant

$4.82 MYR 19.58

$3.62 MYR 14.71

33.15%

Three-Course Dinner for Two, Mid-Range

$27.89 MYR 113

$11.98 MYR 48.70

132.80%

Fast Food Meal (McDonalds, etc)

$4.72 MYR 19.19

$4.82 MYR 19.58

-2.07%

Cappuccino

$3.00 MYR 12.19

$2.78 MYR 11.29

7.91%

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

$0.91 MYR 3.68

$0.79 MYR 3.23

15.19%

Water (0.33 liter bottle)

$0.53 MYR 2.15

$0.33 MYR 1.36

60.61%

Local Beer (0.5 liter draught)

$4.14 MYR 16.83

$3.69 MYR 15.02

12.20%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$6.00 MYR 24.37

$5.99 MYR 24.34

0.17%

Milk (1 liter)

$1.98 MYR 8.06

$2.02 MYR 8.20

-1.98%

White Bread (500g)

$1.06 MYR 4.31

Rice (white) (1kg)

$1.71 MYR 6.94

$1.67 MYR 6.77

2.40%

Eggs

$2.21 MYR 8.98

$2.25 MYR 9.14

-1.78%

Local Cheese (1kg)

$14.88 MYR 60.5

$14.67 MYR 59.6

1.43%

Chicken Fillets (1kg)

$4.59 MYR 18.67

$4.72 MYR 19.21

-2.75%

Beef Round Steak (1kg)

$9.42 MYR 38.29

$9.76 MYR 39.68

-3.48%

Apples (1kg)

$2.98 MYR 12.11

Banana (1kg)

$1.63 MYR 6.62

$1.56 MYR 6.33

4.49%

Oranges (1kg)

$2.63 MYR 10.67

$2.60 MYR 10.58

1.15%

Tomato (1kg)

$1.51 MYR 6.15

$1.52 MYR 6.18

-0.66%

Potato (1kg)

$1.26 MYR 5.13

$1.23 MYR 5.02

2.44%

Onion (1kg)

$1.41 MYR 5.71

$1.35 MYR 5.48

4.44%

Lettuce (1 head)

$1.17 MYR 4.75

$1.20 MYR 4.88

-2.50%

Water (1.5 liter bottle)

$0.68 MYR 2.75

$0.67 MYR 2.71

1.49%

Cigarettes 20 Pack (Marlboro, Camel)

$4.29 MYR 17.44

$4.22 MYR 17.14

1.66%

Wine (Bottle)

$18.96 MYR 77.1

$18.80 MYR 76.4

0.85%

Local Beer (0.5 liter bottle)

$3.38 MYR 13.72

$3.35 MYR 13.63

0.90%

Imported Beer (0.33 liter bottle)

$4.27 MYR 17.36

$4.22 MYR 17.17

1.18%

One-way Ticket (Public Transport)

$0.69 MYR 2.82

$0.72 MYR 2.93

-4.17%

Public Transport Monthly Pass (Regular Price)

$11.77 MYR 47.84

$12.00 MYR 48.79

-1.92%

Taxi Start (Normal Tariff)

$1.19 MYR 4.85

$1.20 MYR 4.87

-0.83%

Taxi (Normal Tariff) (1km)

$1.10 MYR 4.47

$1.15 MYR 4.68

-4.35%

Taxi 1hour Waiting (Normal Tariff)

$4.78 MYR 19.44

$4.83 MYR 19.64

-1.04%

Gasoline (1 liter)

$0.51 MYR 2.07

$0.50 MYR 2.05

2.00%

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

$40.8K MYR 165.9K

$40.8K MYR 165.7K

0.15%

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

$32.0K MYR 129.9K

-0.01%

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

$65.2 MYR 265

$65.6 MYR 267

-0.58%

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

$11.50 MYR 46.74

$11.50 MYR 46.73

Internet (50+ Mbps, Unlimited Data)

$25.84 MYR 105

Gym Membership (Monthly)

$45.90 MYR 187

$36.48 MYR 148

25.82%

Tennis Court (1 Hour on Weekend)

$7.77 MYR 31.59

$5.93 MYR 24.12

31.03%

Cinema Ticket

$5.12 MYR 20.82

$5.04 MYR 20.48

1.59%

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

$271 MYR 1,101

$267 MYR 1,087

1.29%

International Primary School, 1 Child (Yearly)

$9,415 MYR 38.3K

$9,247 MYR 37.6K

1.81%

Jeans (Levis 501 Or Similar)

$61.2 MYR 249

$61.9 MYR 252

-1.03%

Summer Dress (H&M, Zara, etc)

$36.70 MYR 149

$37.59 MYR 153

-2.37%

Sport Shoes (Adidas, Nike)

$86.4 MYR 351

$85.4 MYR 347

1.09%

Men's Leather Business Shoes

$81.2 MYR 330

$80.8 MYR 329

0.48%

1-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$567 MYR 2,303

$380 MYR 1,546

48.93%

1-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$376 MYR 1,528

$269 MYR 1,092

39.96%

3-bedroom Apartment, City Center (Monthly)

$1,069 MYR 4,345

$633 MYR 2,572

68.97%

3-bedroom Apartment, Outside City Center (Monthly)

$639 MYR 2,598

$473 MYR 1,921

35.20%

Buy Apartment in City Center (m2)

$4,065 MYR 16.5K

$1,797 MYR 7,304

126.23%

Buy Apartment Outside City Center (m2)

$1,467 MYR 5,965

$912 MYR 3,706

60.95%

Average Monthly Net Salary (After Tax)

$1,691 MYR 6,873

$382 MYR 1,555

342.15%

20-Year Fixed Mortgage Interest Rate (Annual %)

4.47

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

Last update for Kuala Lumpur: June 16, 2026

Last update for Lumut, Perak: June 13, 2026

Cost Breakdown

A central one-bedroom costs $567 in Kuala Lumpur versus $380 in Lumut, Perak. Rent is usually the largest line item in a monthly budget, so the gap here sets the tone for the overall comparison.

Salaries run about 342% higher in Kuala Lumpur, which partly offsets the higher cost of living there. Purchasing power depends on which expenses matter most to you.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur versus $12.00 in Lumut, Perak. Groceries tell a different story – $267 in Kuala Lumpur vs $268 in Lumut, Perak – so Kuala Lumpur wins on supermarket bills even if dining out costs more.

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 Lumut, Perak: Cost of Living - Frequently Asked Questions

Yes – Kuala Lumpur is pricier by about 12%, and the gap shows up most in Eating Out. It's not just housing either; the difference applies across most spending categories.

For a comfortable life, plan on about $1,568 per month in Kuala Lumpur and $1,396 in Lumut, Perak. That covers rent, food, utilities, transport, and enough left over to feel settled – not just surviving.

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

Interestingly, groceries are about 0% cheaper in Kuala Lumpur – one category where the pricier city actually offers better value, probably thanks to stronger retail competition or local farming.

A mid-range dinner for two costs $28.00 in Kuala Lumpur and $12.00 in Lumut, Perak. That's a good indicator of the overall restaurant and café pricing gap between the two cities.

A $1,000 monthly budget goes further in Lumut, Perak, where all-in costs run around $931, than in Kuala Lumpur at $1,045. In Lumut, Perak it covers expenses comfortably, while in Kuala Lumpur it requires careful planning or may not stretch far enough.

Families tend to lean toward Lumut, Perak – lower housing and cheaper childcare make a real difference, especially on a single income or when paying for private education.

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 Lumut, Perak. 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.